Is Getting Rid Of Stretch Marks Easy?

Lots of people think that they will get stretch marks from gaining weight; what they dont seem to realise is that stretch marks can also be a problem if you lose weight rapidly. If your skin is used to being stretched and has lost its elasticity, then if you lose a lot of weight over a short period of time, stretch marks can appear.

The formal medical name given to stretch marks is "striae". There are different medical terms for different types of stretch marks, for example "striae atrophica" and "striae distensae". Stretch marks all start off looking like parallel lines or bands of thin red streaks and, over time, change to look like a whitish scar.

Although you can get stretch marks almost anywhere on your body, they are most likely to develop where you have most fat. Because your skin is under most strain where fat is stored, this means that most people who get stretch marks find them on their legs, hips, bottom and tummy.

Although stretch marks can cause a lot of distress to people because of their unsightly appearance, they do not cause any risk to health and do not mean that you have a problem with your skin that requires medical attention. However, if stretch marks appear which are not caused by rapid weight change, you should seek medical advice.

One of the main areas where stretch marks appear is below the navel (or tummy button) and, although this may seem to be a drastic solution, these may be permanently removed through a cosmetic surgery procedure known as a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty to give the process its full medical name).

Up to 90% of women will develop stretch marks as a result of pregnancy. These marks often appear in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy and the current medical opinion is that they are caused not only by the skin stretching as you put on weight, but also that hormones play a part.

Using very expensive skin preparations which promise to remove all trace of stretch marks can be not only a waste of time, but also a waste of money. Lots of people are now turning to less expensive ways of reducing the appearance of these marks such as improving circulation by regularly massaging the affected areas.

Common sense dictates that if you keep your body healthy, your skin will be healthy too and this will mean that the dreaded stretch marks don't appear so prominent. Drink plenty of water and follow a sensible, balanced diet and you will not only feel better, but also improve the appearance of your skin.

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