Stretch marks are among the top 5 reasons women feel insecure.  These occur when the underlying tissue expands faster than the skin on top of it.  They closely resemble scars and are in fact the most common occurrence of skin lesion.  3 in 10 pregnant women get stretch marks, 5 in 10 Adolescent Females (due to growth spurts), and 2 in 10 adolescent males.  That means that over half of the population has suffered from stretch marks at some point in their lives, sometimes possibly on multiple occasions.

The medical term for a stretch mark is striae. Older stretch marks are devoid of colour, but new ones are usually red or purple in colour.  They happen when the skin is stretched beyond what it can normally bear (as it tries to keep up with the tissues beneath), similar to when you try to make a pie and put the pastry on top, but when there’s not enough of it, it can become extremely thin.

Common Causes of Stretch Marks

There are a number of common causes of stretch marks

Pregnancy
The most common time that women can develop stretch marks is during their first pregnancy.  In one study 43% of women had stretch marks within the first 24 weeks.  There are theories that those who are not affected which mostly point to genetics being a strong indicator.

Growth Spurts and Weight Gain
During Adolescence, sudden growth spurts often result in stretch marks on young people’s bodies.  Young women regularly get them on their breasts, thighs, butt and hips, and young men who do certain sports which involves large muscle mass building before they reach adulthood (like weightlifting, bodybuilding or gymnastics) are more.  In certain situations, adults who gain a lot of weight in a short time can sometimes also get stretch marks.

How to Treat Stretch Marks

There are a number of ways you can get rid of stretch marks.

Revitol Stretch Mark Cream
This new product from Revitol is quietly changing the way people deal with stretch marks.  It has a number of new ingredients in it which change the way the stretchmark prevention game is played.  Stretch marks are difficult to get rid of after they happen, so prevention is the way to solve the problem!  Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is designed to improve the elasticity of your skin.

Microdermabrasion
Laser surgery doesn’t get rid of stretch marks – but rather it fades them. By deleting the dark reds and purples you experience in the early stages treatment is most effective.  Faded, flesh-coloured blemishes won’t be altered by laser treatment. A series of treatments might be required for visible results.

Tretinoin
Tretinoin, or Retin-A, loosens the outer layer of your skin by getting rid of dead cells. It comes from vitamin A, but has a different effect than the vitamin because it increases collagen production.

Home Remedies for Scars

There are various other home remedies for scarring.  These are identical as those used as home remedies for acne scars.