Brief overview of stretch marks problem

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Every woman aware of her body knows what stretch marks are, or at least she should. It is those almost-purple, sometimes furrowed lines on the skin that appear after pregnancy, obesity or during rapid growth as in puberty. Body builders may manifest stretch marks also. It is caused by the dermis tearing when over-stretched, developing scar tissue to compensate. The visible scar tissue is the stretch mark we see. They manifest commonly in the upper arms, breast, hips, thighs, lower back and abdomen.

There are three distinctive layers in the skin: the epidermis or outer layer of tissues usually insensitive to pain; the dermis –or real skin—where the nerve endings, blood capillaries, sweat glands and hair roots are located, and the fatty subcutaneous layer that touch the muscle fibers directly. The substances that enable the skin to stretch and retract to shape at least almost all the time, are collagen and elastin. When it is overstretched and tears, the skin produces scar cells to repair the torn portion. As the skin gets back to normal dimensions, the scar appears as stretch marks.

Being unsightly, most women want to remove the marks, and resort to many methods to do it. Among these methods are: surgical excision of the tissues, creams and moisturizers, bathing with lukewarm water, massaging them with certain oils and so on. Maybe discussing some methods might be helpful.

Oily butters and rehydrants

A lot of these ‘powerful solutions’ are available at neighborhood drugstores and pharmacies. They contain mostly Vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, shea butter or cocoa butter, and are massaged on the affectted skin two times or more day for a definite number of days, according to manufacturer specifications. Most are touted to be successful, but actually what they do is moisturize the skin surface and make the marks less obvious. They do not repair the skin to its original form once the damage has occurred. Except, they really make the skin appear more youthful and supple.

Diet and exercise

As applicable to almost every physical problem, being particular with food and regular exercise will help. Drinking plenty of water to rehydrate is the first step. Skin rejuvenating foods like milk and carrots for their Vitamin E and A, protein in meat and poultry, citrus for vitamin C, and zinc-rich foods such as nuts and fish should be the priority diet. Exercise renews the skin tone. Coffee and other diuretic drinks tend to dry the skin so void them as much as possible.

Surgical procedures

Rich people may opt for dermabrasion as a quick solution. In this procedure, the surgeon or dermatologist freezes the skin then abrades it using a high-speed abrading wheel to remove the outer skin layer. The replacing skin should look less blemished afterwards. Chemical peeling is another method. Also called chemexfoliation, here a solution is applied to the skin causing it to blister and peel off later much like scalding. The new growth of skin will then appear smother or less unsightly. But those surgical procedures are expensive and too risky for ordinary women so only the rich who can buy the process and others after it choose the option.

The third method is laser surgery. While it may sound serious, laser surgery nowadays has been simplified by technology. In this form of surgery, very concentrated beams of light - the laser - very thinly burn off the marked skin, together with the scar tissue. The skin heals very quickly after wards, covering the gaps left by the burned-off scar tissue. The new skin would look much better than the scars. Though the procedure is easy and simple, several sessions are required, and some risks are also involved.

Avoiding stretch marks

Best option. Should be done except for the surgeries before the stretch marks appear.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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