What Are Stretch Marks

What are stretch marks? Stretch marks are where the skin is scarred, and it directly affects both the dermis and epidermis. Stretch marks are placed into a variety of categories, as they go through stages. They start out looking red or purple, and then fade into a light pink or white. This change takes place over the first few years of the stretch marks appearing.

There are two reasons for stretch marks to appear. Either the tissue underneath the skin is growing at a faster rate than the top layer of skin, or they can appear because of hormonal changes in the body. Development usually occurs during pregnancy, adolescence or physical training. There are several treatment methods, such as Bella Joi’s Stretch Mark Cream, that effectively helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  Bella Joi’s cream was developed by a naturopathic doctor specifically to repair stretch mark damage.

Cream’s such as this, have topical agents that help provide nutrients to the skin. Shea and coconut butter are two ingredients that are commonly used in topical stretch mark creams. You will want to use the cream two to three times a day to keep your skin supple, especially during pregnancy.

The skin has three layers, which are the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous. The dermis is the middle portion of your skin, and it is full of collagen. This is the portion that makes the skin firm. When skin is growing at a quick pace, collagen does not have the ability to keep up. As a result, the dermis can tear, which causes a loss in suppleness. This will leave behind stretch marks, which are discolored scars on the skin.

There are rumors that glucocorticoids is a direct reason for stretch marks. This is a hormone that is found among pregnant women, adolescents, bodybuilders and obese individuals. It is said, that this hormone will not allow the collagen to form, which then results in a decrease of elasticity.  More studies are needed on this one but some say that the increase in this hormone could be a cause of skin scarring, rather than a spurt of growth.

The color of a stretch mark is the easiest way to identify the age of a stretch mark. If the stretch mark is red or purple, then it is less than 6 months old. Older stretch marks will be a light pink or white color. If the stretch mark is red or purple, then it will be easier to treat with a good removal cream. This is a sign that the skin is still going through the healing process.

However, with time, stretch marks tend to fade, but do not go away completely. There are a variety of creams and oils on the market that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It is best if you use these topical agents when the stretch marks are red or purple.

If topical methods do not work, then you can try a variety of other methods, which includes laser treatment, chemical peels and ointments. With any treatment method, the ideal is to bring elasticity back into the skin, encourage growth of collagen and promote healthy cell production.