Stretch Marks |
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Those unsightly,
silvery white scars on your skin can
become a nightmare when you are planning
on wearing a new swimsuit that shows
off the body for which you worked so
hard to achieve. Stretch marks or striae
are a common problem that causes a great
deal of embarrassment and discomfort
to a large number of men and women.
Causes and Risk Factors
If
there is any change in the body structure
from pregnancy or weight gain, the skin
stretches to accommodate the extra weight.
The skin is elastic and can be stretched,
but only to a certain limit. After the
skin stretches to its full capacity,
the middle layer of the skin tears because
it simply cannot stretch anymore. As
the underlying layer tears and the upper
layer remains intact, the skin appears
to be streaked. When the skin tears,
the capillaries burst and this results
in the appearance of pink or purple
lines. Eventually, these lines appear
to be silver or white and are known
as stretch marks.
Stretch
marks are very common during pregnancy,
especially on the abdomen and lower
back. It is partly due to weight gain
during pregnancy and partly due to hormonal
imbalance. During pregnancy, the hormones
work toward softening the collagen ligaments
of the pelvis so that the tissues can
stretch easily during childbirth. However,
it also causes the skin collagen to
soften, allowing stretch marks to form
easily.
There are other reasons besides pregnancy
for the appearance of stretch marks
such as a weaker amount of collagen
in some women that makes them more susceptible
to stretch marks. “Yo-yo dieters”
or those who follow extreme diets can
also develop stretch marks because of
the loss of skin elasticity. Body builders
are also prone to developing stretch
marks because of rapid muscle growth
and most teenagers and preteens develop
stretch marks, particularly when they
reach puberty, because of their growing
bodies.
Obese individuals are also more prone
to developing stretch marks on their
bodies. Steroids, whether used externally
or orally, may at times contribute toward
developing stretch marks if they are
used over an extended period of time.
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