Stretch Marks: Tips You Need To Know Now

Stretch marks, also known as striae, are raised stripes that may develop on the breasts, buttocks, hips, belly, or other parts of the body. Pregnant women often experience these, particularly in the latter trimester. Although stretch marks don’t hurt or pose a health risk, some individuals dislike the way they make their skin appear.

Stretch marks may be left alone. over or without therapy, they often disappear over time. They may never totally vanish.

Arm stretch marks

Stretch marks may appear on the thighs, buttocks, upper arms, and belly in certain persons. Bright pink, red, blue, black, or purple describe new stretch marks. Stretch marks from the past vanish.

Symptoms

There are several types of stretch marks. They differ according to your skin type, where they are on your body, how long you’ve had them, and what caused them. Typical variants include:

• The abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks, or other parts of the body may have indented streaks or lines
• Streaks of pink, red, faded, black, blue, or purple
• Streaks of color that start off bright and lighten
• Large portions of the body are covered with streaks

Pregnancy stretch marks

Pregnancy often results in stretch marks, particularly in the latter trimester. They often deteriorate but seldom vanish.

Abundant stretch marks

Although it occurs seldom, stretch marks may cover substantial portions of the body. Corticosteroid medication usage or a condition like Cushing syndrome may cause this.

When to see a doctor

If you have stretch marks that cover a significant portion of your body or you are bothered by the way your skin looks, see a medical professional. Your healthcare practitioner may assist in identifying the source of the stretch marks and can also go through possible treatments.

Causes

Stretching of the skin is the root cause of stretch marks. Your genetics and the level of skin tension are two things that have an impact on how severe they are. Your level of the hormone cortisol might also be important. The adrenal glands create the hormone cortisol. It weakens the skin’s elastic fibers.

Risk factors

Anyone can acquire stretch marks, however some things make you more likely to do so, such as:

• Being a woman
• Having stretch marks personally or in your family
• Pregnancy, particularly if you’re young
• Adolescents with rapid development.
• Gaining or losing weight quickly
• Corticosteroid use
• Undergoing breast augmentation surgery
• Working out while taking anabolic steroids
• Having a hereditary disease like Marfan syndrome or Cushing syndrome

Diagnosis

Typically, stretch marks don’t need a diagnosis. Your doctor may check your skin and go over your medical background. You could be given more testing if your doctor feels that your cortisol levels are rising.

Treatment

Stretch marks may be left alone. They are benign and often disappear with time. They may never totally go, but treatment may make them less noticeable.

The following therapies are among those that may help stretch marks look and feel better. It has not been shown that any is more consistently effective than the others.

Topical retinoids. Retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A and include tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita), may be applied topically to the skin to treat stretch marks that are less than a few months old. When retinol is effective, it helps to repair the collagen protein in the skin, which makes stretch marks more similar to healthy skin. Your skin may itch if you use retinol.

Talk to your doctor about other treatment choices if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding since retinoid cream side effects might harm the unborn child.

Laser and light therapy. There are several light and laser treatments that might encourage collagen formation or enhance suppleness. Which strategy is best for you may be determined with the aid of your healthcare practitioner.

Microneedling. A handheld gadget with tiny needles that promote collagen development is used in this procedure. For those with darker skin, this method is favored since it has a lower risk of skin color alterations than laser treatment.

Choose the best therapy or set of therapies for you in collaboration with your healthcare professional. Considerable factors include:

• How long have the stretch marks been there?
• Convenience, since certain treatments need many clinic visits
• Cost, since aesthetic therapies (treatments to enhance the appearance of the skin) sometimes aren’t covered by health insurance
• How you anticipate your skin to appear after treatment

Taking care of oneself

Stretch mark prevention or treatment is a common promise made by lotions, ointments, and other items. These include items manufactured with glycolic acid, vitamin E, and cocoa butter. They don’t hurt, but they also probably won’t do anything to help.

Stretch marks often disappear with time and don’t need home treatment or self-care.

Substitute medical care

There isn’t enough research to conclusively prove that using creams, oils, or lotions to your skin will prevent or cure stretch marks.

Before utilizing alternative solutions that promise to cure or prevent stretch marks while you’re pregnant, consult your doctor.

Getting ready for the appointment

Make a list of some fundamental questions to ask your healthcare professional before your visit if you decide to have treatment for stretch marks. These questions include:

• What is probably to blame for my stretch marks?
• What other reasons may there be for my symptoms except the most probable one?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of my treatment options?
• What outcomes might I anticipate?

Your doctor will probably ask you a number of questions, including:

• How long have you had the stretch marks?
• Do you experience additional ailments?
• Which medications do you take?
• Do you often use cortisone cream on your skin?