Stretch Marks 101: all you need to know

Who gets stretch marks?

Typically, people immediately think of pregnancy when they hear the word stretch mark. And yes, pregnancy is one of the most common causes for stretch marks, as the growing baby stretches the belly while hormone changes weaken the connective tissue. For this reason up to 90% of women get stretch marks from pregnancy.^[2,3]

But over 25% of sufferers are men.^† Several scenarios, such as growth spurts during puberty, sudden weight gain, or a quick increase in muscle mass can cause stretch marks on people.

How prone you are to getting stretch marks seems to be influenced by genetics and hormones.^[1,3] Increased steroid levels due to medication, or certain diseases, such as Cushing’s, Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome might also weaken the connective tissue and increase the risk of stretch marks.

How do stretch marks age?

The appearance of stretch marks depends on skin type and color. On pale skin, fresh stretch marks usually appear as red or pink to purplish-blue streaks. Here the skin may appear very thin or slightly elevated and might be itchy. During this phase inflammation might occur.^[1] Over time, as the cleft in the connective tissue heals, they become more scar-like: thinner, paler, and rather indented.

How can I prevent stretch marks?

The best way to reduce the risk of stretch marks, including during pregnancy, is to maintain a healthy weight and to keep your skin hydrated and supple. You can support this drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet, rich in zinc and vitamins C and E to support skin regeneration,^[4] and through regular exercise to stay active and keep up your circulation.

You should additionally apply heavy moisturizers to directly support your skin’s hydration. There are several topical creams and oils on the market, some are available by prescription, but most can be obtained over the counter.

Prevention during pregnancy

With a baby growing in your belly, gaining weight and girth is hardly avoidable. Therefore, stretch marks tend to develop during the sixths or seventh month of pregnancy, caused by stretching of the connective tissue which is weakened by hormonal changes.

During this time, you should directly support the skin of your belly, buttocks, and breasts by applying oils or creams containing soothing and softening ingredients, such as bitter almond oil, olive oil, shea butter or vitamin E oil several times per day.

Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy combines botanical ingredients in a formula that hydrates your skin to help prevent stretch marks. It is clinically shown to improve the appearance of stretch marks^[5] and is safe to use during pregnancy, beginning in the second trimester, and while breastfeeding.

How can I treat stretch marks?

If you ask yourself if your stretch marks might ever go away, unfortunately the answer is no. Stretch marks do not usually completely disappear, and there is no treatment that will completely remove them. But don’t give up just yet! They do usually fade with time, especially when properly treated. And the earlier you start, the better the result!

The best treatment for stretchmarks is prevention. Skin that is well hydrated and supple has more elasticity and can respond better to stresses which could cause stretch marks. But don’t lose hope if it’s too late for prevention: there are several medical, cosmetic, and natural treatment options that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and the best treatment depends on the age of the stretch marks.^[6]

Using Mederma to treat stretch marks

The Mederma® portfolio contains one over-the-counter option for stretch mark treatment and one cosmetic oil for stretch mark appearance. Mederma® stretch marks treatments contain a unique triple action formula combining onion extract (Cepalin®), hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract.^[5] It penetrates beneath the surface of the skin to support collagen production and cell renewal.

It has been proven to increase the moisture content of your skin, thereby improving its softness and texture as well as the appearance of stretch marks.^[5,7]

And a survey conducted in 2011 confirmed that 76% of women who used the cream for 12 weeks saw a reduction in their stretch marks.* By blending Cepalin® with complex oils, botanicals, and other ingredients, Mederma® treatments help improve appearance of various blemishes such as scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, or dry skin.

Other treatment options

Stretch marks for which topical treatment has been insufficient, may require more drastic measures such as laser, radio, and ultrasound therapy,^[6] which are performed in the dermatologist’s office. These treatments are usually based on pulses that give the cells the impression of damage, to which the cells respond with an increase in collagen production, resulting in improved skin elasticity, structure, and color.

The most drastic treatment is surgery, but this is unnecessary in most cases. As these treatments also stress or even damage your skin, a rehydrating cream, such as Mederma® Stretch Mark Therapy can be beneficial for the recovery process.

These treatments are more invasive and are not at-home treatments. They require an expert opinion, so before starting any of these treatments, please choose your dermatologist carefully.

Summary

There are a variety of causes for stretch marks. Treatments can vary from creams to keep the skin moisturized to more invasive medical procedures. No matter which treatment you chose, the most important ingredients for success are tenacity and patience as results take time to show.

References