A guide to stretch marks
Many people contact us for stretch mark treatments, most of whom do not actually know what the root causes are. For many, stretch marks are a source of embarrassment and can make people feel very self conscious. There are many reasons for stretch marks, below is an insight to them. This is a common question with many people. Stretching occurs when the body grows at a rate that the skin cannot keep up with. Therefore, stretch marks are most commonly associated with pregnancy but are also part of puberty: body building or quick weight gain can also result in stretch marks, so it can be a common problem for men as well. Although our skin is elastic, when it is over stretched, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. It is this collagen which helps keep our skin tight and supple looking. There are several external factors which affect the skins natural ability to produce and maintain collagen levels such as a person’s diet and smoking. These collagen levels affect the appearance of wrinkles and lines in the face. They also largely dictate how other blemishes, such as acne scars or even surgery scars, heal When stretch marks first form, they will appear as reddish purple lines. These stretch marks will appear indented and maintain a different texture to the surrounding skin. Over time, the discolouration does subside, turning lighter and less noticeable. The ability of stretch marks to heal, however, does vary considerably from individual to individual, and there are countless stretch mark removal products and treatments on the market as a result, some more effective than others.
