Stretch marks, you’ve probably seen them before; those ugly lines around your arms, stomach, legs and breasts. Anyone can develop them, even children and teenagers. What exactly are stretch marks and what causes them? Most importantly, can they be eliminated?
Skin is the largest organ in the entire body and one of it’s most amazing abilities is the ability to stretch. The building blocks of skin are collagen and bother, which are proteins. Elastin provides elasticity to the skin and collagen provides connective tissue. Although skin can be very pliable, at certain times it can be over-stretched. This over-stretching results in the skin tearing. When these tears heal, scar tissue is formed. This scar tissue is what we call stretch marks.
The dermis, the layer of the elastic layer of the skin, is where stretch marks develop. Stretch marks usually start out as a purplish or reddish streak on the skin. After time, they begin to fade and the skin has a glossy texture to it.
Stretch marks are caused by a few things but the main cause is weight gain. Women are more likely to develop stretch marks than men are. Any time there is a rapid increase in the size of skin tissue stretch marks can occur. Pregnancy is a major cause of stretch marks, also obesity and sudden growth spurts. Body builders and athletes can also develop stretch marks. This is due to the repetitive exercises they perform. Certain medications can cause stretch marks too, such as the steroid cortisone.
