12 things women need to know about stretch marks

I really don’t know any woman out there who doesn’t have stretch marks.

That said, some women have stretch marks that are more prominent that

others and for those women, stretch marks become a source of self consciousness.

For some women, stretch marks are solely located around the

belly area, but for some other women they have stretch marks on their arms,

breast, tights and buttock area. Although, it’s going to be very hard to avoid

having stretch marks, there are a number of things women should know

about stretch marks in order to minimize their chances of having to deal with

too many of them.

There are so many facts that most of us women don’t know about stretch

marks that make avoiding them easier. Here are 12 things you need to know

about them:

1. Stretch marks are scientifically known as are a form of scarring. They

usually rear their ugly heads during puberty, or as the result of excessive

weight gain, such as during pregnancy.

2. Did you know that even people who engage in body building can get

stretch marks? Yes, stretch marks have nothing to do with the number you

see on your scale.

3. Stretch marks are the result of skin being stretched beyond its natural

elasticity. This stretching causes a disruption of the body’s collagen

production. Collagen is a special protein that helps keep the skin elastic and,

therefore, able to stretch when we gain weight. When this collagen

production is disrupted, the skin loses its elasticity, which makes it more

prone to stretch marks.

4. Stretch mark are usually found in a series as small, indented streaks. They

are generally rough and uneven. In women with light skin, they are usually a

pink or reddish-brown color. They might sometimes almost look purple. For

darker skinned women, stretch marks are usually brown.

5. Genetics plays a larger role in whether or not you will develop stretch

marks. So, if your mom or her sister have stretch marks … you possible will

be more likely to get them as well (alas).

6. To help avoid getting stretch marks, it is important to monitor weight gain

closely. Pregnant women need to put on weight as a natural part of the

childbearing process. They should, however, be careful to not gain more

weight than what is recommended by the doctor. Pregnant woman should

not, of course, starve themselves in order to avoid stretch marks. They

should, however, take care to watch their diets and put pregnancy weight on

slowly. This gives the skin more time to gradually stretch to accommodate

for the growing baby inside.

7. The last trimester of a pregnancy is when women generally put on the

most weight. This is because this is when the baby is doing most of its

growing. To help avoid stretch marks during this time of the pregnancy, and

at any other time, be sure to regularly apply rich body creams, cocoa butter,

olive oil or shea butter on your skin. Make sure to consult with a doctor,

first, however, because some ingredients found in certain creams can be

harmful to unborn babies.

8. Body cream (aka proper hydration to your body) helps decrease the

likelihood of developing stretch marks because it helps keep the skin

flexible. Likewise, drinking plenty of water helps maintain the skin’s

elasticity. This is especially true if you are pregnant.

9. Fortunately, stretch marks generally fade after weight lost. For women

who gain stretch marks during pregnancy, stretch marks usually fade to a

slightly lighter color than the surrounding skin, though the etching will

always remain.

10. For women who are bodybuilders, it is important to put on muscle mass

slowly. Quickly adding on muscle mass will force the skin to stretch beyond

its ability. Therefore, a bodybuilding program should be designed to slowly

add on bulk.

11. For women who are not pregnant and who are not bodybuilders, the best

way to avoid stretch marks is to simply monitor your diet and maintain a

healthy body weight. Don’t forget that drinking plenty of water is a great

way to help keep the skin more pliable.

12. If you still develop stretch marks, which many women do during puberty

as their bodies rapidly grown, there is little that can be done to get rid of

them. Although there are many lotions and creams on the market claiming to

be able to get rid of stretch marks, there is no proof that they work. There are

also surgeries available to help with lessening the visibility of stretch marks,

but they can’t get rid of stretch marks completely. Instead, the best option is

to cover up the stretch marks. Many women used over-the-counter sunless

tanning lotions to do this, or they get a sunless tanning treatment from a

salon. These lotions help even out the skin color, since the pigmentation of

stretch marks is lighter than the rest of the skin. Getting a real tan, however,

does not have the same effect because stretch marks are scarred tissue and

scarred tissue does not tan the same as healthy tissue.

Through precautions and a healthy lifestyle, most women can help minimize

stretch marks. That said, some of life’s big life-changes, such as puberty and

childbirth, can make avoiding stretch marks nearly impossible. Therefore,

it’s important to apply body creams or hydrating natural oils and drink

plenty of water to keep the skin’s elasticity and, if all else fails, cover up

those stretch marks and chalk it up as just another part of being a woman!