Three Types Of People Who Get Stretch Marks

There are three distinct groups of people who most often get stretch marks. The most common group is pregnant women. There is much talk about stretch marks in pregnancy and women anticipate their occurrence and most do all they can do to avoid them. The second group is athletics and body builders. They train and grow muscles during the course of their training. They also tend to take hormone-replacing drugs that can add to bulking up of muscles, which stretches the skin. The third group of people who experience stretch marks are those who have rapidly gained or lost weight. The last two groups can be either males or females and even children have experienced stretch marks if they have rapidly gained or lost weight. Teenagers grow rapidly and can encounter stretch marks due to the rapid growth they experience. Are you the type of person who fits into one of these groups? If, so, don’t feel embarrassed. There are treatment options for stretch marks.

Treatment Options:

There are many lotions, creams and oils on the market today that have claims associated with ridding you of those awful stretch marks. There are some that actually work to minimize the visibility of the stretch marks.

Stretch marks are scars. Anything treatment that addresses this issue of damaged skin will be beneficial. Vitamin E oil for instance is designed to heal skin. When applied directly to the stretch marks on moistened skin at least twice a day should reveal results.

Stretch marks will also fade over time. How quickly they fade depends on your age, your skin tone. Usually the younger and fairer you are the slower the process.

Topical Treatments

Topical treatments include anything you apply to the skin, like lotions, creams and oils. Most commercially prepared stretch mark topical treatments will include alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHA removes the top layer of skin, allowing the newer, healthier skin cells to surface. Moisturizers work better on this newer layer of skin cells. It is important to routinely apply the lotions, creams and oils in order for them to work.

There are many vitamin-based lotions and oils that are designed to repair the skin caused by aging, sun-damage or free radicals. Vitamin A, C, and E preparations smooth skin, and diminish the appearance of stretch marks.

Surgical Options:

Dermabrasions and microder-mabrasion are surgical procedures that scrape or peel off the layers of skin. Chemical peels do the same thing as well as some laser treatments.

When stretch marks are reddish or purple in color pulsed dye lasers can be used to eliminate the coloration. This type of procedure is not recommended for dark-complexioned individuals.

Healthy Skin:

The best way to firm the areas affected by the stretch marks is to improve your muscle tone and to reduce your body fat in those areas. Reducing your body fat and firming your muscle tone will reduce the appearance of your stretch marks.

When some people go on diets they deprive their skin of nutrients that it needs to stay healthy.

Skin healthy nutrition includes fruits and vegetables, milk and cheese and foods rich in zinc like meat, fish, nuts and beans.