By definition, these are oddly coloured stripes or lines () red to purple), appearing on the skin. They are also referred to as stria and generally manifest themselves on the belly, breasts, thighs, buttocks among other areas of the body.
What causes stretch marks?
There are a number of factors that contribute to stretch marks. These are explained below in brief:
Pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant, the weight of the pregnancy causes the belly to distend. After birth, the belly does not get back to the former position immediately, so the skin remains stretched for a while. When she loses weight, the skin does not keep up with the changes so these lines appear on the skin.
Sudden weight gain or loss
People who suddenly gain weight or lose it tend to cause the skin to contract and expand at the same time such that the stripes or visible lines appear on the skin.
Puberty
The sudden growth by teens during the puberty years causes some changes in the skin. This in turn causes the appearance of the stretch marks we are also referring to as stria.
When should one see a doctor?
If your stretch marks are not caused by any of the reasons outlined above, there should be cause for concern and you should therefore make arrangements to see your doctor for evaluation. This is because they could be caused by other factors like excessive use of certain creams, ointments, steroids or diseases like Marfan syndrome.
How to treat the stretch marks
Under normal conditions, they should disappear on their own in due course. However, you can use creams, gels, lotions, laser surgery or resort to effective home remedies. Some of these options are not particularly effective, so one must find better treatment in consultation with a doctor. Sometimes cosmetic surgery may be the last option if all fails.
Prevention
Some cannot be prevented like getting pregnant, but you should maintain a healthy body.
There are a number of factors that contribute to stretch marks. These are explained below in brief:
Pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant, the weight of the pregnancy causes the belly to distend. After birth, the belly does not get back to the former position immediately, so the skin remains stretched for a while. When she loses weight, the skin does not keep up with the changes so these lines appear on the skin.
Sudden weight gain or loss
People who suddenly gain weight or lose it tend to cause the skin to contract and expand at the same time such that the stripes or visible lines appear on the skin.
Puberty
The sudden growth by teens during the puberty years causes some changes in the skin. This in turn causes the appearance of the stretch marks we are also referring to as stria.
When should one see a doctor?
If your stretch marks are not caused by any of the reasons outlined above, there should be cause for concern and you should therefore make arrangements to see your doctor for evaluation. This is because they could be caused by other factors like excessive use of certain creams, ointments, steroids or diseases like Marfan syndrome.
How to treat the stretch marks
Under normal conditions, they should disappear on their own in due course. However, you can use creams, gels, lotions, laser surgery or resort to effective home remedies. Some of these options are not particularly effective, so one must find better treatment in consultation with a doctor. Sometimes cosmetic surgery may be the last option if all fails.
Prevention
Some cannot be prevented like getting pregnant, but you should maintain a healthy body.
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