If you are pregnant you are probably worried about stretch marks. Almost everyone gets them during pregnancy, and you have probably heard conflicting information about them.
You probably want to run out and buy the most expensive stretch mark cream out there and the best stretch mark cream to keep the stretch marks at bay. However, it is important that you understand basic stretch mark information before spending your money on stretch mark cream or stretch mark removal that just might not work.
Where Stretch Marks Come From
Contrary to popular belief, stretch marks do not just appear on pregnant women. While pregnancy can, and often does, lead to stretch marks, rapid weight gain or rapid weight loss, puberty or any other subsequent changes in your body shape, bodybuilding or building muscle, and anything at all that changes the shape of your body or the proportions of your body can cause stretch marks.
But where do they come from? Many people think that putting stretch mark cream on your body can prevent stretch marks from appearing. But that is not the case. Stretch marks are a type of scar that forms beneath the skin. When your body shape changes and your skin is stretched, the deep layers of the skin can suffer damage. These deep layers of skin are formed by collagen and other tissue and when collagen tears, it causes a stretch mark.
But why can you see the tear on the surface of the skin? You can see the tear in the form of a stretch mark because this cushion of collagen is what supports the skin. When it is not there, you can see the visible lacking of it on the surface of the skin. While some stretch marks are purple or pink, some are flesh colored and can barely be seen at all.
What You Can Do About It
Stretch mark cream is basically a waste of money, according to many doctors and dermatologists. Why? Stretch mark cream cannot reach below the surface of the skin to heal the broken collagen underneath. Stretch mark cream can, at best, keep skin moist and make it easier to stretch. Little research supports the use of stretch mark cream during pregnancy to reduce stretch marks.
And because stretch marks come from the inside out, using stretch mark cream after stretch marks have already appeared is all but pointless. The only real treatment for stretch marks is not stretch mark cream but laser removal of stretch marks. Unfortunately, however, the best time to have stretch marks treated is when they are still purple and fresh. The laser treatments have not been approved for breastfeeding mothers, and by the time many children wean the stretch marks have already faded.
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