Get Rid of Stretch Marks for Summer

14 April 2008

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Stretch marks are the last thing you want to worry about as summer approaches and bikini season looms ever closer . Female First looks at how to prevent them in the first place and your options on how to minimise them.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks appear when the skin has been stretched, often in puberty or during pregnancy. They can also form when you either gain or lose weight in a short space of time. They are usually found on the stomach, breasts, bottom, arms and thighs.

There are three layers of skin: the top layer (the epidermis), the middle layer (the dermis) and the bottom layer (subcutaneous stratum). It is the middle layer which contains the collagen and elastin that gives skin its strength and elasticity that is affected by stretch marks.

Skin becomes less elastic and the small connective fibres become thinner and broken.This leaves the skin an angry reddish-purple because the damaged skin allows the blood vessels to show through. They later fade to a silvery-white colour.

However, you should bear in mind that they are purely a cosmetic issue and do not affect the body's ability to function healthily.

How can you prevent them?

Try to maintain a healthy weight, or if you are losing weight, aim to do it over a reasonable length of time (1-2lbs a week). Yo-yo dieting can often result in stretch marks.

Drinking lots of water will keep the skin moist and hydrated skin should be less likely to develop stretch marks. Body lotions like Cocoa Butter, also keep the skin moisturised and may reduce the risk. Regular exercise improves the blood circulation and keeps the skin supple.

If you are pregnant, there are a number of creams and oils on the market which you can rub into your stomach but there is no proof that these will work.

How can you minimise them?

Stretch marks are permanent and so once the skin has been stretched it will never fully recover. They will fade over time into less obvious scars. Collagen creams claim to improve the appearance of stretch marks but there is not as yet sufficient evidence to support this. Collagen creams can only penetrate the surface of the skin and cannot repair the damage to the dermis.

What about surgery?

You can treat the stretch marks at an early stage with the use of laser therapy. The lasers respond to dark colours so it is best when they are still a reddish-purple. A series of treatments might be necessary for them to visibly fade.

Dr. Loftus, a highly acclaimed plastic surgeon and author of 'The Smart Woman's Guide to Plastic Surgery', says: "Most plastic surgeons think that lasers are ineffective in treating this problem. Lasers are effective in removing, vaporizing, and breaking down tissues."

"They do not generally repair tissues. Stretch marks represent torn tissue. Hence, improvement should not be expected from laser treatment. Moreover, clinical studies have shown no improvement in stretch marks after laser treatment." (www.infoplasticsurgery.com)

Tara Hounslea- Female First