i have a pretty big stretch mark unlike any you guys commonly see. im worried they might not let me go to boot camp because they might think its something else. i mean i DEPed into the navy- no problem- and got my job but maybe they overlooked it? what do u guys think?

Stretch marks can be the least thing that one can expect during and even after the pregnancy. Thanks to science which has made possible for many kinds of crèmes and lotions to be made available in the market. Good technology improvement has made many revolutions. Stretch mark is not an exception to this. Since many years, many kinds of preventive measures have been followed for erasing the stretch marks. Many organic and inorganic materials are used to rid away the marks.

Now coming to the products that have been launched in the market which has given great promises to the customers, but truly are these crèmes and lotions really effective in erasing the marks over the skin or is it just hype? Frankly speaking, these crèmes or the lotions can not be completely effective in removing the stretch marks from the skin. The reason to support this statement is discussed below. The reason why stretch marks were formed might not be a new concept for all of you since almost every article about stretch mark discusses about this topic that it is formed due to the inability by the skin to extend so large to accumulate the internal a stress caused due the ghastly forming fat tissues below the skin layer. In order to defend itself the skin forms a kind of scar also called as the stretch marks. Almost all are very much aware of this fact!

When coming to this point as how these stretch marks are formed, they are formed or at least have originated from the internal layers of the skin also called as the dermal layer and even below them known as the mesoderm. Since the stretch mark has been formed so deep layer that any lotion or crème might find it difficult to penetrate in to then to repair the damage. But one thing can be said for sure that these lotions try to repair the damage caused on the epidermal layer. The repair system works by merely thoroughly hydrating these layers. Some lotions also help the repair by providing the protein forms like collagen and elastin molecules that are required for the rejuvenation of the skin.

Many lotions also contain various vitamin molecules like the alpha hydroxyl acids also known as fruits oils commercially. Also almost all the lotions are enriched with vitamin E. They work together with the skin to help to produce collagen which is required to make or repair the damaged skin cells. As said earlier, they are merely effective in treating just the epidermal layer, and it can not be considered as a permanent cure because there are chances that these marks can reappear any time.

Yeah, cocoa butter is a best known treatment for stretch marks owing to its natural origin. The advantage of using cocoa butter is its exceptional property of being very easily and rapidly absorbed in the skin layers to provide a better cure. Again, the results can not be seen over night but a continuous application is essential for visible results.

In addition to these treatments the laser therapy also has proved to give good results but the cost for the treatment is very high.

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Stretch Mark Creams Rating

Role of anti stretch mark creme in erasing the stretch marks -> Stretch mark creme

It may sound silly but I know an area of skin is going to need to stretch and I want to encourage it to do so. Will stretch mark cream help with this or does anyone know of a cream/lotion/oil that might help?

Why do stretch marks happen when our skin is fairly elastic? This fact is made evident when people reach the puberty stage or when women are pregnant.  But at these times, skin health is quite crucial and our skin must be able to withstand tearing as it stretches.

Three layers make up the human skin: the epidermis, dermis, and then the subcutaneous stratum.  Now, elasticity is very important in the dermis as it is this layer that stretches the most and yet is not as strong as the epidermis.  When the dermis tears, this is the beginning of the formation of stretch marks.  And when they do occur, stretch marks itch and burn; sensations that are very irritating and not good for our skin.

Signs

There are two things that you can learn about your body when your skin itches and burn.  The areas that do itch or burn could lack a lot of moisture and the skin in those areas is most likely very dry.  You might also notice that the areas of your skin that are extremely dry will sometimes show stretch marks.  Now, it isn’t the stretch marks that cause the itching and burning.  It is because the dermis has not been hydrated enough that itching and burning might occur.

More than that, the stretch marks indicate that the area of skin around the itching and burning is not moist enough.  This is true because if your skin was hydrated enough then the dermis would not have torn and therefore no stretch marks may have appeared to begin with.  This is the only connection that can be made when trying to find out why stretch marks itch and burn.

How To Ease The Itching & Burning

Moisturizers – People who do suffer from the itching and burning caused by skin that is not moisturized well, there are many cosmetic lotions and creams that can help the dryness.  These lotions are not very effective in the long term because they are only temporary and you might find yourself using too much lotion or cream without results.

Water Therapy – The best thing to do is to get rid of the problem at its root.  The root of all dry skin is unhealthy skin.  You can address this issue by first making sure that you drink a lot of water (at least 8 glasses a day to be exact) and also by using products that are known to address these skin issues properly.

I am 20 weeks pregnant. I havent gotten any stretch marks from pregnancy yet, but I do have some that are prior pregnancy. I want to get rid of the ones I have now, and prevent the ones I may get. What did you used and how well did it helped you. Also did u use it during pregnancy?

May seem like a strange question but I was wondering if anyone wears a to peice bathing suit with abdominal stretch marks? How bad are your stretch marks? Does anyone ever say anything to you about it?

No need to give me advice on how to love my stretch marks or how to prevent/cure them.

Thanks

Please no rude comments telling people how gross stretch marks are as well. Just a question for women who DO have stretch marks.

Thanks
I do love myself.

Stretch marks is usually defined as the scarring when the dermis tears just underneath the skin due to rapid skin expansion or growth.  The area where the tearing occurs redden over time then takes on a color that is silvery to the naked eye.  It is these silvery areas that we know commonly as stretch marks.

How is this connected to steroids? Since stretch marks occur when there is rapid growth or stretching of the skin, this can lead to the assumption that steroid hormones and stretch marks actually do have a connection.  This is because steroids stunt ordinary growth which is something that our skin is not ready for naturally.

Stretch Marks & Athletes

Muscle Building – In order to vastly boost athletic performance, some people work out so that it will build their muscles faster and make them more efficient.  Most athletes have stretch marks because of this heightened physical activity.  It is simply because their dermis is not ready or strong enough to hold together from all the muscle growth and therefore the tearing begins and the stretch marks start to form.  This is a common occurrence mostly in bodybuilders.  Stretch marks that do occur usually are found where the greatest muscle mass has formed in a short period of time.

How Does This Happen?

The Glucocoricoids – There are many different theories today that are being tested so that people understand stretch marks even more.  One of these theories suggests that they are a result of what are known as glucocorticoids.  When these substances are richly present in the bloodstream, they are assumed to cause stretch marks more than anything else.

Now, what are glucocorticoids?  The interesting part is that these substances are a class of steroid hormones that are produced by the body.  We can actually cause the substance to be released when we are in a state of physical or mental stress by producing cortisol which is a group of hormones glucocorticoids belongs to. Bodybuilders do go through a lot of physical and mental stress and this is how we connect the steroid hormones and stretch marks formation.

The Connection – When this hormone is released, the body is sent signals and the body will react in many different ways to the stress that released the hormones.  This leads us to eat more so that we can balance the glucose that we feel is lost when we are stressed.  If this stressed state is prolonged, then there is a greater tendency for the body to burn excess fat a lot slower.  We therefore gain weight a lot quicker than normal and this can produce numerous stretch marks around the body where skin is stretched.

It is essential to get to the root causes stretch marks so that we might be able to counter the effects or prevent the marks from occurring.  But other people who are more wary of their skin can take more natural methods in making sure that they do not produce stretch marks.  This involves a good diet and just the right amount of time of exercise.

i had a baby 5 months ago. when i was about 6 mo pregnant i developed stretch marks. they have already faded. i had my gallbladder removed laproscopically 4 months ago, and those scars are still clearly visible. what is the difference in the two, why did the stretch marks fade so quickly and will the scars from surgery ever appear lighter?