ANADELINA BLOISEHON. A&PAB BLOCK

Stretch Marks

What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are also known as striae or tiny tears that occur when your skin is overstretched.

As a result, the normal production of collagen (the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in your skin) is disrupted and scarred.

At first stretch marks may show up as reddish or purplish lines that might appear indented and have a different texture from the surrounding skin.

What are Stretch Marks Continued..

They become glossy and appear streaked in silver or white, and can often turn lighter and almost disappear over time.

Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the elastic middle layer of skin that allows it to retain its shape.

Stretch marks tend to show up on the breasts, thighs, hips, butt, abdominal area, upper arms, or lower back.

Types Of Treatment

The degree of success with any treatment will be impacted by your age, your skin tone, and even your diet.

There are several treatment options for stretch marks. Surgical Methods Microdermabrasion Chemical Peels Laser Surgery

Also over the counter stretch mark treatments are available like lotions and creams.

Treatments..

Laser Removal- During a laser stretch mark removal procedure, a beam of light removes thin layers of skin around the stretch marks.

Surgical Removal- Surgical techniques involve removing areas of stretched skin.

Chemical Peels- The chemicals essentially peel off the top layers of damaged, dead skin and activate new skin cell production.

Microdermabrasion- Uses a fine crystal spray to “blast” the outermost layers of skin.

Some Examples of Stretch Marks

More Stretch Marks..

Treatment Photos..

Chemical Peel

Microdermabrasion

Treatment Photos Continued..

Some Over the Counter Creams & Lotions

Causes

These tiny tears stretching the skin appear during puberty, after a rapid weight gain, or during pregnancy.

The stretching of the skin is similar to elastic losing its elasticity.

Severe stretch marks can be caused by some medications including steroids such as cortisone.

Over time the lack of pigment producing melanocyte cells results in the white or hypo pigmented scars.

Works Cited!

Hyde, Patrice. "Stretch Marks." Teens Health. 2010. The Nemours Foundation, Web. 20 Feb 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/stretch_marks.html#>.

Levine, Norman. "Your Skin and Stretch Marks." WebMD. 28/02/2010. The Cleveland Clinic , Web. 20 Feb 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/stretch-marks>.