Stretch Marks – Cause and Treatment Options © Rob Roy McKenzie
2006 All Rights Reserved
Stretch Marks, known in the medical community as erythrocyanosis
are a form of scarring that can occur when a person’s skin is
overstretched.
The Two Main Stretch Mark Causes Are:
1) Pregnancy 2) Obesity
Appearance:
Stretch Marks have the initial appearance of purple or red
looking lines. In time Stretch Marks can fade to a white or off
white color.
Stretch Marks are a VERY common condition. Just think of all the
people who are either pregnant or overweight!
Stretch Marks are not just confined to the female population
either – few people realize that they are a common complaint of
male body builders.
Three Possible Stretch Mark Solutions
Stretch Mark Treatments vary from out-and-out scams to some very
smart and scientific remedies.
Three of the most common are:
1. DERMABRASION. This is a serious medical procedure that takes
place under a general anesthetic. Dermabrasion is definitely not
for the faint of heart.
In Dermabrasion the surface of the skin is literally removed by
a process of sanding. The aim of dermabrasion is to remove (or
at least lessen) the appearance of scars, damage from the sun or
dark spots.
The procedure is obviously very painful (hence the general
anesthetic) and the healing process can take several months.
However, the results can be quite spectacular.
Dermabrasion works best when the scar or mark being treated is
above the surface of the skin and is generally much less
effective when used to treat sunken scars.
Be Warned: Having a general anesthetic is NOT something to be
taken lightly; it carries inherent risks and can be
life-threatening. Always seek a second medical opinion (speak to
more than one doctor).
2. MICRODERMABRASION. Often referred to as ‘Microderm’ this is
far less invasive procedure that has become very popular
throughout the Day Spa and cosmetic industries.
In Microdermabrasion the surface layer of the skin is removed by
using a special wand with a roughened surface that lightly sands
the skin. The shed skin particles are removed via a suction
device attached to the wand.
People like Microdermabrasion because it has a reputation of
being a safe, painless procedure that does not require an
anesthetic.
3. SKIN TREATMENT CREAMS. This is one of those areas where you
are most likely to encounter ‘wild claims’ and the general ‘rule
of thumb’ here is that if something sounds too good to be true -
it probably is.
That said, there are literally tens of thousands of people who
swear by such things as Vitamin A Cream, Cocoa Butter and a
whole raft of different specially formulated cosmetic creams.
One thing you can do is ask the people trying to sell you any
Stretch Mark Removal treatment to show you before and after
photographs of their last 50 clients.
Also, ask for written testimonials.
Skin care experts also say that the correct diet, nutritional
supplements, rest and common sense (avoiding excessive sun
exposure) can have a big impact on the skin’s ability to heal
and its general appearance.