stretch marks

Today, I will be enlightening you about stretch marks. Its a common thing that affect 70% of adolescent girls and 40% boys. They occur in certain areas of the body where skin is subjected to continuous and progressive stretching.

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Stretch marks, also called STRIAE DISTENSAE are fine lines on the body that occur when tissues under your skin grows rapidly thereby, causing the skin to over stretch or tear. It is a very common condition that does not cause any significant medical problems but can be of cosmetic concern for some people, who are particular about the appearances of their skins. Stretch marks caused by pregnancy is known as STRIAE GRAVIDARUM.

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WHERE STRETCH MARKS OCCUR

1. Abdomen and breast in pregnant women.

2. Adolescents undergoing growth spurts (thighs, buttocks, breasts).

3. Shoulders in body-builders.

4. Obese or overweight people.

5. People who abuse bleaching creams and steroids: Stretch marks can also occur from prolonged use of oral or topical corticosteroids and from anabolic steroids.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

An early sign of stretch marks developing is when an area of skin becomes flattened and thin with a pink colour.

This skin area may also be occasionally itchy.

Over time, these lighten to become whitish or flesh-coloured and much less conspicuous or noticeable. Stretch marks are usually several centimetres long and 1–10 mm wide.

TREATMENT OF STRETCH MARKS

Stretch marks usually are only a cosmetic problem, but rarely, if extensive and severe enough, they can ulcerate or tear easily in an accident leading to injuries and infection of the exposed area.

Fortunately, stretch marks occurring in adolescents become less visible over time and generally require no treatment as the skin acquires some strength. In other cases, if stretch marks are a cause of concern, then the following treatments may be tried:

1. Use of Moisturisers: Intensive moisturization of the lesions and the use of vitamin C, fruit acids, retinols, and other pharmaceuticals have been advocated for the early treatment of striae distensae.

2. Topical retinoid therapy: Topical application of tretinoin has been shown to significantly improve the clinical appearance of early striae distensae (striae rubra). It should not, however, be used in pregnant or breastfeeding females owing to a theoretical concern about its teratogenic effects i.e it can cause birth defects in the developing fetus.

3. Pulsed dye laser therapy

4. Fractional thermolysis
   The above two treatment modalities are advanced methods of treating stretch marks and are only occasionally indicated when medical therapy with drugs/creams has failed.

HOW ARE STRETCH MARKS PREVENTED?
As they say, prevention is far better than cure. This is a statement of fact to every medical condition known to man. Better to prevent it than to cure.

So how exactly can stretch marks be prevented from developing?

1. Maintain a healthy weight: if you are overweight or obese, make a conscious effort to lose some weight. Similarly, make sure you don't lose too much weight over a small period of time. It can lead to saggy boobs and stretch marks.

2. Use of moisturizers: moisturizers help keep the skin soft, supple and glowing. Supple and soft skins can easily withstand stretching because they have a higher elasticity than dry skins. A cream as mild as Vaseline can perform wonders in this regard.

3. Stay hydrated: Drink enough water to keep your skin soft and elastic. Dry skins break easily and as such can become prone to stretch marks.
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4. Eat a nutrient-rich diet: Stretch marks may also occur if you lack nutrition in certain areas. Eating foods that boost skin health may help. Make sure your diet includes foods rich in vitamins C, D, E, zinc and proteins.

5. Get treatment very early: the first sign of stretch marks noticed should be immediately and properly dealt with. Don't wait until they become very extensive and ugly. Take action when there is time to wipe them ofstretch-marks

REFERENCES
https://www.healthline.com/health/stretch-marks
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283651.php
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/stretch-marks.html

Thanks for taking your time to read today's article!