Stretch marks are reddish, long, sometimes depressed scars that can stay in your skin for years. Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the elastic second layer of skin that allows it to keep its shape. However, when continually stretched, the dermis can break down leaving behind marks. Dermal collagen is ruptured and blood vessel dilation results in the formation of red or purple-colored stretch marks.

When your skin is exaggeratedly stretched during pregnancy, weight gain or growth spurts, stretch marks or striae can appear. They can also be caused by certain medications, mainly hormones and steroids. Stretch marks occur when quickly expanding skin is stretched to its limit and small tears appear in the supporting layers of skin.

Over time the redness of the original scar can fade and the lines of the stretch mark can become lighter in color than the surrounding skin. The lines can become take on a shiny, depressed appearanceor acquire an abnormal scar like texture.

Men and women can get stretch marks on several areas of their bodies, including the abdominal area, hips, upper arms, thighs, flank, breasts or lower back. They afflict 70% of adolescent females and about 40% of young males.

Stretch Marks and Pregnancy

Though the nine months of pregnancy are a beautiful time in a woman's life, there are a number of undesirable changes that occur in the skin during this period. Some of these are due to hormonal influences and others are due to the mechanical changes in the organism associated with pregnancy.

Stretch marks are one of the most recognized and talked about dermal changes that can occur during pregnancy. They are thought to be a consequence of the thinning of the skin during this time period due to female hormones which alter the protein balance in the skin. Almost 90% of pregnant women will suffer stretch marks, commonly developing during the last trimester.

There is an inherited predisposition to developing stretch marks during pregnancy. Many women consider the appearance of stretch marks to be distressing. Luckily, the removal stretch marks is possible.

How to get rid of stretch marks

There are plenty over-the-counter treatments aimed to prevent stretch marks, like Strivectin. Sadly no topical remedies have been medically demonstrated to improve the appearance of stretch marks. RetinA, glycolic acid, alphahydroxy acids have been prescribed with very little success. Dermabrasion or chemical peels have also been used. The effects of these therapies range from regular to minimal.

Surgical options to deal with these types of lesions, imply removing large areas of stretched skin. In a tummy tuck procedure, for instance, skin below the belly button is removed. This is usually an area in which stretch marks are prominent. It also acts by tightening the skin in surrounding regions. These surgical procedures are efficient, but are more invasive than other options and thus imply longer recovery time.

The best solution to get rid of stretch marks and other skin imperfections comes now in the form of a new skin care product, elaborated with the best biological components to regenerate your skin.