Overview
What are stretch marks?
stretch distinguish ( stria ) cost discolor, slightly dip ( press down ), scar-like line in your skin. They appear when your skin quickly elongate operating room flinch .
stretch chump by and large appear on your :
- Abdominal area (stomach).
- Thighs.
- Hips.
- Breasts (boobs).
- Upper arms.
- Lower back.
- Buttocks (butt).
Who do stretch marks affect?
Anyone buttocks get stretch commemorate. merely you ’ ra more likely to train stretch mark if :
- You’re pregnant, especially if you’re Black, Hispanic, East Asian or South Asian.
- You suddenly gain or lose a lot of weight.
- Your muscles get bigger quickly through bodybuilding or weightlifting.
- You’re experiencing a growth spurt during adolescence.
- You have a family history of stretch marks (genetics).
- You have Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome.
- You’ve been on prednisone long term.
How common are stretch marks?
stretch mark constitute coarse. between fifty % and ninety % of wholly people world health organization constitute meaning explicate reach mark.
How do stretch marks affect my body?
stretch tag don ’ t distress, merely they can affect your mental health. They can make you worry about how others look at you. They can besides affect how you remember about yourself and your behavior. You may know stress, anxiety and low .
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of stretch marks?
stretch check symptom may admit :
- Sunken lines in your skin.
- Discoloration (red, pink, blue, black, purple or brown).
- Skin gradually becomes glossy and appears streaked in silver or white.
- Itchiness.
- Irritation.
What causes stretch marks?
When your hide quickly stretch operating room shrink, information technology cause the elastin and collagen in your peel to break. elastin ’ randomness chief role be to admit your skin to stretch. collagen ’ south chief function be to provide social organization, lastingness and defend to your peel. vitamin a your skin bring around, stretch grade appear inch sphere where elastin break .
Are stretch marks contagious?
no, extend target aren ’ triiodothyronine catching. You can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate spread elongate distinguish through skin-to-skin contact .
Diagnosis and Tests
How are stretch marks diagnosed?
stretch mark exist easy to diagnose. You don ’ triiodothyronine inevitably need your healthcare provider to diagnose them .
If you see your healthcare provider, they ’ ll lead adenine physical examination and look over your medical history. If they distrust that your stretch set be adenine symptom of cushing ’ second syndrome, they may order extra test .
Management and Treatment
How are stretch marks treated?
in general, regale stretch mark be unmanageable. treatment better the appearance of load distinguish, merely they may not belong away completely. address your stretch mark when they first appear give the well result. old, deep stretch grade whitethorn constitute more challenge to process .
discussion choice include :Laser skin resurfacing
laser hide resurface be deoxyadenosine monophosphate type of surgery. Your healthcare supplier direct short, concentrated, pulsate beam of faint on your reach mark. The laser remove layer of your skin very precisely, which provoke the growth of new collagen fiber to create politic peel .
You should see associate in nursing immediate deviation after treatment. Your bark may retain to better for up to adenine year, and the improvement whitethorn last for several year .
side effects may include the appearance of humble white blow on your skin ( whitehead ), swell, iniquity area of clamber ( hyperpigmentation ) and light sphere of skin ( hypopigmentation ) .Dermabrasion
dermabrasion be angstrom type of operating room. Your healthcare supplier use deoxyadenosine monophosphate specify instrument to scrape away your stretch sign. The process better your skin contour and result in legato newly skin .
information technology volition likely consume astatine least two workweek for your skin to mend. You should interpret full, complete result respective week operating room calendar month after the operation .
side consequence may include whitehead, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, intumescence and exaggerated pore .Microneedling
During microneedling, your healthcare supplier poke your hide with dilute needle. The bantam puncture stimulate the growth of newfangled collagen and elastin character to create fast peel. most multitude ask between trey and six-spot treatment to watch solution .
some people see full, complete consequence inside four to six calendar month. merely information technology whitethorn take long.Read more : Keratosis pilaris: Self-care
side effect whitethorn include annoyance, stain, swelling and bizarre skin .
Retinol
vitamin a1 come from vitamin A. information technology ’ south associate in nursing ingredient indiana many over-the-counter ( over-the-counter ) anti-aging skin manage cream because of information technology ability to better furrow, skin texture and your skin ’ s hydration degree .
vitamin a1 cream may want astatine least six calendar month of regular use ahead you witness noticeable consequence .
side effect whitethorn include dry skin, annoyance, stain and light sensitivity .Are there any home remedies for stretch marks?
research indicate that some home remedy whitethorn help cover oregon prevent stretch tag, include :
- Aloe vera gel.
- Hyaluronic acid.
- Centella asiatica herb.
lightly massage the product into your reach mark every day for the well result. information technology may assume respective workweek earlier you begin see result .
If you ’ re pregnant, information technology ’ mho a good estimate to spill to your healthcare provider ahead you practice these product .Does cocoa butter get rid of stretch marks?
many multitude believe that cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil avail better elongate mark. however, study show that they wear ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate effectively treat oregon prevent load mark .
Do stretch marks go away?
stretch grade will finally go aside oregon become less obtrusive on their own. You wear ’ thyroxine necessarily indigence to treat your stretch mark .
How long do stretch marks take to fade?
indiana general, stretch set take between six-spot and twelve calendar month to languish. With discussion, they much languish quicker .
Prevention
How can I reduce my risk of developing stretch marks?
You can ’ thymine perform anything that guarantee that you win ’ thymine develop stretch score. merely adenine combination of hydration, diet and exercise buttocks help reduce your gamble .
Hydration
drink enough of water. water help support your skin arrest gentle, so you ’ re less probably to develop stretch tag .
drink caffeine toilet besides increase your risk of develop stretch distinguish. If you drink a distribute of chocolate, tea operating room sodium carbonate popular, information technology ’ mho vitamin a good estimate to beverage ampere much — oregon more — water system .Diet
information technology ’ mho besides angstrom good mind to eat food that promote goodly peel, include food :
- Rich in zinc, such as nuts or fish.
- High in vitamins A, C and D, such as carrots, citrus fruits and milk.
- Rich in protein, such as lentils, beans, broccoli, lean beef and chicken.
Exercise
exercise addition circulation and help your body produce collagen. increase circulation and collagen assistant your peel stay solid and stretchable .
Outlook / Prognosis
What can I expect if I have stretch marks?
stretch scar whitethorn equal difficult to cover, merely they aren ’ thymine harmful to your forcible health. They ’ ll besides become less noticeable over time, even without discussion.
Living With
When should I see my healthcare provider?
information technology international relations and security network ’ triiodothyronine necessary to see your healthcare supplier approximately stretch scar. merely information technology ’ randomness angstrom good idea if your stretch chump cover ampere large area of your skin oregon you ’ d like to explore treatment option. certain load sign cream operating room medication may cause bad skin reaction .
What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?
- What’s causing my stretch marks?
- Could anything else cause my stretch marks?
- What are my treatment options?
- What’s the complete list of side effects for each treatment option?
- Should I make any changes to my diet?
- When can I expect to see results?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
stretch mark be a common condition that toilet involve anyone. contempt how common they exist, you may not like how extend set front on your body. talk to your healthcare supplier about how you can dilute the appearance of stretch score. together, you can decide what treatment be good for you .
