Studies have shown that a resounding 75 to 90 percent of women will develop some stretch marks (called striae scientifically) during the course of their pregnancy. The severity of those stretch marks does vary. Some women are more prone to stretch marks due to genetics and the amount of elasticity of their skin.

Also, stretch marks is not just a problem that affects women alone. Men that are bodybuilding or gain a large amount of weight quickly can also develop stretch marks.

We here at StriaeCreams.com aim to help educate individuals on the causes and reasons for stretch marks as well as ways to help treat them.

We choose to focus on creams and serums designed to help reduce or prevent stretch marks since they are generally the most economically feasible solutions.

Other procedures such as laser surgery and micro dermabrasion costs well in the thousands total while the majority of stretch mark creams are under $100.

While they do not produce results as quickly, they are able to reduce the appearance of stretch marks significantly when used over time. In addition many stretch mark solutions used beforehand can actually help prevent stretch marks from occurring.

 

 

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks, referred to as striae scientifically and by dermatologists, are small tears on the skin. They occur when the elastic fibers that binds the skin together (elastin & collagen) stretches over a part of the body that is growing too quickly.

This is because the skin has limitations and needs time to shrink and grow. When the body changes too rapidly for the skin to adapt, those tears starts to occur.

When do stretch marks most often occur?

Stretch marks occur when there is a rapid change in the size of the body. The most common occurrence is during pregnancies for women.

Other reasons includes when someone gains a lot of weight in a short period of time. Stretch marks can also develop for some bodybuilders. Men and women who constantly lift weights gain muscle mass very quickly. This sometimes leads to damage of collagen in the skin causing it to pull and tear.

In some instances, teenagers may also develop stretch marks during puberty. This happens when their bodies grow very quickly during that phase.

Do the appearance  of stretch marks change over time?

You may notice then when stretch marks first develop, they are generally a reddish or purplish shade. As time passes they start to fade into a whiter color.

Stretch marks also seem to become more apparent as they get older. The reasoning behind this is that scar tissues have less pigments in them. Therefore when exposed to sun light, they generally do not darken like the surrounding healthy skin does and are now more visible to the human eye.

What are the ways to reduce stretch marks?

After stretch marks develops, there are a few different ways to remove them. Some are laser surgery, micro dermabrasion, and stretch mark creams. There are some limitations to each solution.

Laser surgery does quickly remove stretch marks but they generally work best on newer stretch marks that are still red or purple. Also, laser surgery is generally more effective for people with fair skin. Results for those with darker complexions are not as good. In addition, laser surgery is also very expensive and sometimes require more then one treatment. The total costs can add up to between $5,000 to $10,000.

Micro dermabrasion is less expensive then surgery and is generally between $100-$200 per treatment. It helps thin stretch marks so that they are barely noticeable but does not remove them completely. Also, while they do work quicker then creams, the end results sometimes are not that much better.

Stretch mark creams are the most affordable solutions, ranging from $20 to $150 a bottle. They take longer to work though and generally needs to be used for at least a few weeks to sometimes months for results to start to occur.

They cannot remove stretch marks completely but the most effective ones can sometimes dramatically reduce their appearance. However the results well vary from person to person.

Are there ways to prevent stretch marks?

Yes, see our stretch mark prevention page for more information.