Are You Suffering From Stretch Marks?

You are not alone. Did you know that you can get stretch marks not just from pregnancy? The amazing thing about stretch marks is that they�re not really caused by the skin �stretching�. People associate stretch marks with weight gain or pregnancy and assume that stretch marks are caused by our skin stretching to fit around this new, larger body. The true cause of stretch marks is hormones. The reason why you get stretch marks is all those events have an effect on the hormones in our skin impacting the elastin proteins in our skin. For example pregnancy, birth control pills, rapid weight gain or loss, topical steroid creams and rapid growing.

People that are most susceptible to stretch marks are pregnant women, bodybuilders, and adolescents.  Both men and women can suffer from stretch marks as a result of rapid weight loss or gain or when your skin goes into a state of shock. During the times when women are pregnant, when guys are lifting weights, or growth during puberty, your skin expands when your body is expanding. These life changes are accompanied by a serious change in our hormones and a change in the metabolism in our skin.

Take bodybuilders (especially men) for an example, they are prone to stretch marks appearing on their upper arms and shoulder areas when large amount of muscle are built up quickly.

Stretch marks also may occur if a person uses steroid-containing skin creams or ointments (such as hydrocortisone) for more than a few weeks, or has to take high doses of oral corticosteroids for months or longer.

Pregnant women get stretch marks most often during the late stages of their pregnancy.  Over 75% of pregnant women get stretch marks on their abdomens.  Other common places where stretch marks occur are the breasts, thighs and buttocks.

Adolescents sometimes see the formation of stretch marks because of the tremendous amount of growth they experience during that period of time in their life.  Most often, the stretch marks that appear during the adolescent years fade over time and either disappear completely or are much less noticeable than stretch marks formed later in life. Many times, teen girls will get stretch marks on their breasts and hips during puberty. Unfortunately, puberty related stretch marks are difficult to control.

Dealing with stretch marks is not physically painful or bothersome however it can be emotionally trying. If you�re pregnant, chances are you are watching for a stretch mark to appear, doing everything you can in the meantime to prevent them.

Lotion & Oil

One of the oldest prevention solutions women uses for stretch marks is cocoa butter. By massaging cocoa butter into the abdomen area before stretch marks appear or even after they are present, the appearance of stretch marks may be diminished.  Some skin experts suggest rubbing Vitamin E oil on the area that is most prone to stretch marks after showering.

Diet

To prevent stretch marks in a natural way, you may want to look at your diet. Foods high in Vitamin A, E and C can be very beneficial to preventing stretch marks. These important vitamins can be taken from the food you eat or via a supplement. Foods high in Zinc and Silica can also be great for the skin and include beets, brown rice, bell peppers, soybeans, leafy green vegetables and whole grains.

Caution: Avoid taking too much of Vitamin A if you�re pregnant.

Foods rich with essential fatty acids (vegetables, vegetable oils and fish oils) are also helpful with the task of preventing the appearance of stretch marks. These foods help with skin elasticity and collagen growth when paired with a diet where the patient tries to avoid high sugary foods. Losing weight slowly while also participating in weight or strength training can be helpful when avoiding stretch marks as well.

Here are some things you can try to make stretch marks less noticeable:

• Some people find that sunless tanning treatments (both over-the-counter lotions and sprays and in-salon types of treatments) can help cover up stretch marks.
• You also can buy body makeup matched to the tone of your skin that can make stretch marks invisible. Although some manufacturers make these products water-resistant, this may not be the best solution if you�ll be spending a lot of time in the water.
• Many styles of swimsuits that also just happen to hide stretch marks. �Boy short� style work well for hiding stretch marks on the buttocks and upper thighs. And because many swimmers prefer high-neck bathing suits, which can hide stretch marks in the chest area, there are usually lots of styles to choose from.

But the fact that stretch marks usually fade and become less noticeable over time, hope this can be little consolation if you plan to spend most of your summer in a swimsuit.