Stretch marks or striae (singular=stria) are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. Not every stretch mark looks the same. They can be red, pink or purple. Some are indented lines, while others are just streaks of color. They look like wiggly rivers with a slight indentation, almost like wood grain. The skin also tends to be a little shinier in the area. Stretch marks tend to be symmetrical and localized, occurring on both hips, both knees, and both breasts.
Seventy percent of women are affected by stretch marks. Stretch marks are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth (common in puberty) or weight gain (e.g. pregnancy or muscle building) or in some cases, severe pulling force on skin that overcomes the dermis's elasticity.
Stretch marks may also be influenced by hormonal changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, muscle building, hormone replacement therapy for transsexuals, etc. Also, 90 percent of women are affected by stretch marks during pregnancy.
Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the navel), breasts, upper arms, underarms, back, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks. They pose no health risk in and of themselves and do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.
Over time stretch marks diminish but not disappear completely.
If severe stretch marks make your skin look like a highway atlas, then the answer isn't to try to cover it up with creams or makeup. They actually could be a road map to something more serious that's going on inside your body. First, you need to make sure that your adrenal gland isn't making too many steroids (that could be a sign of Cushing's disease).
If the marks are less than a year old and still have a purplish hue, you can have them lasered to lighten them, but other than that, only surgery can remove them.
Stretch marks are technically atrophic scars, meaning the skin is thinner and pulled. Stretch marks are the scar-like marks that appear when the skin stretches beyond its elastic capability and the underlying connective tissue tears. They tend to diminish over time after the early redness subsides but there's no known non-surgical treatment to eliminate the marks. There are several procedures used to diminish the appearance of scars like laser therapy or Retin-A.
You'll never get rid of stretch marks completely. However, there are a few treatments that can permanently improve their appearance.
Pulsed-Dye Laser. When stretch marks are new and still red (it can take months to years before they become white), a pulsed-dye laser can fade them. Most women require two to six treatments (spaced four to six weeks apart). Results vary significantly, says Patricia Farris, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University. Some see a 25 percent improvement, others closer to 75 percent. The treatment feels like a light rubber-band snap and leaves a bruise that lasts about a week. Cost: $300 to $750 per treatment.
Fractional Nonablative Laser. Once stretch marks are white, a fractional nonablative laser (like Fraxel Restore or Harmony Pixel) is the most effective treatment. It feels like electric zaps on the skin and calls for prescription-strength ibuprofen and topical anesthetic. Four or five treatments, every six to eight weeks, can improve the texture of stretch marks by 50 percent, at most. Cost: $500 to $750 per treatment.
Prescription Retinoids: Though many creams are touted as stretch mark solutions, a prescription retinoid is the only one that creates any appreciable improvement in stretch marks and it's most effective in the early stages. In one study, when applied daily to red stretch marks for six months, a retinoid improved their appearance by about 14 percent. (You can't use retinoids while pregnant or breastfeeding, though.) For white stretch marks, a retinoid won't restore color but can help even out texture. Cost: $40.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.webmd.com/
http://www.oprah.com/
Mc Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Donuts. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.