Stretch marks are a sign that we have pushed our skins elasticity literally to breaking point, and they can appear nearly anywhere on our bodies. Generally they are caused by sudden weight gain or loss, which doesn’t really allow the skin a chance to regenerate and repair itself how it should. Stretch marks can be faded, and there are many different skin care creams on the market to help you do just that.
Our skin gets it’s elasticity from two main elements, these are elastin and collagen but these can only be stretched to a certain point before they begin to break down. It is the breaking down of these elements that causes the appearance of stretch marks. The actual damage happens in the middle layer of your skin, known as the dermis. The dermis is primarily made up of collagen which is a very elastic substance. However, as with any form of elastic, if you stretch it for prolonged periods of time, it is going to start to break down. The body tries to repair this by producing more collagen in the area, however this creates scar tissue in the dermis which then shows as a stretch mark on the top layer of the skin.
Due to the individuality of everyone’s skin, just like scars from injuries, some people are more prone to stretch marks than others. There is no real way of telling whether or not your skin is pre-disposed to stretch marks until they begin to appear, but if you act quickly at this point you may well be able to reduce the appearance of existing marks and prevent the occurrence of more. There are many specialised makes of stretch mark cream on the market, and many of them are incredibly effective. The key to getting good results from any kind of skin care cream, particularly those designed for use on specific problems, is regular use. Nothing is going to work if you apply it every couple of days when you remember, so following the recommended use instructions is the only way to get the best results from whatever skin care cream you choose.