All About Stretch Marks

A woman's butt with stretch marks.

What Are Stretch Marks?

Medically known as striae, stretch marks are a type of scar that develop as your skin stretches or shrinks. These harmless marks can happen to any of us, often showing up around our bellies, breasts, hips, thighs, and butts, and while they don’t have any negative effects on our health, they can sometimes make us feel self-conscious. So, can you get rid of them? It depends. But before we get into that, let’s dig a little deeper into what causes these curious scars on our bodies.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

New stretch marks start out as slightly raised and somewhat itchy pink, red, blue, or purple streaks. The colour usually fades over time as the marks sink into your skin, leaving a small, yet noticeable, depression. 

Stretch marks can be caused by anything from growth spurts to weight loss or gain. In other words, they can happen whenever any part of your body grows or shrinks. They can even be hereditary or caused by hormones. The marks themselves, however, occur as a result of a lack of collagen in the area when your body isn’t able to keep up with the sudden changes. Some common causes in women include:

  • Rapid weight gain or loss.
  • Rapid muscle gain or loss.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Corticosteroid creams (for conditions like psoriasis and eczema). 

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

From laser treatments and surgery to microdermabrasion and cosmetics, you’re bound to have heard of at least one claimed treatment for stretch marks. But do they work? The bottom line is that, like any scar, these marks are permanent and there’s currently no one sure-fire way to get rid of them – but that doesn’t mean you can’t minimise them.  

If you’re not willing to go through a full-on medical procedure, scar repair and management serums are certainly one option. You could even use specialty products, like Mama Mio’s Mama Marks to cope with marks after life-changing events like pregnancy.  

Our Advice

Stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, they’re a sign that you’ve been living your life to the max. Embrace your tiger stripes for what they are! If you’re looking for an effective solution to minimising stretch marks, Cosmetology stocks a full range of dedicated products, like BioMedical Emporium’s Stretchmark & Cellulite Therapy and Optiphi Scar Therapy.

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