What Causes Stretch Marks?
There are several theories as to what causes stretch marks.
It is believed that stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched over a short period of time, such as during pregnancy. This extensive stretching of the skin puts strain on the fibres in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) and causes them to tear resulting in the appearance of those reddish or purplish coloured lines we refer to as stretch marks.
The dermis is mostly composed of collagen. Collagen together with elastin provides the skin with strength and elasticity. Stretching the skin, over a short period, can cause damage to the collagen and elastin levels and thus compromise the supportive material of the dermis. When this occurs and the stretchy fibres in the dermis tear, stretch marks appear.
Although stretch marks, caused by the skin stretching, are generally associated with obesity and pregnancy, people, such as body builders, who achieve rapid muscle growth, can also get stretch marks.
On and off dieting can cause stretch marks to form when there is a rapid gain or loss of weight over a short period of time, which can put the skin under stress.
Growth spurts during adolescence can cause intense stretching of the skin resulting in stretch marks. Boys tend to get stretch marks on the shoulders, buttocks and thighs, and girls tend to get them on the breasts, hips and thighs.
Hormonal changes and, because of the disturbance to the collagen levels in the dermal layer of the skin that certain medication may cause, the prolonged use of steroid and hormonal related medication may also cause stretch marks.
Stretch marks caused by hormonal changes usually appear during pregnancy, puberty and the prolonged use of certain steroid based medication. It is estimated that between 75 and 90% of women, develop stretch marks during pregnancy.
There is also the theory that, because the hormone corticosteroid decreases the amount of collagen in the skin, people whose bodies produce more of this hormone than normal can get stretch marks.
A nutritional deficiency in the amino acid arginine, which is abundant in the structure of collagen, and the vitamins (particularly Vitamin C ) needed to support collagen syntheses, may also be an underlying cause in the development of stretch marks.
Being aware of what causes stretch marks and taking early preventative
steps can go a long way to eliminating the need for more expensive stretch
marks treatment at a later stage.
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What Causes Stretch Marks