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Stretch marks affect about 80 percent of Americans, both male and female, according to CBS News. They form on the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, due to stretching from pregnancy, puberty, and weight gain or weight loss. When they first emerge, they can appear reddish-purple until they turn a white-silver color.
While stretch marks affect many of us, there are still many misconceptions about the markings and how to treat them.
Here are 10 interesting facts you might not know about stretch marks.
1. Your hormone levels can affect whether you get stretch marks.
Your hormones are responsible for creating elastin fibers and collagen in the middle layer of the skin, which allows it to stretch. When there is a fluctuation in hormones, elasticity in the skin may decrease, making it more susceptible to the development of stretch marks.
2. Losing weight will not make your stretch marks go away.
Although losing weight when stretch marks are in their beginning stages can help reduce them, exercise will not make stretch marks go away. They are comparable to scars, but on the middle layer of your skin. Only through treatment of the stretch marks themselves can there be noticeable change in appearance.
3. Genetics can impact whether you develop stretch marks.
If you have a genetic disposition to stretch marks, you can develop them regardless of your weight or hormones. Due to this fact, stretch marks are unavoidable for some individuals.
4. There are two different categories of stretch marks.
Stretch marks that are still in their beginning phase that are pink, red or purple are classified in the medical field as striae rubra. Stretch marks that have developed into a white or silver color are classified as striae alba.
5. You can reduce the appearance of stretch marks with Bio-Oil®.
Keeping the skin hydrated is a must for minimizing the appearance of stretch marks. When using Bio-Oil® on stretch marks, you are able to ensure they are moisturized, which will help improve elasticity of the skin. Bio-Oil® recommends using their product two times a day. It may take up to three months before you see a noticeable difference.
6. Drinking a lot of water and eating well can help prevent stretch marks.
Due to the fact that hydration is so important in maintaining skin elasticity, drinking a healthy amount of water may help prevent the formation of stretch marks. Eating foods with vitamins that are good for the skin like vitamin C and zinc could also be a benefit in preventing stretch marks from developing.
7. Exercising moderately may help with the avoidance of stretch marks more than vigorous exercise.
Exercising at a moderate pace regularly will be a better way to prevent stretch marks than doing more vigorous exercises like weight lifting and bodybuilding. When muscles grow in size quickly, this can also cause stretch marks to develop.
8. You can be thin and still get stretch marks.
No matter how thin a person is, they can still develop stretch marks. Whether it be from hormone fluctuations or a genetic background of stretch marks, they can happen to anyone regardless of their weight.
9. Stretch marks can be caused by an underlying illness.
Stretch marks can be caused by illnesses such as Cushing’s syndrome, Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Cushing’s causes hormones to be overproduced, which can weaken the skin. Marfan syndrome also weakens the skin due to a defective gene. EDS affects the proteins in the skin, making it vulnerable to stretching.
10. 75-90 percent of pregnant women develop stretch marks
According to research published in the British Journal of Dermatology, around 75 to 90 percent of pregnant women will develop stretch marks. This is due to the large amount of stretching that skin endures and a lack of elasticity during pregnancy. Using a product like Bio-Oil® to keep your body moisturized during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of stretch mark development.
Bio-Oil® is a great tool for fighting the formation of stretch marks as well as minimizing the appearance of already formed marks.
With Bio-Oil’s mixture of oils and plant extracts and their breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil™, using it will keep skin smooth and soft while increasing elasticity.
To learn more about how Bio-Oil® and how it can help improve the appearance of stretch marks, visit: http://bio-oilusa.com/en-us/application/stretch-marks
Add a Comment1 Comments
Bio oil dose not work from my own personal experience and my friends ..did the bio oil masage 4-5 times a day for the full 9 month after pregnancy the stretch marks were unbelievable bad...so its rubbish rubbish rubbish.
January 31, 2016 - 5:05pmThis Comment