Why do we get stretch marks? Can stretch marks be treated permanently? What are the treatments available for stretch marks?
Stretch marks are a common problem for both men and women. They are not a serious medical condition but many want to remove them for cosmetic reasons. Stretch marks are bands of parallel lines which are long, thinned and rippled caused due to stretching of the skin's connective tissue. These lines are of different colour and texture than your normal skin. They occur when the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching beyond normal limits. Such stretching can result due to many factors like growth spurts, body changes, rapid weight loss or gain as might normally happen during adolescence, corticosteroids, breast implant surgery, genetics, chronic diseases, fluctuating hormone level, extreme muscle building, higher levels of steroid hormones in the body, as a result of frequent weight fluctuations or pregnancy. Up to 80% of the women get stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch marks can affect people of nearly all ages and all skin types. It is associated with bo...