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Stretch Mark - Stretch Mark symptom, treatment, causes


Stretch marks may develop when a part of the body grows more quickly than the skin that covers it, or the connective tissue of the skin is weakened by an excess of cortico steroid hormones (for example in CUSHING'S SYNDROME). Stretch marks most often appear on the breasts, thighs and abdomen if these parts erilarge very quickly during puberty arid pregnany. They can develop in both men and women during periods of rapid weight gain. The marks result from breaks in the fibrous and elastic tissues of the deeper layers of the skin in response to the pressure of the expanding tissue beneath. These breaks may be compared to deep cuts, except that the wounds come from inside the skin rather than from outside, like deep cuts, the tears in the tissue cannot heal without scarring. There is nothing that will take stretch marks away. Massage may help the colour to fade a littlemore quickly. Perhaps the amount of stretch-marking of a rapidly enlarging part may be reduced by supporting the part against gravity, especially the breasts during times of enlargement, plegia. If the left side of the brain (or the right side in left-handed people) is affected, speech and comprehension of language are usually impaired.

Stretch marks occur when expanding skin is stretched to its limit and tiny tears appear in the supporting layers of skin. Stretch marks are tiny tears in the dermis that are scars and can vary in color from a light pink to a dark purple. Over a very long period of time, usually years, stretch marks can fade in color, but the scars remain. Stretch marks usually appear during periods of growth or when you quickly gain or lose weight. As your size and shape changes, your skin has to stretch to accommodate the change. Stretch marks are most common during puberty and pregnancy - times when the body undergoes rapid changes. But what exactly causes stretch marks to appear. While skin is quite elastic and can stretch a fair amount, it does have its limits. Once that limit is reached, the production of collagen gets disrupted, skin loses its elasticity and the connective fibers inside break. And all that equals you having a stretch mark.

Stretch marks or striae as they are called in dermatology are a form of scarring on the skin with a silvery white hue. Stretch marks are generally associated with pregnancy , obesity , bodybuilding , puberty , and intense physical activity. The skin is made up of three parts: the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the subcutaneous (inner layer), where fatty tissue is stored. It also contains blood vessels that supply skin cells with nutrients, and nerve cells that give us feeling. Stretch marks occur in the dermis. The dermis is made up of strong fibres that connect to each other and allow the skin to stretch as we grow. Over time, these small fibres become thinner and less elastic (stretchy), and some of them break. Where the fibres break, the skin becomes thinner, and these areas show as stretch marks. When the skin is stretched thinly, the blood vessels under the surface show through, which is why stretch marks look reddish in colour.

Symptoms of Stretch Mark

Some common Symptoms of Stretch Mark :

  • The fresh stretch mark looks pink, red, brown or purple
  • The body responds by forming scar tissue
  • The silvery line may look slightly indented
  • Over time, the colour fades
  • The stretch mark becomes a shimmering, silvery line
  • The scar is permanent.

Stretch Mark - Stretch Mark symptom, treatment, causes

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