Pregnancy Today

Search by:
articles
|
expert advice
|
stories
|
recalls
|
all content

Postpartum Topics Postpartum Depression & Emotional Recovery Physical Recovery Breastfeeding Basics Babyproofing Newborn Basics Most Popular Postpartum Pages Postpartum Depression: Why Getting Help Is a Good Thing for Mom and Baby Fitness and Breastfeeding: A Winning Combination Baby Weight Percentile Calculator: Determine Your Baby's Percentile and an Idea at Potential Future Growth Quiz: Getting to Know Your Newborn, Head to Toe

Babies Today

Beauty & Fashion

Stretch Marks

What You Need to Know About Pregnancy Stretch Marks

By Kelly Burgess

2 Comments View all >

bookmark & share | print

Petite and dark-skinned, Tammy Rinson has never liked her stretch marks. But they're on her mind even more than usual because she's planning a trip to Greece. She frets about how she'll look among the beautiful, body-baring Europeans.

"Intellectually, I know all those creams and lotions that I see probably don't work, but another part of me wants to believe," says Rinson, of Pocatello, Idaho. "A couple of times I've been tempted to try them but haven't done so yet."


	Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for stretch marks, nor can they usually be prevented.

According to Dr. David E. Bank of the Center for Dermatologic, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for stretch marks, nor can they usually be prevented. Like so much else, your susceptibility to stretch marks is primarily in your genes.

The technical names for stretch marks are stria atrophica and striae distensae, and they occur in the dermis, the elastic, middle layer of the skin. As the skin is stretched over time, particularly if it's a rather short period of time, the connective fibers break, resulting in stretch marks. At first, they're a rather bright pink or red, but gradually they fade over time to a less noticeable white or silvery hue.

While pregnancy and stretch marks are usually linked, that is not the only cause. Any time the body goes through a growth spurt, whether it's due to pregnancy, significant weight gain, puberty or weight training, there is a chance of developing stretch marks. They can appear nearly anywhere but are most common on the abdomen, thighs, breasts and buttocks.

pages: 1 2 3

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT...

Stretch Marks

Add your own comment

View all 2 comments

juliet says

3 weeks, 2 days ago

Stretch marks appear when the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) breaks and the skin losses it%u2019s elastic quality. I%u2019ve suffered the embarrassment of my stretch marks for a while after my pregnancy.
I looked for a solution to this problem but nothing seemed to work for me, I%u2019ve tried ointments, creams and a lot of other false products that just didn%u2019t deliver what they had promised.
One day I came across this article: http://stretch-marks-removal.bestof-the-net.com/ and the product recommended on it was the one that got the job done! And you can even try it for a month for free.
I finally got rid of my stretch marks and I am happier than ever : )

paulaqqqq says

January 23, 2010

I really liked the Made from Earth Aloe & Jojoba Creme Therapy. I didn't get any strech marks until the last few weeks of my pregnancy and I chalk that up to good genes more than anything.

Regardless though the product did keep me from itching my belly as much as my skin tightened and was moisturizing without being to greasy. I am still using the product three weeks after having my baby and the stretch marks seem to be fading away. I am now buying the product for my best friend who is pregnant. I would recommend the Made from Earth Aloe & Jojoba Therapy to everyone who is pregnant!

Plus my husband loved the smell of it too!!

Content provided on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Click here for additional information.

Welcome, please join our community!

New guest? Sign up! Returning guest? Sign in!