Stretchy subject - Alternative Paths - caring for stretch marks

"Stretch marks are a delicate topic," says Lynne Vertrees, spa director for the Lake Austin Resort in Austin, Texas. "It's a more open [topic] with women who have been pregnant, but if it's because of weight gain we tend to shy away from asking about it." Such reserve is unfortunate because there is a lot of misunderstanding about stretch marks. Far from being a condition exclusively affecting mothers-to-be, people are also susceptible to stretch marks (i.e., straie distensae) if they rapidly gain or lose weight. This includes bodybuilders--especially those using hormone-replacement drugs, like steroids--and fast-growing adolescents.

Adding to the confusion surrounding stretch marks are the inflated treatment claims of products on the market. Medical researchers do not know exactly why people develop stretch marks. Thus, any product claiming to prevent or eliminate stretch marks is fueling unrealistic expectations. However, there are a number of treatments available to minimize their visibility if you already have them, says David Pollack, who studies stretch marks and ways to treat them at Clinical Results, a Fort Worth, Texas-based contract laboratory.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are scars. Although their cause is unknown, it is thought that a lack of support in the dermis, the skin's middle layer, leads to a collagen build-up in over-stretched tissue. The results are pink or purple lines that fade over time and become shallow white scars. This transition is important since older scars are more difficult to treat, according to Dr. Candido Fuentes-Felix, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Huntington, New York. How quickly stretch marks fade depends on your age and fairness of skin. The younger and fairer you are, the slower the process.

If you're concerned about stretch marks, several treatments are available. Keep in mind, the following treatments only serve to minimize the appearance of stretch marks and not preclude them.

What are the treatment options?

Topical Treatments

Lotions marketed as stretch mark treatments are typically alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) formulations or topical vitamin solutions. AHA removes the top layer of skin cells, allowing newer, healthier skin cells to surface. This also allows moisturizers to better penetrate, further softening and smoothing the skin. These lotions work gradually, therefore it is important to routinely apply them. Although your skin may initially feel rough and dry, it will feel more pliable over time. However, if you discontinue the treatment, the effect will be lost.

Many vitamin-based lotions repair the damage caused by free radicals (i.e., atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons). Free radicals have been implicated in a host of health problems, including aging and sun-damaged skin. By reversing the damage caused by free radicals, vitamins A, C and E topical formulations smooth the skin, thus diminishing the appearance of stretch marks.

Surgical Treatments

To reduce the depth of stretch mark scars, doctors can employ surgical procedures that scrape or peel off layers of skin. For example, microder-mabrasion blasts away the top layers of the skin with fine, sand-like particles. Similar results can be achieved through chemical peels and laser techniques. In all cases, the limitation in stretch mark treatments is the depth to which skin can be removed without leaving a scar.

When stretch marks are in their pink or purple stage, pulsed dye lasers can eliminate the coloration, though they won't change the depth of the scar. Due to the risk of permanent discoloration, this technique is not recommended for dark-complexioned individuals.

Nutrition and Exercise

Improving muscle tone and reducing body fat will firm areas affected by stretch marks and reduce their visibility. However, "Dieting for weight loss can adversely affect your skin's health by depriving the body of nutrients," says Janee Steinberg, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based dermatologist. Steinberg recommends a diet rich in vitamins A, C (i.e., fruits and vegetables), D (i.e., milk and cheese) and zinc (i.e., meat, fish, nuts and beans)--all nutrients that promote healthy skin.

Proper hydration is also important. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day will keep skin pliable and resistant to damage, such as stretch marks. Remember, soups, juices and seltzers also count toward this quota, but coffee, tea and cola consumption should be limited.

By: Michael Billings