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

Mbt Shoes and the Cellulite Fight

Have you heard about the new cellulite fighting shoe? They are MBT shoes (also known as Masai Barefoot Technology). You might be wondering how can shoes fight cellulite? I asked myself the same question and decided to do some research on this wonder shoe and the causes of cellulite. Together, I found that this may not be the solution for cellulite we all hoped for. Here's why:

What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is primarily caused by genes and this is why it affects mostly women. Because men and women organize fat differently; most men don't develop cellulite. Unlike women, men organize their fat smoothly underneath their skin. This is because the connective tissue which holds their superficial fat runs parallel to their skin.

Women's bodies organize fat in connective tissue that runs perpendicular to their skin. This creates a "pulling down" effect that creates bumps in the skin's surface or what you see as cellulite.

Now what we know what causes cellulite let's understand why it is so hard to remove.

What Is Cellulite?

Cellulite is superficial fat. That is fat which is located just underneath the skin. This area is the last to be affected by diet or exercise which is why weight management and cellulite reduction are two separate issues.

The fact that cellulite is superficial fat makes it so hard to remove. Today there are many alternatives to remove fat that is located in the deeper tissues of our body. Some options are liposuction, diet, and exercise. Most people assume that cellulite is like the rest of the fat in our body and think it can be reduced by traditional methods. They are wrong. You need specific cellulite treatments to remove cellulite.

Now let's see whether MBT Shoes are an effective cellulite treatment.

MBT Shoes and Cellulite

Before I discuss whether the MBT Shoes work to fight cellulite lets consider the factors that make an effective cellulite treatment. An effective cellulite treatment must target cellulite. This sounds simple, but many so-called cellulite treatment don't target cellulite but other fat in the body. Remember, cellulite is a special type of fat: superficial fat.

Therefore, cellulite treatments that really work must target superficial fat in the body. Effective ones I know of are mesotherapy, endermologie, and acoustic wave therapy.

How Do MBT Shoes Work?

The science behind MBT shoes is quite simple. They work by simulating barefoot walking and help you use muscles you normally don't use. Developers claim their shoes help work to melt fat, reduce varicose veins, cellulite and more. But where's the proof?

There have been some studies to test the alleged benefits of MBT but none involved treating cellulite. In fact there has been no published data to back these claims and most evidence is largely derived from testimonials. Because this information is based on testimonials alone, it's what scientists call "anecdotal data," or information that can't be tested or confirmed. Anecdotal data are highly subjective and unreliable.

Reflecting on the factors needed for an effective cellulite treatment the MBT shows none. How do they target superficial fat? It may sound reasonable to believe that the MBT shoes work to melt fat in the body because of the workout you get when walking but remember this fat is not cellulite. So if you are considering buying the MBT's to treat your cellulite think again. Your best bet are cellulite treatments which target superficial fat.

By: Roselee Stehle