Tiger stripes. Angel scratches. We’ve all tried our
best to come up with more charming names for these less than charming
squiggles on our skin, but the truth is that for many, many women (it’s
estimated that over 80% of us worldwide have them) stretch marks are a
fact of life. Yet, for such a common malady, most of us know
surprisingly little about them; and yes, we’re including doctors in that
“us.”
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On a basic level, stretch marks appear to be
similar to superficial scarring. Typically they start off with a reddish
cast, and then settle down into permanent lines that are either paler
or darker than the skin surrounding them. They’re often slightly
different in texture from the skin surrounding them as well, frequently
slightly lower than the overall level of the skin, or sometimes with a
slightly slicker surface, like scar tissue, both of which can make them
stand out.
Because of how often they’re associated with rapid
size changes in the body, traditional wisdom says that it’s those
changes that are at the root of causing stretch marks, but the truth is
that there isn’t great scientific evidence yet to prove that. “It’s not
really well known as to what causes stretch marks,” says dermatologist Neil Sadick
of Sadick Dermatology in New York City. While he says it’s likely that
the marks are due to an abnormality in the skin’s elastic tissue (things
like collagen and elastin) the exact mechanism that leads to the
formation of those little stripes isn’t clear.
[post_ads]What we do know is that they often show up on
localized parts of the body where the skin is forced to grow at an
accelerated rate, like during pregnancy (the most common source of
stretch marks – 90% of pregnant women are estimated to experience them),
growth spurts, or sudden weight gain. But other factors can also play a
role in whether or not you find these tiny filigrees decorating your
derriere. “Genetic predisposition, utilization of topical or oral
corticosteroids, certain endocrine diseases like Cushing’s syndrome,”
can all be predictors of stretch marks as well, according to Sadick.
As
you might have guessed, all of that means that preventing stretch marks
poses a serious challenge. Your best bet, Sadick says, is to stay away
from medications like the aforementioned corticosteroids (a class of
steroid that is generally used to treat inflammation like skin
allergies, asthma, and arthritis), avoid sudden fluctuations in
size(yes, that includes rushing to bulk up on muscle) by gaining or
losing weight consistently rather than abrupty, and making sure that
skin is well-moisturized, which helps improve its elasticity.
Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades
also suggests a diet rich in fatty acids, protein, and vitamins: all
the things skin needs for good wound-healing and skin development.
Okay, but what if you’ve already got a set of
stripes to show off? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but once
stretch marks have set in, they’re probably there for good. Sorry. The
upside? While you can’t get rid of them completely, there are products
and treatments that can help to make stretch marks less obvious.
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“The
number one topical agent that has been shown to have some efficacy is a
retinoid like Retin-A or Tazorac,” says Sadick. In the same way that
retinoids on your face can pump up collagen production to ward off
wrinkles, on stretch marks they may use that same cell turnover-boosting
ability to encourage skin to heal more evenly (We like Paula’s Choice Resist Retinol Skin Smoothing Body Treatment and Chanetcaille Retinol Body Treatment.)
