Why On Earth Do We Get Stretch Marks?

I don’t think I know one person who likes stretch marks. Even the least vain person on earth wouldn’t wish to have them. Nevertheless, you have them. And if you don’t you will! Why do we get these marks?

First of all, even though you see stretch marks on the top, outside layer of your skin, the stretching occurs underneath in the lower layer of your skin. Of the 3 layers, your outer layer or epidermis just exists to keep things out of your body. The second layer is the dermis, and the collagen and elasticity is where the stretching takes place. The hypodermis is the lowest layer, made up of fat & other tissues.

Stretch marks, also known as stria atrophica, form in the dermis layer of your skin. In fact, stretch marks are literally tears in the dermis. Now stretch marks should not be confused with scars, although they do appear quite similar when looking at them. Scars are made of fibrotic tissue which is simply not present in stretch marks.

As stated earlier, the dermis produces elastic fibers. These special fibers are what allows your skin to stretch-basically, they give the skin its elasticity. Stretch marks form when the skin grows faster than the elastic fibers can handle. Rapid growth weakens a skin’s elasticity and can actually break the connective fibers holding it together.

Now it is possible for stretch marks to form even when rapid growth is not present. This happens generally because of poor diet. Improper nutrition will deprive the body of the raw materials it needs to maintain healthy, elastic skin. Smoking is another factor that may cause stretch marks because it will also cause the skin’s elasticity to weaken. However, some growth will be necessary for stretch marks to form even when poor nutrition or smoking are factors.

Getting pregnant? Get used to stretch marks! Whenever you gain a large amount of weight in a short period of time, your body and skin will stretch. Your genes might help you or hurt you. Believe it or not, your family tree can contribute to how likely you are to getting stretch marks!

The discoloring present with new stretch marks will eventually fade. Eventually, a stretch mark will appear almost identical to a scar. However, as stated earlier, stretch marks and scars are very different phenomena and caused by very different factors.

If you don’t like pain, don’t worry. Stretch marks at any age do not hurt. We get them after we lose our baby fat, or enter or leave puberty. If you can keep a healthy diet, it will help you not have these weight swings, which will help your cause as well. Good luck!!

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