Stretch Marks
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are a common skin concern that causes scarring on the skin as a result of the skin stretching rapidly. The rapid stretching of the skin is often as a result of pregnancy, weight loss/gain or puberty. The scars that appear are typically irregular lines that appear in clusters as parallel lines and they often start as red or brown lines before fading white. The lines are typically glossy in their appearance and appear when the skin has thinned. Stretch marks can present themselves anywhere on the body but they are most commonly found around the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, chest and lower back. Whilst they are completely harmless some people can become unhappy with the appearance of them and look for professional treatments to help reduce their visibility.
What causes stretch marks?
The rapid changes in the skin cause a breakdown of elastin and collagen to occur. Adequate collagen levels are needed to provide the skin with structure and strength. A reduction in this can cause the skin to stretch without structure, and present as stretch marks.
Some of the most common symptoms of stretch marks to help you identify if you have them are:
- Lines that appear glossy and sunken into the skin
- Lines that are different in colour to your natural skin tone
- Silver or white streaks
- Itchiness and irritation
In some cases stretch marks can fade on their own. It’s unlikely for them to completely disappear naturally as they appear as a result of a tear in the skin layer. However there are professional treatments that can help.
Treatments For Stretch Marks
If you have stretch marks on your body that you are unhappy with the appearance of then you might already be considering different treatment methods to help you reduce the visibility of them. Here at Victoria House Clinic we can help and offer a number of treatments for stretch marks to help you love the skin you’re in. Let our expert team help you regain your confidence.
