The medical term for stretch marks is striae distensae, and they are actually scar tissue. Sydney dermatologist Tanya Gilmour says they occur due to excessive stretching of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and the dermis, which is the layer of skin beneath that consists of connective tissue, blood vessels and collagen.

Stretched to the limit As the skin is stretched, the normal production of collagen is disrupted and stretch marks appear. In theory, they can turn up anywhere on the body, but the main areas affected are places where the body fluctuates in size. During pregnancy that’s commonly on the stomach, breasts, hips, thighs and buttocks. But if you think it’s only pregnancy, and being female, that puts one at risk of stretch marks, you’re wrong. "Body fat has a role to play in the development of stretch marks, so they can affect anyone who gains weight rapidly," Dr Gilmour says. "Bodybuilders can also develop stretch marks, and young men can develop them around the shoulder area if they have a bit of a growth spurt, or carry a bit of excess weight on their backs." One thing many women wonder is, are stretch marks hereditary? "Some connective tissue diseases make some people prone to stretch marks, but they only affect a very small percentage of the population," Dr Gilmour says. "As far as developing stretch marks as a result of pregnancy goes, if your mum developed them it doesn’t necessarily mean you will. It is largely down to how much weight you gain during the pregnancy. Also, having kids close together doesn’t increase the risk." Stretch marks usually start out as purplish streaks on the skin, which means the stretch mark, or scar, is inflamed. "If you do nothing to it, eventually the inflammatory element calms down and the mark fades in colour to silver or white," Dr Gilmour says. The bad news is that stretch marks never actually disappear. But there are a number of things you can do to reduce their appearance. One is a vascular laser, which is virtually painless and can reduce the colour and texture of the marks in some people. Topical treatments include a variety of over-the-counter creams and oils, many of which can be applied to the skin in areas at risk during and after pregnancy, and prescription creams containing retinoids and vitamin A can also be used post-pregnancy. Dr Gilmour says diet can help prevent stretch marks too. "Eating a balanced, healthy diet can definitely help. You won’t have a massive increase in your weight during pregnancy, and a bonus is that you won’t have a lot of weight to lose afterwards."

At-home stretch mark treatments 1.Revitol Stretch Mark Cream. This cream is only available from the Revitol website and is shipped from the US but considered to be an extremely effective product. The Stretch Mark Prevention cream’s squalene oil will regenerate and protect your skin while the vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract act to strengthen the collagen and elastin found deep in the lower epidermis. By stimulating the production of your own body’s natural collagen your skin will become stronger and its natural elasticity will be increased. This will significantly aid in the prevention of dermal ruptures that eventually result in stretch marks. Vitamin D3 is a natural derivative of vitamin D produced by your own body when you expose your skin to the sun. However, for it to aid in the regeneration of the epidermal layer far more sunlight is required than our everyday modern life will allow, thus alternate sources of vitamin D3 become a necessity. The vitamin D3 in this product will complement the vitamins E and A in the stimulation of new dermal cell production. Visit www.revitol.com.au

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