Stretch Marks Getting Under Your Skin?

When Adrienne Nugent of San Antonio gave birth to her third child, she was dismayed to see that the stretch marks from her earlier pregnancies -- which she had diligently tried to minimize with topical creams and ointments -- had multiplied.

She'd heard that stretch marks were hard to avoid, but Nugent wasn't particularly concerned. She was looking forward to abdominoplasty surgery.

"I still have some stretch marks, but they're very, very low on my belly," says the 38-year-old. "Most got cut out with my tummy tuck."

Not everyone is willing to go to such lengths to get rid of stretch marks, however. So it's important to understand first what causes stretch marks, and what steps, if any, you can take to prevent them.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Known by doctors as "striae" (usually "striae distensae" or, in the case of pregnancy, "striae gravidarum") stretch marks typically appear after rapid weight gain or loss. They are most common during pregnancy and the teen years, when growth spurts and increased levels of steroid hormones cause significant changes throughout the body. Stretch marks can also be brought on by obesity and weight lifting.

Genetic factors -- including inherited defects of connective tissues -- also play a role, Mohamed L. Elsaie, MD, MBA, says in the August 2008 issue of Esthetic Dermatology News. But the basic cause of stretch marks is unknown.

"Basically, if your mother had them, you're probably going to have them," says Leslie Baumann, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Group and author of The Skin Type Solution.

Stretch marks affect as many as 90% of all women, she says, and they are not easy to get rid of. Once they have passed the initial stage, when they are red or purple, to the later stages, where they become white or silver -- often with deep indentations -- they are much more challenging to treat.

Prevention, therefore, is key.

"Avoiding rapid weight gain or loss is a good start. For those who are pregnant or experiencing the hormone changes of the teen years, it is crucial to moisturize," Baumann says. "Skin becomes more pliant, more plasticized and better able to stretch when it's well hydrated."

She recommends moisturizing three or four times a day with products that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. Massage the moisturizer deep into breasts, belly, hips, and buttocks.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

The appearance of stretch marks depends on the color of your skin; they can start out pink, reddish brown, brown, or dark brown, and fade over time to a more silvery color. Once stretch marks have appeared, it's essential to treat them as early as possible. Research has focused exclusively on the early stages of stretch marks, when they are still red or purple and most readily respond to treatment, Baumann explains.