Stretch Marks: Should We Give Up on Finding the Cure?

What is it? How do I get rid of it/them? Scientists and Dermatologists have long sinced worked together to create, and seek FDA approval for several cutting edge treatments aimed to "cure and erase stretch marks." There are topical creams (better known as Stri-Vectin, at $153.00 per bottle), revolutionary laser resurfacing treatments (also known as "Relume" which was FDA approved a few years back), and several other "remedies" that were in the mainstream media being announced a success, but never heard about again.

Some people never have to worry about a single stretch mark their entire life. What is a stretch mark? Basically, the skin is made up of several layers. The outermost layer, the epidermis, or the part you see. The middle layer is known as the dermis, which contains the connective tissue, and small blood vessels, cells and nerves. These work together to produce collagen. Collagen and elastin are weaved through the dermis on every level giving skin flexibility and firmness. A stretch mark occurs when the skin tears after being expanded beyond it's elastic limits. The tear, and mark you see, is a result of the connective tissue breaking down, collagen fibers pulling apart, and the elastic fibers rip and clump together along the edges of the stretch mark. Sound just as bad as they look, huh?!

What causes a stretch mark? The main cause of stretch marks is any sudden weight fluctuations, or rapid weight gain, as in pregnancy, or sudden increased muscle bulking. A change in hormone levels (triggered by the above instances) prevents collagen and elastin fibers from forming properly, thus making the skin more susceptible to stretch marks.

The bad news: although there is no defined "cure" to stretch marks, and dermatologists and scientists have exhausted every effort in trying, there are a couple seemingly uncommon treatments that are proving to be great successes as of late.