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How can you prevent and treat stretch marks?
Stretch marks are the visible signs of skin repair on the surface of the skin that hasleft behind scars quickly created by the body to reconnect skin fibres that were tornbecause of an inability to withstand stretching. This occurs when hormonal imbalances have impaired the ability of the body toreplace dying, damaged or worn out skin cells and skin structures with new healthytissues.Stretch marks are then tears in a skin pattern affected by
atrophy 
which is acondition characterized by weakness, thinning, roughness, stiffness, and decreasein the size of tissues, diminished cellular proliferation, and decreased functionality.Stretch marks are linear atrophic lesions that span from a few millimetres up tofifteen centimetres (0.6 inches)
.
 You can wisely choose how to prevent and treat stretch marks once you understandthat the skin is composed of the intercellular elements that serve as scaffolds forthe different structural elements of the skin. These elements are in charge of theskin's mechanical properties: firmness, strength, suppleness, and elasticity. The skin template is a precious resource which is both produced and consumedquite often during our lives. Skin is continuously synthesized by fibroblasts,however, whenever it is damaged, malformed or worn out, skin (particularly thestructural proteins collagen and elastin) is broken down into particles and furtherinto their amino-acid components by collagenase and gelatinase enzymes. Alsoknown as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and then recycled.By digesting key matrix proteins, such as collagen and elastin, MMP enzymes playan underappreciated yet critical function in skin physiology.
A balance between collagen synthesis and collagen degradation
In healthy or youthful skin, the synthesis and degradation of the skin matrix are inbalance. Damaged or redundant matrix is degraded while the deficit is replenishedby the continuous synthesis. Unfortunately, this complicated balance getsinerrupted by hormonal imbalances, malnutrition and as we age, too little of thematrix is synthesized and too much is degraded. As with any supply-demandimbalance, it can be brought back to balance by either augmenting supply (boostingsynthesis of the matrix) or reducing demand (inhibiting the breakdown).In particular, the synthesis of elastin is physiologically important, although elastin isonly 2% of the total protein in the dermis. These skin fibres supply the resiliency of 
 
skin. Elastin synthesis and the regulation of the quantity of cross-linked insolubleelastin and collagen fibres depend on the interaction between three factors. The first is the presence of active fibroblasts, which exude the soluble precursor of elastin, tropoelastin. The second is the relative amount of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans,fibronectin and laminin among other skin matrix components within the dermis alsoexuded by fibroblasts. The third are enzymes in charge of both the cell degradation progressions that allowthe breakdown of dead cells into their component amino-acids and their renewal forthe creation of new proteins (amino-acid chains).So be careful with any "stretch mark cream" that contains soluble collagen and/orelastin. They will NOT do the trick. What is needed is the biosynthesis andappropriate self-assembly of complex skin structures from inside out your body. Thefirst step in elastic fibre formation is the manifestation of small cell surface-associated elastin cells (soluble tropoelastin) that enlarge in size with time(microassembly). The elastin cells are afterwards transferred to pre-existing elasticfibres in the extracellular matrix where, through an intricate and coordinatedbiological process, they combine into larger structures (macro-assembly) andbecome cross-linked funtional fibre-like polymers with reversible deformation andhigh resilience.Hormonal changes affect skin metabolism. This occurs especially during pregnancyand growth spurts during puberty, weight lifting while also taking steroids, orsudden weight gains.Not much is known about what can be done to modify those hormonal changesduring puberty or pregnancy, but of course weight lifting & taking steroids is underyour control as may be sudden weight gains.
What helps to avoid stretch marks and what is necessary to regeneratedamaged tissues?
Stretch marks can be avoided by regaining skin’s firmness, strength, suppleness,and thickness. The most recent stretch mark treatments and prevention products are focused onreplenishing the skin matrix by aiming to stimulate fibroblasts to synthesizecollagen or elastin (e.g. ascorbic acid, copper peptides, palmitoyl pentapeptide,oligopeptides and other).
 
When skin is wounded, tiny cells called
fibroblasts
change their characteristics (kindof like changing into their work clothes) and help repair the damaged tissue andassist in the process of forming new tissue. Part of their job is to manufacture newcollagen, an important component of connective tissue.Fibroblasts never completely lose this ability to create more collagen, even inmature skin. After all, even wounds in older people eventually heal. But as you growolder, your collagen levels dwindle and your taut, dewy skin dries out, tears andcrinkles.Why do skin fibroblasts slow down their collagen production as we get older, eventhough they can still produce it? Scientists found out why: Fibroblasts in aged tissuestart acting old themselves. But (and this is a big but) when they are isolated fromaged tissue in the lab and exposed to the same stimulating factors the body uses tokick them into gear, skin fibroblasts once again start producing significant quantitiesof collagen.With this knowledge, cosmetic scientists started exploring ways to stimulatefibroblasts in living skin, on living people, not just in Petri dishes in the laboratory.Up to this day two paths are of interest.One is the development of an artificially made molecule called
 palmitoyl pentapeptide.
 The other is a naturally occurring complex glyco-conjugated substancesecreted by a mollusk to regenerate its skin structures and cells whichhappen to be very similar to what is in the human skin matrix.
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3 (Pal-KTTKS)
Chemically speaking palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 is a relatively small molecule madeof 5 amino-acid linked together and attached to a fatty acid to enhance oil solubilityfor the sake of better skin penetration. It is structurally related to the precursor of collagen type I (a.k.a. procollagen type I). Researchers found that when added tothe culture of fibroblasts (the key skin cells), palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 gets them topump out the synthesis of the key constituents of the skin matrix: collagen, elastinand glycosaminoglycans.How exactly palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 does that remains unclear, although anumber of theories exist.
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JudyAulin

Stretch marks are a horrible memory of my pregnancies. After giving birth 3 times, my stomach resembles a zebras with all the stripes. I've used several different "miracle" creams that didn't own up to their promises - some actually caused irritation. I'd really prefer using natural products, if there is one that actually works. I found this website http://www.stretchmarkstreatment.com/ and wanted to know if anyone had tried these products and if they work. Thanks

reply09 / 02 / 2009
KathleenLeRoi

I too had stretch marks from rapid weight gain especially on my thighs. I read about the use of snail serum and decided to give it a try. I was amazed how well the products worked in a short amount of time. I'm not embarrased to wear shorts any more. I first read about it on a blog http://www.biocutis.com/blog - it has a lot of great tips.

reply09 / 02 / 2009
jennifer8005

Hi , I always had pretty bad stretch marks and red scars around my belly region and abdomen ever since I gave birth to my three kids.I had tried Vitamin E oil and cocoa butter which a number of people had recommended but it didn't seem to work. My Doctor had even suggested a Tummy Tuck. I then recently read an article about a lady who supposedly got rid of her stretch marks using a particular cream. I tried it and it worked really well. Within 4 weeks my stretch marks were very much faded and they soon disappeared You can read more about the lady's article at the link below. http://stretchmarkszapped.wordpress.com/

reply05 / 25 / 2008
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