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Overweight with stretch marks

A: You can't completely get rid of stretch marks, but there are ways to reduce their visibility. These marks, known as striae, which appear as pink or purplish lines on the tummy, upper thighs, arms, hips or breasts are usually caused when skin has been stretched beyond its normal capacity. The upper layer of skin remains intact, but in the lower layers, collagen and elastic tissue - which give skin its elasticity - become thinner and develop tiny tears. The blood vessels that lie under the skin show through, giving the marks a characteristic pink-purplish colour. Later, when the blood vessels contract, the purplish colour fades to white.

Stretch marks often develop on the breasts or abdomen of pregnant women, but they can also appear in those who gain or lose a significant amount of weight or during adolescence, particularly on the back. Bodybuilders and 'yo-yo' dieters are prime candidates for stretch marks because their weight constantly fluctuates. Unfortunately, the scars left by stretch marks are permanent in the sense that the skin in this area will never be completely normal. However, after time, these scars contract and become thinner, whitish and less obvious. When dieting, losing weight slowly is the best way to prevent stretch marks. During pregnancy, there is not much you can do to prevent them, as it's difficult to control the amount of weight you gain.

There is also no real evidence that oils or creams help to prevent stretch marks, although the latest collagen-containing ones (including Tretinoin) claim to be beneficial in diminishing their appearance. Obviously, any collagen contained in a cream can't penetrate the deeper layers of skin to repair the tiny tears. At an early stage - when they are still red - stretch marks can be treated with laser surgery, but it is not proven that this makes any difference in the long run.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about stretch marks on the Beauty Talk message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

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