Myths of Stretch Marks
At the first sight of stretch marks, there are many conflicting emotions. Women feel a sudden loss in self esteem, a sudden fear of the irreversibility of these scars and the need to know exactly what they’re dealing with. There is no guaranteed way to really remove stretch marks, but there are many different treatment options to minimize their visibility. Over time, they will naturally diminish in color on their own, but understanding stretch marks is really the key to finding solutions for the most persistent marks.
The first myth about stretch marks revolves around who gets them. It is a misconception that only pregnant women get stretch marks. While it is true that roughly 90% of pregnant women will get pregnancy stretch marks to some degree, they are far from alone. In fact, teenagers and children can also get these scars from their rapid growth spurts. However, their marks usually heal more quickly than those that appear during adulthood. Additionally, body builders, who are gaining weight and muscle mass rapidly, sometimes get more than what they bargained for. Overweight men and women who are dieting may also leave behind evidence of heavier days in telltale reddish striation scars if they lose their weight too quickly or if they were chronically obese at one time.
Another myth of stretch marks is that getting a tan or applying makeup cover up the appearance of stretch marks. Particularly when stretch marks age and go from a red-purple to a silvery-white, people think they can use self-tanner or go to a tanning bed to attain a uniform color. However, this only worsens the contrast between the healthy tissue and the scar tissue, which is resistant to color change. Makeup can mask the scars but won’t hold up under sweat, water or intense sunlight.
Lastly, there are misconceptions of stretch marks procedures. For instance, some people believe that the cost to prevent stretch marks is high. However, some stretch mark lotions or creams are offered for as low as $5. Chemical peels are another low-cost option, albeit a much more invasive one. Another misconception is that insurance companies will pay to treat these marks from pregnancy as part of their prenatal care, but this is just not the case. Stretch mark removal is seen as a cosmetic surgery so it must be paid for out-of-pocket.
Related topics about Advanced Skincare
- Can A Stretch Mark Cream Help?
- Get Rid of Stretch Marks
- Advanced Skincare For Stretch Marks
- What Are Stretch Marks?
- Stretch Mark Treatment Options
