Good Herbal Health

The occurrence of stretch marks is an event that can be assumed as old as all human civilizations.  The stretch marks, after all, often appear when a woman undergoes pregnancy.  And since pregnancy is part of the survival and reproduction of the human species, the problem of ugly stretch marks is not new.

In the recent years, cosmetic dermatologists have intensively studied the occurrence of stretch marks.  They have discovered that stretch marks appear due to two important events during pregnancy.  First, the woman’s body is undergoing hormonal changes.  And second, the expansion of the skin is too rapid.

During pregnancy, the woman’s body experiences radical changes in the concentrations of her hormones to adjust to the presence of a growing human being in the womb.  Hormones are substances released by endocrine glands.  These hormones give instructions to the woman’s body so that the baby inside will grow as it should.

Unfortunately, the changes in the hormone levels interfere with the natural production of collagen.  The collagen is the major component of the skin’s connective tissues.  With insufficient collagen, the epidermis will only have scars.   These scars, of course, are the stretch marks.

The too rapid expansion of the skin of the abdomen, including the buttocks and the breasts, also contribute to the occurrence of stretch marks.  Unlike the abdomen of a person who is growing fat, the abdomen of a women who is pregnant overstretches.  With overstretching, the skin is ruptured.  Such ruptures are covered with scars called stretch marks.

Now that the causes of stretch marks are identified, the next action is to find materials that can prevent the appearance of stretch marks.  And if stretch marks do appear, there must be materials that can treat them so that these ugly discolored streaks may fade.

For the solutions to problem of stretch marks, a woman may turn to knowledge that has been existing for thousands of years.  Such knowledge includes the use of Aloe Vera (scientific name: Aloe barbadenis).   This plant has succulent leaves that were discovered during the ancient times to have healing properties.  The ancient civilizations of Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Indians, and Saracens have used the Aloe Vera in dealing with wounds and inflammations.

The extract of Aloe Vera simply helps the skin regenerates so that wounds are easily healed.  Since stretch marks are basically begin as little wounds due to overstretching, these wounds can be immediately healed by the Aloe Vera before scarring can appear.  In other words, Aloe Vera can prevent stretch marks by healing wounds.

Aloe Vera extracts can be taken directly from the plant but it can also be obtained from botanical formulations such as the Stretch Mark Prevention Cream.