Stretch marks can appear on a body for many different reasons. Puberty, weight gain, and pregnancy are often culprits for these unsightly skin blemishes, but other changes in the body can also make them appear. It seems like stretch marks appear overnight without much warning, and it often seems they're there to stay once they've settled in. Fortunately, that's not the case. Medical scientists have begun using silicone patches to treat stretch marks; now this technology is available to the everyday user.

How Do Silicone Patches Treat Stretch Marks?

Silicone Fusion™ Treatment is a non-invasive alternative to methods traditionally used to remove stretch marks. The process begins with medical-grade silicone, which was originally developed to facilitate healing of burn victims' skin until doctors realized its uses could go above and beyond the emergency room. The silicone patches are placed on the affected area with the help of a gentle adhesive. The pad creates a microclimate beneath the silicone, providing just the right amount of moisture to help the damaged, stretched skin. At the same time, this microclimate stimulates collagen production and encourages skin cell turnover, replacing dead skin cells with fresh, new ones at a healthy rate. Silicone patches also gently pull the skin taut as over time, helping to even out the indentations caused by the stretch marks.

People who are using silicone patches to treat stretch marks are encouraged to apply them just before they go to bed. This allows for maximum benefit, as the patches can be worn from one to nine hours. In the morning, the adhesive is ready to be removed by simply peeling the patch from the skin. The result will be healthier, plumper, more even skin.

Stretch Marks and Body Parts: Where Can Silicone Patches be Used?

Stretch marks have a way of appearing all over the body. Different people will have them in different places for any number of reasons. Stretch marks occur because the skin is being pulled faster than it can produce collagen -- a protein in the body whose main function is to help the skin stay elastic so it can bounce back from damage. When the skin's stretching outpaces the body's collagen production, the elastic barrier can't keep up, leading the way for stretch marks to appear.

In a sense, this process can be demonstrated with rubber bands. If a person pulls a fresh, brand new rubber band, it will stretch for a long time without breaking or tearing and go right back to its natural form when the person releases the pressure. On the other hand, if someone tries to stretch a dry, fragile rubber band that's been around for a while, it will likely stay stretched and be unable to return to its formerly tight position. This is what happens when the body doesn't have enough collagen to keep it elastic while the skin is being stretched.

Silicone patches can be used on any part of the body where stretch marks have invaded the skin. Although stretch marks can occur anywhere for both men and women, the following are some common reasons people experience stretch marks, along with the body parts where silicone pads are useful in treating stretch marks:

• Breasts -- Stretch marks often appear on the breasts of adolescent girls as they enter puberty. Girls who begin developing quickly may experience stretch marks on the sides or beneath the breasts. Pregnant or nursing mothers may also experience stretch marks on their breasts as their bodies adjust to the many changes that occur when a baby arrives. Silicone patches can be used to treat stretch marks on in this because they're gentle enough to be used on delicate breast tissue without necessitating any painful or invasive procedures.
• Thighs -- Adolescent boys often experience stretch marks on their thighs during puberty. These stretch marks usually appear when growth spurts happen, causing the bones to grow at a rapid pace. The skin stretches to cover the additional surface area, but the body's collagen levels can keep up. After the pains of puberty subside, people carry these stretch mark reminders with them into adulthood.
• Hips -- Stretch marks are common on women's hips. These marks usually occur as a result of puberty, as well. As girls' bodies widen at the hip area in preparation for womanhood and the ability to bear children, the hipbones grow wider at a fairly rapid pace, causing the skin to stretch horizontally to accommodate the new shape.
• Belly -- Stretch marks on the belly are common for both men and women. For women, belly stretch marks are often the result of pregnancy. During the nine-month gestation period, the body must make room for a whole new person, meaning the skin is forced to stretch well beyond its previous state of being in a very short time. Weight gain unrelated to pregnancy can also be a cause for stretch marks on the belly; men and women alike may see belly stretch marks from weight gain.
• Arms -- The upper arm area can also experience stretch marks. These marks often appear on men but may also be seen on women. Growth spurts are a common culprit in this case, too; as the joints and bones grow suddenly, the skin is left to make up the difference. Bodybuilders and people who focus their fitness on their upper torso have been known to experience stretch marks on their arms if their muscle mass exceeds the body's natural ability to produce enough collagen to cover the added space.

Silicone Fusion™ patches can be used to treat each of these areas -- and any other body part affected by stretch marks -- gently and effectively.

If you're searching for silicone patches to treat stretch marks, Dermaclara Beauty proudly offers a full line of products that are clinically proven to show results. Our Silicone Fusion Technology has been shown to dramatically improve the look and feel of skin. Get your Silicone Fusion™ system today, and get ready to say goodbye to those stretch marks!