Why stretch marks form and how to avoid them

They affect the abdomen, hips, and thighs. It's very important to moisturize your skin, eat a healthy diet, and exercise.

di |
stretch marks

STRETCH MARKS

Le stretch marks, as well as the cellulitis, are particular aesthetic defects that can appear as early as adolescence. It is wrong to think that it is a disorder since the only repercussions are purely related to physical appearance and not to the person's health. But what are they then? Essentially, stretch marks are skin scars which originate from fractures that occur in the deepest level of the skin: the dermatologists at derma.

HOW TO AVOID STRETCH MARKS

Le stretch marks are one of the major aesthetic worries of the women, although they don't spare men either. They appear quite frequently during puberty and especially during pregnancy.

There are also other factors that determine the appearance of stretch marks:

But in any case, it's absolutely not true that once stretch marks appear, they're destined to remain forever. In fact, eliminating them is easier than it seems.

ALSO READ: Cellulite, stop it first with this diet

WHAT ARE

Stretch marks are linear atrophies, more or less marked, of the skin due to the breaking of the elastic fibres of the dermis.

They appear as real scars, more or less thin, appearing in areas of the skin such as hips, breast, internal cosce e abdomen.

In their initial phase, defined inflammatory, have a reddish color, while in the next phase, called cicatricial, take on a pearly color.

In correspondence with the striae that characterize them, the skin appears depressed and can give a particular sensation of emptiness to the touch.

WHERE THEY APPEAR

Those who experience stretch mark problems may see scars appear on any part of the body, although in most cases these are located on:

Their appearance usually follows the so-called Langer lines, that is, a graphic map that represents the areas of skin tensionThanks to this method it is possible to highlight the areas of the body most subject to tension and above all the anatomical directions towards which the muscles pull the skin.

PINK STRETCH MARKS

Pink marks indicate that the skin is inflamed and undergoing severe stress, but has not yet undergone a deep "tear." At this stage, if they haven't appeared for more than 4-6 weeks, stretch marks can still be repaired, but it is necessary to use moisturizing and nourishing creams containing hyaluronic acid, elastin, 2 or even 3 times a day. shea butter and vegetable oils. This helps the skin overcome the tension it is subjected to, limiting the damage. For a more targeted treatment, a specialist may prescribe a cream based on natural retinoids.

RED STRETCH MARKS

At this stage, skin inflammation reaches its peak and manifests itself with red-purple streaks. It's important to intervene as soon as possible to limit the damage. You can proceed step by step: first at home, applying specific creams to reduce inflammation and stimulate the skin to produce new collagen. Then, see your doctor, who can intervene with: pilling or other treatments. Dermophoresis, for example, uses a device that emits a weak current and allows active ingredients with a regenerating effect, such as growth factors, to penetrate deeply. The full treatment can last around 5-6 months, with sessions every 30 days (about 250 treatments each).

WHITE STRETCH MARKS

These are the most difficult: a pearly white color indicates that the skin layers have healed. Blood no longer circulates in that area, and the skin sags, forming the typical furrows. However, if the lesion is no larger than 3-4 mm, it is still possible to reduce the damage. Typically, a fractional CO2 laser is used, which creates thousands of tiny holes in the most superficial layers, stimulating collagen production that tightens the skin and reduces stretch marks. Typically, three treatments spaced a month apart are recommended (about 250 cc each). However, they are best done in winter, because they cause micro-lesions in the skin that, when exposed to the sun, can leave dark spots.

CAUSES

Stretch marks appear when skin with reduced resistance and not sufficiently elastic is subjected to a excessive tension.

The triggering causes can be of the following type: hormonal, constitutional e mechanicalHormonal changes negatively affect collagen synthesis, a substance closely linked to skin tone.

In some cases, epidermal distension may depend on constitutional factors: there is a family predisposition to stretch marks.

However, the imperfection is more often due to mechanical situations which occur, for example, following sudden weight fluctuations which weaken the skin tissue, after a pregnancy, after breastfeeding, but not only.

They are more frequent in women, especially in adolescence and also due to estrogen Women are more likely to develop stretch marks than men. But even men aren't exempt; in fact, due to a family history or poor skin elasticity, they can and do experience stretch marks.

stretch marks

TO KNOW MORE: Losing weight after giving birth: tips for getting back in shape, stress-free, starting with a healthy diet.

STRETCH MARKS DURING PREGNANCY

Also known in the medical field as striae distensae, stretch marks are often a nightmare for women who are faced with a pregnancy.

Scarring and cracking of the skin can appear, especially in the abdomen, breasts, and thighs, and is very common during pregnancy. It's estimated that approximately 9 out of 10 women experience this annoying problem, but younger women are more at risk.

According to studies conducted by theHumanitas San Pio X, women would have a higher chance of experiencing stretch marks depending on the value of their body mass index just before pregnancy, or because of theweight gain during pregnancyOther factors, including typical hormonal imbalances, also contribute to the appearance of stretch marks.

NATURAL REMEDIES

Stretch marks cannot be completely eliminated once they have made their appearance. It is still possible to tone them down, making them almost invisible.

When the stretch marks are recently formed, in order to revitalise and oxygenate the affected skin, you can carry out a couple of scrub per week, capable of eliminating dead surface cells.

Once the scrub is finished, you can massage with vegetable oils or butters containing active ingredients capable of regenerating damaged tissue. Examples include sweet almonds, jojoba, wheat germ, argan, and blackcurrant.

For recent stretch marks, you can also treat them by applying creams with ingredients that promote deep hydration and microcirculation. Among the best are:

When stretch marks are in healing phase It is necessary to act with targeted treatments, which can be performed at specialized aesthetic dermatology centers. Methods commonly used to treat stretch marks are: fractional lasers and microinjections of hyaluronic acid.

TO KNOW MORE: How to Protect Legs with Coffee Grounds, Honey, Lavender, and Cabbage

stretch mark remedies 3

 

PREVENTION

La prevention represents the most powerful weapon in the fight against stretch marksThis blemish can be combated by taking daily care of your skin with simple strategies. To prevent stretch marks, therefore:

  • Keep your weight under control, avoiding sudden changes. Be careful of rapid weight loss and diets do-it-yourself, as they can damage the elastic and support fibers.
  • Follow a healthy and balanced diet, rich in foods capable of promoting skin elasticity.
  • Prefer foods rich in vitamin E, with elasticizing and antioxidant action. This substance is found in abundance in nights, in hazelnuts and in almonds which however should be consumed in small quantities, since they are very high-calorie foods.
  • Eat foods with Vitamin A, capable of strengthening the skin. This vitamin is present in pumpkins, tomatoes, dark leafy vegetables and eggsGive plenty of space to amino acids and proteins, as they help build the skin's supporting fibers. To get them, consume fish, dairy products, legumes, and seeds, especially sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Don't forget the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, which are abundant in oily fish.
  • Avoid to smoke and drinking alcohol.
  • Maintain an active lifestyle, playing a sport or walking for at least thirty to forty minutes a day.
  • Quench your skin, hydrating it properly from the inside and outside. From the inside, drinking two liters of water a day to be combined with herbal teas and centrifuged fresh fruits and vegetables. From the outside, apply creams and serums with a hydrating and elasticizing effect.
  • Limit it stressProlonged conditions of emotional tension and physical and mental fatigue favor the cortisol productionThis hormone is capable of sagging the skin.
  • Pay attention to the clothes you wearAvoid wearing tight clothing: it impedes proper circulation.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR OUR BEAUTY:

Want to see a selection of our news?

Don't Waste