Probably everyone knows what stretch marks are.They appear on the body not only in women after childbirth, as is commonly believed. Women's skin is more prone to their occurrence than men's, but men can also get stretch marks. Stretch marks appear on the body due to trauma to the skin, which is greatly stretched, for example, on the stomach during pregnancy, or with excessive body weight.
Stretch marks and the causes of their appearance
Stretch marks are stripes and lines,which can be of different colors, these are peculiar scars and marks on the skin. In medicine, stretch marks, especially red ones, are called "striae". These are tears in the skin due to its strong stretching. Such micro-tears are filled with connective tissue. Fresh, recent stretch marks have a red color, which is given to them by blood vessels located in the upper layer of the epidermis. Over the course of several months, they begin to change color, become lighter, and can even change the width of the grooves, increasing in size. The main reasons for the appearance of stretch marks on the skin may be as follows.
- Pregnancy
The main reason for the appearance of stretch marks in womenis pregnancy. After childbirth, stretch marks are very noticeable on the stomach and in the thigh area, due to the strong thinning of the skin in these areas. Stretch marks may also appear on the skin of the chest, due to the enlargement of the mammary glands.
- Excess weight
Rapid weight gain also contributes to the appearance ofstretch marks on the skin. With obesity, stretch marks appear not only on the hips and stomach, but also on the legs and arms. Their appearance is also facilitated by sudden changes in body weight.
- Sexual maturation
In adolescence, stretch marks may appear on the body in the area of the hips, abdomen, and legs. The body can get rid of such stretch marks on its own, due to the renewal of the teenager's skin.
- Hormonal imbalance, endocrine diseases
Due to improper functioning of hormones,the sufficient production of collagen and elastin, the main building materials of the skin, is disrupted. In this case, stretch marks can appear even in slender people. The connective tissue that fills the tears in the skin does not have pigment and cannot produce it. Therefore, stretch marks do not tan, but remain light. In addition, there are no hair follicles on stretch marks. Recently appeared stretch marks have a reddish tint, and these are the easiest to get rid of. Stretch marks that are visible on the skin for more than six months are considered "old". In order to get rid of them, you need to put in a lot of effort.
Remove stretch marks
So, red stretch marks are the freshest,appeared on the skin quite recently. It is logical to assume that it will be easiest to remove them from the skin. However, here you will have to try. After all, stretch marks are scars, and you can’t remove them with a simple moisturizer. To get rid of red stretch marks, you need to combine many methods. Medical procedures Procedures performed by specialists, dermatologists, and cosmetologists will help get rid of not only fresh, red stretch marks, but even old ones. Such procedures include: chemical peeling, laser resurfacing, and even surgery.
- Chemical peeling
Chemical peeling is performed in salons andcosmetology clinics. The procedure involves applying a special acid to the skin of the body, which kind of burns the upper layers of the epidermis. This peeling cannot be compared in its effect with superficial peelings and exfoliating scrubs. Specialists use several types of acids - for superficial peeling, for medium and for deep. The procedure will help reduce or completely remove stretch marks on the skin.
- Laser resurfacing
Laser resurfacing requires preliminarypreparing the skin for the procedure. For a month or two, creams and ointments containing a high concentration of vitamin C are constantly applied to the skin. The procedure itself involves the use of a laser, which burns out stretch marks; it is performed under anesthesia and lasts about an hour. After the procedure, you should use healing and restorative creams, since the skin will still suffer somewhat from the burn.
- Ultrasound therapy
A good remedy to remove stretch marks andimprove the general condition of the skin, is an ultrasound massage. During this procedure, ultrasound penetrates not only into the layers of the skin, but even into the muscles and subcutaneous fat. Blood circulation improves, the fat layer breaks down, and muscle tone is restored. Recent stretch marks can be completely removed in this way.
- Surgery
An operation to remove areas of skin wherethere are striae, called abdominoplasty. This is the most serious type of stretch mark removal. It is used only in extreme cases, with serious types of injury and stretching of the skin. The operation is performed under anesthesia, involves the imposition of postoperative sutures, and also has a long rehabilitation period. In addition, abdominoplasty is very expensive and should only be performed by a highly qualified specialist. Wraps and masks Various wraps and application of ointments and special creams will help remove stretch marks that are characterized by their recent appearance. Such procedures remove stretch marks in a short time, and are often carried out in beauty salons, but they can also be done independently. Wraps with seaweed, in particular, with spirulina, are very helpful for stretch marks. This plant perfectly moisturizes the skin, activates metabolic processes, improves blood circulation. A paste of crushed seaweed is applied to problem areas, wrapped in film, and then left for 30-50 minutes under a warm blanket. Then the mask is washed off with water and a moisturizing cream is applied, the application of which is good to combine with massage.
- Creams, ointments, oils
The arsenal of cosmetic products is rich in variousstretch mark medications. You can buy them both in a cosmetics store and in pharmacies. Creams and ointments containing collagen and elastin, herbal extracts, essential oils, and vitamins are designed to remove the appearance of stretch marks. A good remedy would also be to use a cream for scars and cicatrices. This will help remove stretch marks on the body that have appeared relatively recently. A good help in the fight against stretch marks would also be the use of oils that perfectly moisturize the skin and reduce the appearance of tears. Use basic oils for this: olive, coconut, almond, wheat germ oil, macadamia nut and others. It is worth adding a few drops of essential oils of orange or mandarin, lavender, neroli, rosemary to a sufficient amount of these oils. Massage and physical activity You can take a course of special massages in a beauty salon or massage room; the work of a specialist is guaranteed to help you remove stretch marks. However, you can also do a massage at home. To do this, you should scrub your skin and rub it until it is red with a hard towel. Take cocoa butter, you can also add rosemary or neroli essential oils, and rub the mixture into the problem area with vigorous circular motions. The procedure should be done every day for two weeks. Only after this period can you see the desired results. You can also do a pinching massage with any massage oil or a well-moisturizing special product for stretch marks. It would also be useful to do sports. Physical exercise will tone the muscles, which will begin to tighten the skin from the inside and help remove stretch marks. You will be provided with good blood supply to problem areas of the skin, improved lymphatic drainage, and an active metabolism. If you are overweight, which prevents you from actively doing sports, try such types of physical exercise as yoga, Pilates or stretching, they will also give the desired result. Diet Proper nutrition will also help remove stretch marks faster. Fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy cereals, and protein foods should be on the table every day. It is worth eating lean meats and fish, because animal protein is the best source for the synthesis of collagen and elastin - building materials for the skin. The diet should include vitamins, especially A, C and E, as well as all the necessary minerals, microelements, namely: calcium, potassium, silicon, which are also necessary for our skin. Using any of the above methods, as well as combining several of them, you are guaranteed to get rid of noticeable manifestations of red stretch marks on the skin. Constantly monitoring your weight, doing physical exercises, monitoring your diet, you will not only be able to remove these unpleasant manifestations on the skin, but will also always look healthy and beautiful! We recommend reading:
