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For every problem, a solution can be found. But with stretch marks on the skin of women, not everything is as simple as it seems. Only cosmetic procedures will help to get rid of them forever. But they do not guarantee that striae will not reappear. But to make them less noticeable is quite within the power of cosmetics.
What are stretch marks
Stretch marks occur in teenagers when the skin does not have time to adapt to the rapid growth of the body.
Before explaining how stretch marks appear, we recall that they are not dangerous to health. Stretch marks, or striae, are just a cosmetic defect. And now some theory.
Under the influence of the female sex hormones estrogen, girls have rounded breasts, buttocks and hips. Together with them, the skin grows (stretches). The degree of its elasticity is different for everyone and depends on genetics.
Stretch marks occur when the skin stretches too quickly. For example, if you pumped the calf muscle in the gym. Or during pregnancy dramatically increased breasts. Rapid weight gain can also lead to the formation of stretch marks (although thin people also have them). With strong stretching, the fibers of the dermis are torn.
The dermis immediately begins to patch the damaged area with connective tissue, and as a result, we see stretch marks – like scars.
What do stretch marks look like on skin?
If you have stretch marks, you know exactly what they look like.
Stretch marks are not to be confused with anything. And that’s why.
Firstly, if you run your palm over the body, then small depressions are felt at the places of overstretching of the skin. This is what striae are.
Secondly, they are visible visually: they look like uneven lines and are often non-uniformly colored.
Crimson or red stretch marks
These are fresh striae, formed recently.
Pink
The older the stretch marks, the lighter they are. Pink color says only one thing – you have been living with them for quite some time.
White
Most likely, stretch marks are at least a year old. As a rule, they become almost invisible after a vacation at sea. Tan visually makes the overall skin tone more even and uniform. Just do not overdo it with sunbathing!
Places of origin
Locations of stretch marks are varied. However, no matter what they say on the Internet about stretch marks on the face, this is nonsense.
chest and belly
As a rule, the cause of stretch marks on the abdomen and chest is pregnancy or the same excess weight.
Legs
Stretch marks usually appear on the thighs. But athletes sometimes notice them on the calves when, after intense training, the calf muscles begin to grow.
Who is more prone to stretch marks?
Alas, women are most prone to stretch marks. And they react very sharply to their appearance during and after pregnancy. Although striae do not cause any physical discomfort.
Women
Stretch marks appear in women for a number of reasons. The main one, as already mentioned, is pregnancy, during which the skin is prone to overstretching due to an increase in body volume and hormonal changes. Among other factors:
genetic predisposition;
sudden weight gain followed by dramatic weight loss.
Men
Contrary to popular belief, men get stretch marks too. The reasons for their appearance are as follows:
genetic predisposition;
rapid weight gain;
physical activity, when the skin does not keep pace with the growth of muscle tissue;
taking certain medications.
Children and adolescents
Adolescents, especially during puberty, also have stretch marks on their chests and thighs. This is due to the influence of hormones, under the influence of which the body is rapidly changing.
Why stretch marks appear
Most often, stretch marks appear due to a sharp weight gain during pregnancy.
Stretch marks occur when the skin for some reason is sharply stretched. Why is this happening?
Growth in volume due to growth
Until the age of 16-18, our body grows not only up, but also in breadth. This happens under the influence of many processes. Including hormonal changes. However, other factors also influence the process.
Weight gain or decrease
Gained or lost weight without regular physical activity, healthy lifestyle and aesthetic procedures? Stretch marks on the body can not be avoided.
Pregnancy
The body transforms as the fetus grows. Not only weight increases, but also volumes. All this can lead to overstretching of the skin.
Heredity
If your mom and grandma had stretch marks, you are also at risk. Knowing this, you can try to prevent them.
Improper diet
Fast food, fatty and smoked foods, excess alcohol are all potential enemies of skin elasticity. Gaining weight is a quick way to get stretch marks. It is better to live in complete harmony with your body.
Dehydration
Dehydration is not a direct cause of stretch marks. However, it significantly reduces the quality of the skin, which loses its softness and elasticity. Drinking enough water is important for beauty and health in general and skin in particular.
Hormonal imbalance
The predominance of certain hormones can cause a rapid increase in body weight, as well as affect the condition of the skin.
Active physical activity in athletes
Physical activity is great. But everything should be in moderation, do not forget. Excessive loads, especially in the first weeks of training, lead to a sharp set of muscle mass. Because of this, the skin on the calves and forearms suffers, first of all. As practice shows, in these places, stretch marks appear in athletes most often.
Stretch Mark Prevention
Proper food, enough water, physical activity and home skin care are the prevention of stretch marks.
If stretch marks have already appeared, you should not console yourself with the hope that with home remedies you will defeat them completely and irrevocably. Only hardware cosmetology can cope with this task. So it is better to take preventive measures.
The first thing to do is to review the diet. Exclude sweet, fatty and everything that contributes to weight gain. Instead, include in your diet foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins B, E, iodine and chromium. There are many of them in foods such as fish, avocados, olive oil, nuts, peppers, feijoa, liver, legumes, spinach, broccoli.
Eat more vegetables. They have a lot of fiber. Try to add greens to every dish.
Move more. Half an hour of physical activity a day is the minimum. Don’t be lazy!
Don’t forget to drink water. Of course, everything is individual, but for ease of calculation, we give the generally accepted daily norm: 30 ml of water per kilogram of weight.
Use after shower creams, mousses or gels, as well as moisturizing and nourishing oils.
Ways to deal with stretch marks
Any prevention of stretch marks is more effective in combination with physical activity on all muscle groups.
To prevent stretch marks on the body or make them less noticeable, you need to take care of your skin regularly. Such care is pleasant and does not cause rejection.
Home care
You can do wraps 1-2 times a week. Mixtures based on algae, caffeine, sea mud not only help to smooth the skin and restore turgor to it, but at the same time fight against orange peel. The effect will be more noticeable if peeling is done before wrapping.
Pinch massage shows good results. To do this, you need oil or fat cream. Take a little cream with your fingers and grasp the small creases on the abdomen or thighs with your thumb and forefinger. Squeeze lightly, lift and release.
professional help
Some aesthetic procedures reduce stretch marks.
Well proven dermarollers – causing controlled microtrauma to the skin, they spur tissue cells to regenerate.
Thermal methods, for example, laser therapy, promote skin renewal and are also used in the fight against stretch marks.
LPG massage – this is a combination of vacuum and mechanical massage, as a result, adipocytes (fat cells) are broken, and the skin surface is leveled.
Mesotherapy, biorevitalization and ozone therapy are used to soften connective tissues and even out skin relief.
Overview of body care products
In the fight against stretch marks, all means are good. Your allies are a smart lifestyle and intensive skin care. Moisturize, nourish it, use creams for smoothness, elasticity and firmness. Healthy-Food offers a wide range of effective body care products. Our test will help you choose the right care.
Milk for dry and very dry skin of babies, children and adults Lipikar Lait, La Roche-Posay
Well-moisturized and well-groomed skin is less prone to stretch marks. Milk contains shea butter and is suitable not only for adults, but also for babies. An added bonus is the ability to apply it to the face. Softens the skin, improves its smoothness and elasticity. Can be used during pregnancy.
Firming Body Milk “Ultra Elasticity”, Garnier
Intensive regenerating and nourishing body cream for dry and very dry skin Nutrix Royal Body, Lancôme
The cream restores the skin due to the nourishing formula with vegetable oils.
Body Milk Life Plankton Multi-Corrective Body Milk, Biotherm
The formula has a delicate effect on the epidermis: it makes the skin noticeably firmer, denser, more elastic. Thanks to the melting delicate texture, the milk is quickly absorbed. It is recommended to apply it in the morning or evening on cleansed skin.