What are stretch marks

By their nature, stretch marks are nothing more than tears in collagen fibers. They are caused by sudden growth, weight gain of the entire body or a separate organ. A common reason for the appearance of stripes is fluctuations in body weight: from significant weight gain to sudden weight loss. Therefore, the most common cases of stretch marks are pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding, and strict diets.

Why is this happening? When you gain weight, there is a strong stretching of the surface of the epidermis. The skin has its own stretching limit. With a rapid gain of muscle mass, accumulation of fat, skin cells and collagen fibers do not have time to grow, they are stretched to the limit, and then an internal rupture occurs.

The fact is that the dermis consists of several layers that are heterogeneous in structure. The topmost layer has the greatest density, because it performs a protective function. And the layers underneath are much thinner and more vulnerable.

Under the influence of many factors, for example, during the period of bearing a baby, when the abdomen and breasts are rapidly growing, destruction of the fragile tissues of the inner layers of the dermis is observed. In this case, there are initially no visible damage on the surface of the skin.

But after some time, connective tissue, reminiscent of scars, begins to grow in the places of internal ruptures, in the resulting voids. Its structure is dense and rough, and these new formations seem to appear and “shine through” through the top layer.

In appearance they resemble uneven stripes and can be of different lengths, widths, and colors. Initially, tears in the deep layers of the skin have a blue, burgundy, red, or purple tint. This is due to the blood vessels located at the sites of injury. Such stretch marks are considered “young” and it is at this stage that they can be successfully eliminated.

After a certain period of time, the beds of the capillaries in the places of rupture become empty and dry, and the stripes lighten, become white or have a pearlescent tint. This signals the “aging” of stretch marks. To get rid of them, drastic measures are already required: the intervention of a cosmetologist or even a plastic surgeon.

Reasons for appearance

There are only three reasons for the formation of stretch marks:

1. Strong stretching of tissues;
2. Loss of skin elasticity;
3. Flabbiness of the muscular frame.

But there are several more prerequisites for these reasons.

And one of the main provoking factors is hormonal imbalance. It is observed during the following periods:

Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding

Hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother stimulate weight gain. The fetus grows, and at the same time the belly grows. At this time, the production of the hormone prolactin increases, which is responsible for the formation of breast milk. The breasts are preparing for the lactation period; they fill out, become heavier, and become larger in size.

After childbirth, the breasts fill with milk, from a large accumulation of which the woman may even feel pain. Constant pumping and feeding of the baby leads to emptying of the milk lobules. There is a constant sharp fluctuation in volume, the fibers cannot withstand such a load and break.

It is believed that early cessation of breastfeeding will protect the breasts from stretch marks. This is a misconception. Over the 9 months of pregnancy, the breasts gradually increased in size, and after a sudden cessation of feeding, the epidermal tissue should recover very quickly (return to its previous level). And this is impossible.

Puberty

By the age of 12-15, a girl’s body intensively produces the hormones progesterone and estrogen. They are responsible for the growth of breasts, which expand rapidly. The muscles do not have time to grow to support the growing breasts. This can lead to stretch marks.

Diseases of the endocrine and reproductive system

Taking hormonal contraceptives and medications can cause hormonal imbalances and, therefore, cause the formation of stretch marks;

The second important factor leading to the formation of the hated stripes is fluctuations in body weight. It is observed in former athletes and women losing weight.

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After a strict diet, a sharp weight loss occurs, the extra pounds disappear, the stretched skin does not have time to contract, it sag greatly and becomes covered with crimson stripes of stretch marks.

The same picture appears on the body when intensive training suddenly stops. In former athletes, the muscle frame weakens and becomes flabby, and breast volume decreases.

Among other things, genetic predisposition plays an important role in the formation of striae. People with thin skin that is easily damaged are more likely to develop stretch marks than those whose skin has a thicker texture. It is noted that the skin of residents of the south is more resistant to the appearance of subcutaneous tears than that of northerners.

Home methods to combat stretch marks

To remove stretch marks from the chest, you need to be patient; eliminating this defect is a long-term and painstaking task. The success of treatment will depend on how early measures are taken.

It is a mistake to hope that the stripes will disappear on their own, or to wait until they turn white. As soon as the first, even the most minor, changes appear on the skin, it is necessary to act immediately.

Red stretch marks can be treated with the following home methods:

• Cosmetics and medicines (ointments, creams);
• Traditional methods (masks, compresses).

If the stretch marks are already white, it is almost impossible to remove them yourself. Such defective changes in the skin can be corrected with great difficulty. They can be successfully treated only with modern cosmetic and surgical procedures: mesotherapy, laser resurfacing and others.

To ensure a positive result in the fight against stretch marks, an integrated approach is required - this includes the efforts of the woman herself and the services of specialists.

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Folk recipes

The problem of stretch marks is by no means modern. The role of a woman since the very beginning of humanity has been to bear and give birth to offspring. Even if stretch marks did not appear on the mother’s body after the first birth, then with each subsequent birth the risk of their appearance increases. And in ancient times, beauties sought to get rid of ugly stripes. There are a lot of recipes for this, many of them time-tested.

Traditional methods are used mainly in the following forms:

• Compresses;
• Homemade masks, lotions and creams;
• Wraps;
• Oil rubbing;
• Scrubs.

For each option, natural products are used, which are often on hand, and if not, they can be freely purchased at a store or pharmacy.

However, you should be prepared for the fact that the result of independent procedures will not come immediately; it will take at least six months of regularly carried out caring actions.

Compresses

This method of getting rid of a skin defect is designed to create a contrast effect. The compress is performed using hot and cold water or ice.

1. For this you need to take two containers of water, a soft towel or a large cloth napkin.
2. Pour hot water (but not boiling water!) into one container and add a spoonful of sea or table salt to it. It should be remembered that the skin of the hands is thicker and more accustomed to hot water, and the skin of the breasts, especially the nipples, are sensitive and can be damaged by high temperatures.
3. Place cold water and a spoonful of lemon juice in the second container.
4. First, the towel is moistened in hot water and pressed against the chest for 30-40 seconds, then in cold water. This should be alternated up to 10 times.

Instead of cold liquid, you can use pre-prepared ice - freeze water with lemon juice in molds. Take an ice cube in each hand and intensively rub both breasts for 30 seconds.

This effect causes irritation of the skin and stimulates increased blood flow to the problem area.

Homemade masks and creams

Masks for home treatments are prepared immediately before use and are not subject to long-term storage. The finished mixture must be applied to the problem area for a certain time, after which it is washed off. And creams can be stored in a cool place until the composition is completely used up.

No additional removal of the cream from the skin is required. Such products nourish and moisturize the skin, the active components stimulate the regeneration of epidermal cells.

Cream "Mummy"

• Water – 1 spoon
• Mumiyo – 1-2 g (one plate)
• Nourishing cream (preferably for children) – 100 ml.

Dilute the mummy with water and mix with the cream, mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Place in a jar with a tight lid. Apply daily in the evenings.

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Cream "Comfrey"

• Comfrey root – 100 g
• Olive oil – 50 ml

Rinse and clean the plant materials thoroughly, then grind them in a blender or using a fine grater. Add olive oil to the resulting pulp and mix. Rub the product into the skin of your chest morning and evening.

Aloe mask

• Fresh large aloe leaf – 1 pc.
• Fresh dandelion flowers – 30 g
• Olive oil – 1 spoon
• Oatmeal (or flakes) – 1 spoon

Grind the yellow freshly picked flowers and aloe leaf in a blender, add flour and butter to this mass, mix. Apply the mixture 2-3 times a week in the evenings for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.

Lotion "Carrot"

• Large carrots – 1 pc.
• Water – 250 ml.
• Almond oil – 20 ml

Peel the fresh root vegetable and grate it on the finest grater, add cold water and leave to infuse. After an hour, strain the liquid and add almond oil to it. Store the product in the refrigerator and apply to the chest area 2 times a day.

Lotion "Horsetail"

• Horsetail, fresh or dried – 50 g
• Vodka or diluted alcohol – 500 ml
• Lemon juice – 1 spoon

Place the greens in a container (a wide-necked bottle), add vodka, add lemon juice, close with a tight lid and put in a cool, dark place. Leave to infuse for 30 days. Shake occasionally.

After a month, strain the liquid, if necessary, dilute a little with filtered water (100 ml) and apply twice a day until the product runs out.

In this video there are recipes for 3 more masks that can be used to get rid of stretch marks on the chest:

Wraps

Their action is aimed at creating a greenhouse effect. Under the influence of temperature, the skin softens, the pores open, and beneficial substances quickly penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, starting the necessary metabolic processes there.

Seaweed wrap

Buy seaweed at the pharmacy, pour hot water over it and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the skin on the chest needs to be steamed by taking a bath or making a hot lotion.

Distribute the algae mass on the chest, wrap it on top with a plastic bag or cling film and a warm cloth (scarf, handkerchief, put on a sweater or lie under a blanket). You need to keep it for at least half an hour.

Clay wrap

Under the cellophane you can apply a mixture made from cosmetic clay. For it you need a bag of red or white clay, a little warm water and a teaspoon of vegetable oil. All components are mixed into a homogeneous elastic mass, which is applied to problem areas. Then everything is carried out in the same way as in the previous recipe.

After washing off the composition for wraps, a nourishing cream is applied to the chest or the skin is wiped with homemade lotion, a decoction of medicinal plants (rosemary herb, linden flowers, dill seeds).

Oil rubs

Vegetable oils are often used for home treatments. These products are incredibly rich in nutritional components and vitamins. Every evening you can rub the oil or a mixture of such products into the skin of your chest. In this case, a light massage is performed: patting, circular movements.

It is best to use a mixture of sunflower, sea buckthorn, olive, linseed, and almond oils.

In this case, you can add essential oils, but you need to do this carefully: add no more than 5 drops of one essential oil or a mixture of such oils to 20 ml of base: geranium, ylang-ylang, mandarin, neroli, lavender. All these substances stimulate cell regeneration, slow down aging, and restore elasticity.

Scrubs

These mixtures are not only responsible for deep cleansing of the epidermis, due to the abrasive component of the scrubs, micromassage is carried out, and beneficial substances penetrate the skin faster.

You need to perform scrubbing procedures no more than 2-3 times a week, after thoroughly steaming the skin.

You can prepare scrubs using the following recipes:

• 1 spoon of clay, 1 spoon of sea salt and 2 spoons of water;
• 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil;
• 2 spoons of coffee grounds and 1 spoon of sour cream;
• 1 spoon of ground coffee, 1 spoon of honey and a few drops of essential oil.

Mix these ingredients and apply immediately, rubbing vigorously for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse everything off and lubricate your breasts with nourishing cream.

Methods of modern cosmetology

What you don’t have at home is high-tech equipment and qualified cosmetologists. Hardware treatments for stretch marks are more effective. Modern techniques make it possible to remove even old imperfections that cannot be corrected at home.

Today, cosmetologists offer the following means to combat stretch marks:

• Chemical peeling.
• Laser correction (or laser peeling).
• Mesotherapy.

Each method has both advantages and disadvantages. Laser peeling is considered the most effective, but is quite expensive. In addition, like any peeling, the procedure is quite painful, although safe.

Mesotherapy is considered less radical. It is also suitable for general skin health. If stretch marks seriously interfere with your life, then a cosmetologist can choose an individual combination of all three methods, which will help completely remove skin imperfections. If home remedies do not help, you should contact a cosmetology center.

Professional methods

When independent procedures against stretch marks do not give the expected result, you should not give up. Cosmetological and therapeutic methods will come to the rescue.

Cosmetical tools

Today, the cosmetology industry offers a wide selection of products for stretch marks. When buying such cosmetics, you need to pay attention to the composition. It is better to give preference to natural ingredients, including vitamins “E” and “A”, plant extracts, oils, hyaluronic acid, amino acids.

The safest and most popular stretch mark creams from leading companies:

• Vichy
• Avent
• Mothercare
• Pregnacare
• Mama Comfort

They can even be used by pregnant and lactating women.

Medications

Pharmaceutical products are also used to eliminate skin defects. The most popular are:

"Kontraktubeks" gel

This is a drug for eliminating scars and scars; it is also highly effective in the fight against stretch marks. The product contains allantoin and heparin, onion extract. These active substances soothe, trigger the regeneration process, soften connective tissue at the sites of microtrauma, and trigger collagen synthesis.

"Mederma" gel

It is designed specifically to reduce stretch marks and cosmetic scars. In addition, the drug helps to ensure that lesions on the skin, in particular stretch marks, adapt to the action of ultraviolet radiation.

Many people know the fact that after sunbathing, stretch marks look even more obvious on darkened skin. After regular use of this gel, the defective stripes “tan” along with other areas of the skin and become hardly noticeable.

Salon treatments

Currently, many beauty salons perform a number of cosmetic procedures, the action of which is aimed at completely eliminating stretch marks, or at least partially discoloring them. Success depends on how early measures are taken to combat stretch marks.

The list of professional services includes:

• Wraps (chocolate, seaweed, mud);
• Photopigmentation (stretch marks fade and become invisible);
• Impact of microcurrent waves (it is aimed at softening rough connective tissue in places of ruptures);
• Mesotherapy

Special meso-cocktails containing collagen, vitamins and other useful components are injected into the deep layers of the dermis.

As a result, the connective tissue of striae is gradually replaced by healthy fibers of the subcutaneous tissue.

Chemical peeling

During the procedure, fruit acids are used to destroy and remove the top layer of skin. Subsequently, the epidermis is replaced on the treated area, the new layer will look smooth and healthy;

Laser resurfacing

The laser beam actually “burns out” the striae scars. The process is painful, fraught with complications, occurs in stages and is quite expensive.

How does olive oil work on stretch marks?

The natural product attracts primarily with its safety. The oil has long been known for its beneficial properties and is widely used not only in cosmetology, but also in medicine as a medicine, especially for the treatment of dermatological pathologies.

Be sure to read:

Cream for stretch marks for pregnant women and after childbirth: which one to choose, rating of the best products

When working on problem areas, the oil has a complex effect:

• protects cells from oxidation, preventing the destruction of connective tissue fibers;
• provides a sufficient level of hydration, increasing the protective barrier of the dermis and preventing the development of inflammatory processes;
• Magnesium contained in the composition reduces collagen degradation;
• has an antithrombotic effect, reduces tissue granulation processes;
• stimulates regeneration without hyperplasia;
• increases the strength of the epidermis.

After using the fruit squeeze of a subtropical plant, the skin becomes smooth and more elastic.

Features of eliminating stretch marks in pregnant and nursing mothers

During the period of bearing and feeding a child, not all of the above methods of combating stretch marks are allowed. You will have to abandon the following procedures:

• Rubbing in oils, especially esters. These substances have a pungent and persistent odor, the baby may refuse to breastfeed;
• Some natural products, such as honey, lemon juice, can provoke allergic reactions in both the child and the mother;
• Cosmetic and pharmaceutical products should also be chosen especially carefully. Use only those marked “for nursing and pregnant women”;
• Salon procedures are prohibited during this period.

What is possible? Water procedures, masks according to traditional recipes, but not containing allergenic products, and light massage are recommended.

Olive oil for stretch marks during pregnancy: how to use

Olive oil is healthy provided it is of high quality. You need to use virgin oil. It has high oxidative stability and contains more endogenous antioxidants and other minor products beneficial to the dermis.

To achieve good results, it is necessary to use the product at the initial stages of the appearance of stretch marks. In addition, you need to use the product daily for at least 3 months. It can be used as an independent product or as part of various mixtures.

Good results in the fight against stretch marks can be achieved by following simple rules for using olive squeeze:

• Before using squeeze-based formulations, the skin should be prepared. The dermis is steamed and soft peeling is done. This will ensure better penetration of nutrients.
• The compositions are applied with massage movements to the scar strips themselves and the area around them. This will avoid further “spreading” of the stretch marks.
• If the oil is used as an independent remedy, it should be applied 2 times a day. If the product is used in combination with other components, the frequency of use depends on the additional ingredients.
• They try to use freshly prepared formulations; during storage, most ingredients lose their beneficial properties.

During pregnancy, olive oil can be used not only externally, but also internally. It saturates the body with essential microelements, prevents constipation, and reduces cholesterol levels.

Be sure to read:
How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy: the best remedies and methods at home

Prevention

Skin requires constant and timely care. Properly organized preventive measures are a chance to avoid the appearance of a defect in the form of stretch marks.

Prevention is always easier than treatment. It includes the following items:

• Monitor the amount of fluid you take and your diet. Drinking at least 2 liters of water per day will ensure proper hydration of the body. When dehydrated, the epidermis is more vulnerable to the appearance of various defects. The menu must include lean meat, fish, vegetable oils and proteins, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
• The chest and décolleté area needs daily application of a nourishing and moisturizing cream containing collagen, natural oils and vitamins.
• When organizing measures for weight loss, you need to make sure that the extra pounds go away gradually and not suddenly.
• Regardless of body composition, you should not neglect physical activity and training. Moreover, there is a whole set of exercises for breast elasticity.
• Regular self-massage and contrast showers will be useful; use of scrubs.
• You should choose the right underwear. The bra must fit exactly to the size, not pinch, not rub the breasts, and at the same time fit tightly and support the mammary glands.

Video about the causes of stretch marks and ways to combat them:

Each woman decides for herself whether to fight stretch marks on the chest or not. If the decision is made to “embark on the warpath,” it must be firm and tireless.

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Reviews

Svetlana Efimova, 45 years old, Moscow

My son is 14 years old. There were no signs, but stretch marks appeared on the back due to rapid growth

.
I read a lot, I wanted to do a vinegar wrap or give injections
.
But a colleague said that such procedures are dangerous for a teenager and recommended buying Kontraktubeks. I applied it to my son’s back, after 2 days improvements were noticeable, the stretch marks became light pink
. I recommend to everyone.

Anna Astafieva, 35 years old, Tolyati

My 13-year-old son developed red and then blue stretch marks on his back. I don’t want to use questionable methods, I do cupping massage myself 4 times a week

.
I also prepare a scrub from salt and coffee, apply it to a washcloth and lightly cleanse my back
.
We also adjusted our son’s diet, removing French fries, ribs and other junk food from his diet. 2 weeks have already passed, improvements are noticeable, stretch marks are becoming smaller and less noticeable
. I have now enrolled my son in the pool. I'm sure everything will pass soon.

During puberty, adolescents, especially girls, experience a rapid increase in body volume. Breasts, hips, buttocks change their size

.
This is a normal phenomenon, for which it is better to prepare properly
. Let's consider what stretch marks are in adolescents, the reasons for their occurrence, as well as methods of dealing with them.