Stretch marks are the skin defect of many women, although they do not spare men too. They appear most often when the mass of our body increases rapidly. The skin that stretches at the time cannot withstand tension, collagen fibers burst, and spindle-like stripes arranged in parallel appear on our body. They have a different texture and color, at first they are usually pale pink, but over time they change their color, darken and as a result become purple-violet, and finally silvery white and clearly palpable under the fingers. Stretch marks are also very common in pregnant women, then they are mainly located on the abdomen and breasts, i.e. places that intensively change in size during this period. Unaesthetic streaks also appear during the phase of intense growth, i.e. in adolescents during adolescence and in people who are actively training who develop muscle tissue rapidly. Stretch marks can also be the result of hormonal fluctuations and accompany the use of hormonal contraception or replacement therapy during menopause. It is also worth knowing that the stress hormone cortisol may also be responsible for their occurrence. When it is secreted in excess, it damages the cells that produce collagen and elastin, as a result of which the skin loses its elasticity, becomes more sensitive to stretching and breaks much easier. The risk of stretch marks also increases under the influence of taking certain medications and diseases associated with disorders of the adrenal glands.

Therefore, stretch marks can appear at any stage of life and it is difficult to clearly determine when it can occur, but one thing is certain, the unsightly purple stripes do not give us charm, so it's worth knowing how to deal with them.

Today, about whether they can be prevented and how to get rid of them if they have already appeared?

First, prevention

The skin loses its elasticity as a result of external factors affecting it, causing excessive drying and hormonal changes that affect the weakening of its cells and impairment of collagen and elastin production. There is no way that 100% guarantees protection against stretch marks. However, we can help our skin and at least slightly reduce the risk of these unsightly scars appearing on our body.

Moisturize

The skin, exposed to a number of harmful factors, needs help in maintaining adequate elasticity for that to happen, it must be regularly moisturized and oiled. You can choose one of the wide range of cosmetics available in stores or choose natural products. Oiling the skin and massaging it with almond oil is good. It contains large amounts of vitamins A and E, which have a positive effect on the condition of our skin, increasing its elasticity, vitamin D, which is, among others, protection against the harmful effects of external factors and B vitamins that will ensure proper hydration of your skin. Almond oil is also a wealth of linoleic and oleic acid, which have softening properties and strengthen the protective lipid layer. You can also use coconut oil, olive oil or avocado oil to grease your skin.

Peeling

A good way to firm, tone and strengthen the condition of our skin is peeling. It improves circulation, oxygenates, removes dead skin, sensitizes to care cosmetics and stimulates regenerative processes. For good results, the peeling combined with massage should be performed 2 or even 3 times a week. You can use sugar or salt for this, a vitamin A + E capsule and olive oil, coffee stimulation has great stimulating and firming properties. If you add coconut oil, honey or olive oil to it, it will also have a moisturizing and nourishing effect. A good way is also to make a peeling from green tea, which, thanks to its properties, not only nourishes and moisturizes the skin, but also strengthens blood vessels and improves its elasticity. Simply combine powdered green tea with coarse sugar and coconut oil. You can also use cinnamon, which will allow you to get rid of harmful toxins and bacteria from the skin and gently brighten and warm it.

Diet

Stretch marks often appear when we gain weight suddenly. Therefore, if you want to keep your skin in great condition, you should know that it should be taken care of, not only by nurturing it from the outside. It is also very important what ingredients we supply its cells by eating everyday meals. Your diet should also allow you to maintain a healthy body weight. It is worth making sure that your plate does not lack products rich in vitamins C, A, E and B vitamins. Thanks to their antioxidant properties, you will strengthen the skin tissue, improve its elasticity, color and maintain proper hydration. So try to include in your menu among others green leafy vegetables, nuts, tomatoes, peppers, apricots, mangoes, blueberries and carrots. It is also very important to provide our skin with the right amount of unsaturated fatty acids, which can be found, for example, in cold-pressed oils, avocados, fatty sea fish and nuts. Don't forget about minerals. The skin needs zinc, which affects collagen production and accelerates healing, silicon, which has anti-inflammatory properties, firms, smoothes and slows the aging process, and copper, which supports the proper development of elastin. Remember, the right diet should be tailored to your individual needs, do not be tempted by the so-called "Wonderful diets" that are to quickly help you get rid of unnecessary kilograms. The yo-yo effect, which is a consequence of most of them, unfortunately promotes stretch marks.

What to do if stretch marks have already appeared?

Then the time counts, the rapid reaction is extremely important, when the cracks in the skin are still red, it is much easier to fight them. There is nothing to cheat, unfortunately there is no wonderful cream that will get rid of existing stretch marks. Cosmetics can only support the treatment and help improve the condition of the skin. If we want to get rid of these ugly scars, it is necessary to rebuild the skin tissue from the inside, and cosmetics, unfortunately, still can't do it. That is why only a specialist can deal with existing scars. I recommend at REVIVE CLINIC SkinPen with PRP treatment for patients which is the most effective tool to fight stretch marks by doing microdamage columns in the stretch marks, produces a delicate inflammatory process and stimulates the skin to remodel. Thanks to this, the stretch marks are smoothed out and become less visible. Using SkinPen and PRP therapy, we can completely eliminate fresh red stretch marks and reduce the visibility of whites by several dozen percent. To enhance the effect, you can additionally use Forever Young BBL phototherapy, during which light energy sent deep into the skin, warms it up and stimulates regeneration. Good results are also brought by mesotherapy, thanks to which substances strongly stimulating collagen production are given directly to the scar, supporting the reconstruction of skin tissues. I also recommend platelet rich plasma injection, which stimulates the maturation and multiplication of cells, accelerates the transformation of scars into healthy skin tissue.

Remember, however, that nothing happens immediately, which is why both in prevention and in the fight against existing stretch marks it is very important to maintain regularity and be patient. If you want to keep your skin in good shape, you have to take care of it every day, and repeat the aesthetic medicine treatments several times