Stretch marks: you can avoid or end them, yes!

Teenagers do. Pregnant women can have it. People who live gaining weight and losing weight too. Stretch marks are a skin problem that at one time or another will appear in your life. But what also appeared are the countless ways to prevent and soften these famous (and dreaded) stripes on the skin.

women suffer more

Well, they are more affected with stretch marks than men. This is due to the fact that women have two hormones – progesterone and estrogen – which are primarily responsible for the breakdown of elastic fibers in the skin.

Stretch marks appear when the skin stretches, and even though it can be stretched, there is a limit. If the pressure is more than the skin can handle, it breaks. Stretch marks are nothing more than this breakup of the skin.

Men suffer from the problem when they gain a lot of weight (the belly and arms are the most affected areas) and their skin is not well hydrated, since the dryness of the skin impairs its natural elasticity, and when there is a need for the skin to stretch, there is greater easy breakage of elastic fibers and the consequent appearance of stretch marks.

white or reddish

At first, when they appear, the stretch marks are reddish/pinkish. It is at this stage that they are easiest to treat. If you see a dermatologist right away, with the right cream you can get rid of them faster. When they become whitish (or pearly, as some say) it is because they are already “adult”, then the treatment needs to be deeper, takes longer and may involve peelings.

what causes stretch marks

Gain and lose weight: stretch marks tend to appear more in people who always gain and lose weight, the well-known accordion effect. This is because, with weight gain, the cells of the epidermis do not have time to duplicate themselves in the proportion that the new fat cells require. Thus, stretch marks appear in regions where weight gain is greater, such as on the buttocks, belly, arms, thighs and breasts.

Spurt phase: when rapid growth occurs during puberty and adolescence, the body needs time to adapt to the growth of organs, and when this does not occur, stretch marks appear. Therefore, many teenagers, even thin ones, have stretch marks.

Jet muscles: when muscles appear too quickly, they end up stretching the skin too much and breaking its fibers. The result? Stretch marks! So, stop taking supplements on your own. If you want to increase your muscles, it is best to consult a physical trainer and nutritionist. So you don’t take any risks.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy hormones along with weight gain and belly growth can lead to stretch marks. That’s why it’s essential to control your weight (it’s really good to put on a kilo a month) as well as try to keep your skin hydrated with the use of very powerful moisturizing oils and creams. Nowadays, there are specific products for pregnant skin. Opt for them, which are more efficient.

Dryness of the skin: the abuse of the sun can contribute to the appearance of stretch marks. The sun makes the fibers more fragile and compromises their properties. The very hot baths that remove the protective layer of the skin and the lack of hydration also facilitate the appearance of stretch marks.

The treatments that solve

There are several types of treatments for stretch marks that work. Forget the myth that stretch marks have no cure. But only those who can indicate with 100% certainty is your dermatologist, it’s no use asking for a peeling, for example. The most accurate are:

Fraxel laser SR 1500: this laser is ideal for more adult stretch marks, the whitish ones, as it makes micro-perforations in the skin, which will respond with collagen healing. You need a minimum of three sessions with biweekly or monthly intervals to see results.

Pulsed light: is a kind of laser that treats reddened, brown skin lesions and microvases. It is ideal for erasing stretch marks at the initial stage. Five to eight sessions are required.

Transcision: this is a surgical procedure in which the doctor introduces a thin needle with a microscalpel at the tip, this instrument is specific for stretch marks. The professional detaches the sides, the top and bottom of the skin, breaking the elastic fibers of the place. In this way, the stretch marks are filled with new collagen and their edges come together, becoming imperceptible. This technique presents very satisfactory results and requires the use of an elastic strap for 3 months. Only one session is required.

Peeling: it is performed by sanding the skin as well, due to the abrasive action of aluminum oxide microcrystals. The peeling gently eliminates the surface layers of the epidermis, which leads to cell regeneration, that is, you gain new skin. It is the most suitable for older stretch marks, the whitish ones.

To prevent

Always use moisturizers and oils with hydrating properties (those based on urea, grape seed and almond oil are the ones that have the most moisturizing power) after bathing because that is when the skin absorbs it more easily, the product is the first way. to avoid stretch marks. As well as controlling weight, don’t abuse hot baths and the sun without sunscreen.

And remember: from the first sign of stretch marks, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. The quicker you start taking care of the problem, the quicker and easier it will say goodbye to your skin.