Striae stretch marks

Striae (stretch marks)
Striae (stretch marks) are atrophy of skin areas, which manifests itself on it in narrow wavy stripes with a color from white to red. Usually such stretch marks do not cause any serious inconvenience. In addition, over time they completely discolor. Nevertheless, stretch marks on the skin are considered an unpleasant aesthetic disadvantage, since they are very noticeable. That is why many are interested in how to get rid of striae (stretch marks) on the skin. Striae on the skin usually appear in the areas of the greatest stretching of the skin: on the abdomen, chest, buttocks and thighs.

The content of the article:
External manifestations of striae (stretch marks)
Causes of stretch marks
Removal (treatment) of stretch marks
Mechanical methods of treatment of striae
Laser removal of striae
Injection treatment of skin stretch marks
Cosmetic treatment of striae
Prevention of stretch marks
Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy
Striae (stretch marks)
External manifestations of striae (stretch marks)
Depending on the severity of striae , there are the following types:

filamentous — look like whitish shallow stripes;
scars are small scars of a pale pink hue;
longitudinal — scars of a blue-burgundy shade, which lighten over time.
According to the peculiarities of the location, stretch marks are horizontal (often caused by hormonal disorders) and vertical (due to weight gain or pregnancy).

There are several stages of the formation of stretch marks on the skin.

First, a fresh stripe of a purple hue appears on the skin.
Over time, it transforms into a superficial white stretch.
At the third stage, stretching can already be felt well on the surface of the skin. At this stage, the length of the stretch marks is usually about a centimeter.
Stretch marks on the hips and other parts of the body are a noticeable cosmetic defect, which, however, does not cause any serious disorders in the body, except emotional discomfort. The process of stretch marks formation is usually accompanied by a slowdown in the synthesis of elastin with collagen. In fibroplastic cells, the number of fibroclasts synthesizing enzymes that contribute to the destruction of collagen increases significantly.

As a result of this pathological process, the skin breaks and there is a violation of the mesh layer of the dermis. In turn, this process leads to the rupture of collagen fibers and blood vessels, as well as the formation of dips in the skin. As a result, atrophic scars appear on the skin, the length of which can be 10 cm, and the width — 5 mm. Stretch marks usually have a convex relief and are located at the same level with the skin.

Causes of stretch marks
The main cause of stretch marks will often be a serious hormonal failure in the body. The first hormonal disorders usually occur in adolescence. At this time, the level of hormones in the growing body is rapidly increasing. Pregnancy is also considered to be an equally serious hormonal shake-up.

Violation of hormone synthesis
The reason for the appearance of stretch marks with hormonal problems is a violation of the synthesis of two integral components of the skin — elastin and collagen. These substances are responsible for the elasticity and extensibility of the skin, so their lack inevitably leads to its thinning. Usually the skin becomes very thin in the places of its greatest stretching, which eventually leads to tears. The same pathological process is triggered by a sharp increase in body weight. At the same time, the skin does not keep up with the rapid increase in fat reserves at all.

Physical sprains
The appearance of stretch marks can also be triggered by an increase in the mammary glands during lactation. In the hip area, striae may appear due to sprains during bends or squats. It is worth noting that the occurrence of stretch marks not during the hormonal restructuring of the body should be alarming. For example, the appearance of a large number of stretch marks on different parts of the body may indicate Cushing’s syndrome. Therefore, if the striae did not appear due to weight fluctuations or hormonal shifts, you should definitely visit an endocrinologist.

As soon as the skin has become thinner at the place of its stretching, its tear occurs, which is subsequently tightened by the connective tissue. This process is similar to how wounds heal. First, there are a lot of blood vessels in the connective tissue, because of which the lines acquire a purple or pink hue. Then gradually the number of vessels begins to decrease, after which the stretch marks acquire a white hue. Since the connective tissue does not contain any pigment, stretch marks do not change color during tanning and become very noticeable.

Removal (treatment) of stretch marks
It will not be possible to get rid of stretch marks exclusively with the help of special ointments and gels. It is necessary to use more effective and efficient methods. All these methods can be divided into two groups: exposure to small stretch marks with massage or peels and complete removal of stretch marks using hardware technologies.

Mechanical methods of treatment of striae
Mechanical grinding and chemical peeling are ideal for correcting shallow striae. Mechanical peeling is usually prescribed if it is necessary to remove the keratinized layer of the epidermis and align the skin at the same time. The main feature of the procedure is the combination of grinding with massage. Small stretch marks can also be removed using deep or median peeling based on beta-hydroxy acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, salicylic, phenolic, lactic, trichloroacetic acids.

Laser removal of striae
A more radical way to remove striae is considered to be correction using laser equipment. This technique is based on the ability of the skin to activate the production of elastin and collagen under the influence of a laser. To date, the following hardware techniques are used to remove striae:

Laser grinding. The essence of the method is that the laser beam simply evaporates the surface layer of the skin. To remove deeper scars, it is effective to use a CO2 laser.
Fractional thermolysis. This technique involves the removal of skin cells by thermal exposure to it. To prevent severe damage to the skin, the laser beam is first divided into microbeams that make up a special grid. With this technique, you can easily and quickly remove even very old and deep scars.
Laser nanoperforation. This technique is considered even safer, since it involves the separation of rays not into “micro”, but into “nano” rays. That is why the procedure is carried out with the least damage to the skin.
Non-injection mesotherapy. This is a completely safe and painless procedure, which involves the introduction of various drugs under the skin using ultrasound, oxygen, electric current. Usually, preparations based on hyaluronic acid, as well as enzymes capable of destroying scar tissue, are used for this purpose.
Injection treatment of skin stretch marks
It is also possible to remove scars from the skin with the help of injection treatment methods. Special vitamin complexes are injected into the patient’s skin, which effectively affect it and remove scars.

One of the most common injection procedures is considered mesotherapy — the introduction of therapeutic cocktails into the skin, which consist of substances that destroy old collagen fibers and stimulate the creation of new ones.
Fractional mesotherapy is considered to be an equally popular technique, which provides injections of vitamins in a certain order and at different distances.
Ozone therapy is considered to be an effective way to remove scars. Its essence consists in the introduction of a special preparation under the skin, which consists of 95% oxygen and 5% ozone mixture.
An innovative method of treating stretch marks on the skin is considered to be biorepartion — correction of stretch marks with the introduction of a cocktail of vitamins, amino acids, hyaluronic acid.
Cosmetic treatment of striae
Small and almost imperceptible stretch marks can be removed using completely safe and harmless cosmetic procedures. For example, an algal wrap based on spirulina has shown its effectiveness. To get the desired effect, you need to take a course of several procedures. If the stretch marks are large, deep and long-standing, then it will not work to get rid of them with the help of cosmetic procedures, peeling and hardware techniques. In this case, they resort to plastic surgery methods.

Prevention of stretch marks
Stretch marks are an aesthetic flaw that many women would like to get rid of. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to do this. It will be necessary to undergo a whole course of cosmetic procedures, change the diet, choose the right exercise program to get rid of striae forever. That is why it is best to prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, than to treat them later. For this purpose, it is enough to observe several preventive measures:

Optimal weight support. Sudden weight jumps in any direction usually provoke the formation of stretch marks on the skin. That is why it is necessary to lose weight correctly — gradually lose weight. To get rid of excess weight, it is categorically not recommended to resort to various diets. It is also advisable to monitor the weight and try not to gain it sharply.
Proper nutrition. First of all, it is necessary to limit the consumption of flour and sweet products. The body should receive a full set of vitamins necessary to maintain the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Sport. Physical activity is of great importance in preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Sports will allow you to constantly keep your muscles and skin in good shape. Running, swimming, cycling are ideal for this purpose.
Massage. Regular massage will prevent such an aesthetic disadvantage as stretch marks. During the massage, blood circulation is activated in the areas with which the masseur works, which stimulates blood circulation in them.
Cosmetic products. Cosmetologists advise using special creams and gels to prevent striae. In addition to them, you can also use scrubs that activate skin regeneration. Today cosmetology offers a large number of various products to prevent stretch marks on the skin. The composition of most of these products includes components such as protein hydrolysates, hyaluronic acid, collagen, vitamin and mineral complexes, amino acids. In addition, cosmetics to prevent stretch marks include nutrients — sea buckthorn oil, wheat germ, avocado, cocoa, rosehip.
Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy
Stretch marks, unfortunately, are considered one of the most common problems that occur during pregnancy. Avoiding the rupture of connective tissue due to a lack of elastin and collagen is quite difficult. However, if you strictly follow the preventive measures, it is quite possible to do this. But it must be remembered that before starting the prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

To make up for the protein deficiency that leads to the formation of stretch marks, it is necessary to take care of proper nutrition. It is advisable for pregnant women to add eggs, legumes, nuts, chicken, beef, as well as foods with a high content of vitamin E. Sweets and flour are better replaced with fruits and cereals. The diet should also include fermented dairy products, natural juices, fatty fish.

Prevention of stretch marks depends on the trimester of pregnancy:

The first trimester — during this period, you need to constantly take care of the skin, paying special attention to its nutrition and hydration. However, it is worth remembering that due to hormonal restructuring, some quite familiar cosmetics may no longer be suitable. That is why, first of all, it is necessary to apply a little bit of the product to some area of the skin, and then observe its reaction. At this stage of pregnancy, you should also review your diet and choose the most optimal training program.
Second trimester. The third and fourth months in the life of a pregnant woman are critical, because stretch marks often appear during this period. That is why you need to use a special cream designed to prevent stretch marks. This cream strengthens the skin, activates the synthesis of elastin and collagen. Cosmetics significantly increase the elasticity of the skin and thereby prevent the appearance of striae. Special creams also have a regenerating effect and have a drainage effect.
Third trimester. It is advisable to drink the optimal amount of liquid. However, it is better to reduce water consumption at night. In addition, it is worth paying attention to your diet. Pregnant women still need to continue using moisturizing and drainage creams, as well as start fighting stretch marks in a timely manner so as not to miss the moment.
In addition to the above recommendations, pregnant women can also try the following preventive measures: skin massage, contrast shower, as well as the use of special scrubs, the purpose of which is to accelerate skin regeneration. To prevent the appearance of stretch marks and relieve stress, special underwear and bandages are recommended.

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