Jul
27
Erasing Tyre Tracks: What Can Be Done For Stretch Marks?
Filed Under Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Skincare | Leave a Comment
A friend of mine just got pregnant, and inevitably we got into discussing the topic of pregnancy stretch marks. Every mother-to-be has a fear of stretch marks, and one of the common questions I get asked is what can be done about those stretch marks, and what are the effective ways to cure stretchmarks.
WHAT CAUSES STRETCH MARKS
Stretch marks are, in truth, a form of scarring on the skin. The medical term for stretch marks is striae. It occurs when the area of skin undergoes a large amount of stretch over a short period of time, like in pregnancy, quick weight gain or extreme weight loss. The dermis stretches more than it can handle and tears, leaving behind an area of discoloured, thinned skin.
Fresh stretch marks tend to have a reddish or purplish hue. With time, they gradually fade to become whitish or silverish. The most commonly affected areas are the parts where more fat deposits are stored, like in the abdomen, breasts, arms, thighs, hips and buttocks. Stretch marks in pregnant women usually occurs in the 3rd trimester, when the baby is growing larger than the abdominal cavity and the skin gets stretched the most. Between 75%-90% of pregnant women get stretch marks. Other causes of stretch marks are rapid weight gain or weight loss, muscle building, puberty, hormonal inbalances and medical conditions such as Cushing’s Syndrome and medications.
Some of the risk factors for development of stretch marks during pregnancy are a younger age, family history of stretch marks in pregnancy, significant weight gain during pregnancy, higher pre-pregnancy Body-Mass Index (BMI), higher pregnancy BMI, larger birthweight and gestational age of baby, drinking alcohol and drinking less water during pregnancy. (Information sources from theJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology)
The most commonly affected regions of the body affected by the problem of stretch marks are the abdomen, thighs, breasts, upper arms and lower back. Stretch marks are not a health threat, but they do cause significant distress to many people who have them.
HOME REMEDIES
- Diet. Take foods that help give you healthy skin- fish, nuts, legumes, colourful vegetables, green leafy vegetables. They will also promote collagen formation and improve elasticity of the skin. Look for foods high in Vitamins A, C, and E (carrots, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables), zinc (nuts and fish), protein rich foods (fish and eggs).
- Adequate hydration
- Reduce caffeine consumption- caffeine is a diuretic, which dehydrates the skin and reduces its elasticity and pliability, making stretch marks more prone to occur.
- Exercise. Firm skin makes stretch marks less apparent. And it helps to keep your weight steady, which will help as excess weight gain will exacerbate the stretch marks.
COSMECEUTICALS
- Stretch mark creams and lotions. There are many stretch mark creams around. Some popular ingredients in stretch mark creams are aloe vera, cocoa butter, dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), glycolic acid, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, retinyl palmitate, and shea butter.
Some popular stretch mark creams are
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Cream
Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention
The current evidence for effectiveness of stretch mark creams is weak and anecdotal. Studies performed on stretch mark creams show equivocal results and there is no evidence of definite consistency of stretch mark reduction between users. However, they may benefit some users, and even though it is unlikely that the stretch marks will disappear, stretch mark creams may be able to lighten and reduce the amount of stretch marks present.
The best time to start applying stretch mark creams in pregnancy is as soon as you find out you’re pregnant! The frequent massaging, moisturising and effects of the ingredients in the creams will take some time to manifest, and so you’d ideally want to start as early in the pregnancy as possible. Once stretch marks appear, it is hard to eliminate, so prevention is the best cure.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN DO
- Chemical peels- more beneficial for fresh and superficial striae.
- Dermabrasion- Reduces appearance of stretch marks by aiming to even out the skin. More effective for smaller stretch marks. It may require a series of a dozen dermabrasion treatments spaced two to three weeks apart, but its best to discuss with your doctor how many sessions is beneficial.
- Laser Treatment- More effective for fresh stretch reddish marks, less effective for old silver stretch marks.
- Tummy Tuck Surgery- removes stretch marks and loose skin in the abdominal area.
Stretch marks are a common problem that can affect many individuals, and are a concern for many females. Having healthy skin is important in limiting the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch mark creams may benefit, but should be started as early as possible, and have better results on fresh stretch marks over older ones. Cosmetic treatments are also more effective for newly appearing stretch marks.
RSS
Gilt Groupe
HauteLook
Ideeli
WellSphere
Fr3b
CozyCot
Hyperluxe
ChickAdvisor
