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Can stretch marks be prevented? How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy

Many girls, especially those who often go on diets, know firsthand what stretch marks are. First, red scars appear on the body, which gradually turn white, but never disappear. From our article, you will learn what prevention of stretch marks will help prevent the development of stretch marks, as well as the reasons for their appearance.

Prevention of striae formations lies in a set of actions aimed at reducing the risk of their acquisition. After all, not only losing weight, but also pregnant, lactating mothers dream that their body will always be beautiful and in perfect shape.

The main causes of stretch marks are:

  • modification of the hormonal background;
  • taking medications based on the hormone;
  • pregnancy;
  • heredity;
  • sports;
  • sudden weight gain or loss;
  • skin prone to dryness.

Stretch marks on the body appear due to the weakening of collagen fibers. In other words, new cells do not have time to form in order to replace the old ones. Often this happens due to the fact that there is not enough water in the body, you are taking certain types of medications, rapid stretching of the skin that occurs over a long period.

Stretch marks occur due to increased secretion of cortisol. The formation of striae in the thighs, buttocks and abdomen can occur due to puberty, pregnancy, significant weight changes.

Most often, stretch marks appear in those people who quickly increase body weight. Heredity also plays a huge role in the formation of stretch marks, if someone in your family suffered from stretch marks, then you can become their carrier.

Video: Prevention of stretch marks

Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy

Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy comes down to self-massage. After the bath, you should thoroughly rub the body with a dry towel, then treat the skin of the abdomen clockwise with light pinches until it turns slightly red. Self-massage in this way improves blood circulation, which helps to avoid stretch marks.

Moisturize your skin with oil or spray to avoid dry skin. Elastic underwear and a bandage will protect your body from the formation of stretch marks. You can take a number of activities even before pregnancy that will allow you not to think about whether you will have stretch marks or not.

Sign up for a vacuum or general massage, use vegetable oils after taking a shower. Periodically carry out mud and algae wraps, as they enrich skin cells with vitamins and minerals.

  1. Stick to one weight. If you are not pregnant, then try to stick to your weight, but losing weight or gaining weight drastically is prohibited.
  2. Adhere to the principles of proper nutrition. Give up flour, sweet products, minimize carbohydrate intake. Eat vegetables and fruits more often, include protein-rich foods in your diet. Eat enough dairy products.
  3. If you are fond of sports exercises, then you should gradually increase the load so that new cells can keep up with the stretching of the skin.
  4. Follow all these tips during pregnancy, paying special attention to the contrast shower.
  5. From the second month of pregnancy, start using special care creams and oils for pregnant women, which are sold in large quantities in pharmacies. If you have no desire to use such cosmetics, then use olive oil instead of cream.
  6. If you are breastfeeding, then wear special underwear made from natural materials. Every day, wash your chest with water at room temperature, use only a rough towel.

At home, you can use a special oil that will protect you from stretch marks. To prepare it, take 4 large spoons of almond oil and a large spoon of avocado oil, add 7 drops of lavender oil and 5 drops of neroli oil to them. Apply a small amount of this mixture daily on the abdomen, thighs and chest, paying special attention to those areas where stretch marks have already appeared. You can also use this oil after childbirth until your body returns to normal and your weight stabilizes.

Some scrubs that you can make at home will help you deal with stretch marks. Mix equal parts sugar, salt and olive oil. Rub into the skin for no more than 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

For another scrub, you will need half a cup of ground coffee beans, half a small spoonful of cinnamon, a couple of drops of olive oil. Mix everything, and then apply to the body, rubbing in with light massaging movements.

Take sea salt and sugar, mix them in equal proportions, adding almond oil to the mixture. Pour in the oil until the mixture begins to resemble gruel. After that, rub the scrub into problem areas of the skin for 10 minutes. After each bath, the skin must be lubricated with baby or any moisturizer.

Carry out periodic wraps that help to effectively cope with skin imperfections. Pour 2 large spoons of chamomile into a mug of hot milk. Let the broth cool down, then take a towel with which you will wrap yourself. Soak a towel in the decoction, fix it with cellophane on top, wait 15 minutes, and then remove everything and wipe the skin with a dry towel. After that, use any oily cream.

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Stretch marks, also called the frightening word "striae", appear where the skin was, as you might guess, stretched, and so strongly and sharply that it simply tore from the inside. And then covered in scars. These are the most unfortunate scars. They spoil the blood not only for women who have undergone pregnancy, but also:

  • teenagers who grew up in one summer;
  • athletes who endure exorbitant physical exertion;
  • bodybuilders playing with body weight and volume;
  • people taking steroids as prescribed and without;
  • drastically thinner;
  • sharply plump;
  • enlarged breasts and other parts of the body surgically;
  • people just with thinner skin than others;
  • people with a hereditary predisposition;
  • people with hormonal disorders;
  • patients with Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, Marfan's syndrome.

Means suitable for prevention, but not for treatment

Completely get rid of stretch marks, unfortunately, will not work. This is not so scary, because they do not carry any harm to health. But if the scars cause aesthetic dissatisfaction, you can make them less noticeable on the skin.

If you take up the fight against stretch marks with due perseverance and patience, there is a chance to improve the condition of problem areas at home. And for this there is only one way - mechanical.

Scrubs based on anything - sugar, honey, coffee - will have an effect just because they are scrubs. They exfoliate the top layer of raised scars and can gradually level them with healthy skin.. Thus, stretch marks will become less noticeable.

Reliable professional methods

Of course, the best results can be achieved in the office of a specialist - a cosmetologist or even a surgeon. There are many ways to deal with stretch marks using the latest techniques and high-tech devices.

  • Peeling. Unlike a scrub, which uses gentle natural ingredients, aggressive chemical solutions are used for the peeling procedure. Local anesthesia is often needed.
  • Microdermabrasion. Real heavy artillery. Painful procedure - removal of several layers of the epidermis with aluminum oxide. It is assumed that after it, skin cells regenerate faster and better.
  • Laser. Laser therapy is considered the most modern and effective in the fight against stretch marks. The same principle of grinding works here, but on a completely different level. The impact occurs not only on the upper, but also on the deep layers of the skin. This is a serious procedure, and for large areas to be treated, it is even performed under general anesthesia. The advantages include affordable cost and low risk of complications.
  • Plastic. In the fight against stretch marks, you can resort to a full-fledged surgical operation, which involves the removal and replacement of affected skin areas. Such operations are quite expensive, have many contraindications and a long recovery period - up to 8 months. In addition, they are fraught with such consequences as the appearance of new scars - postoperative scars.
  • Mesotherapy. Subcutaneous injections of various useful substances, for example, the same hyaluronic acid. Rather a preventive measure, but many times more effective than rubbing creams and lotions with similar active ingredients in the composition.

creative way

Today you can not be shy and disguise stretch marks under tattoo. Success depends on the condition of your skin, the quality of the paint, the experience and style of the master.

Situations in which you should not get a tattoo:

  • If stretch marks have appeared recently and still have a purple tint, it is better to wait. Otherwise, the tattoo will deteriorate - the drawing will float, and the paint will “fall out”. Important! A good master will never agree to beat a tattoo on fresh stretch marks.
  • You can not carry out the procedure during the feeding period. It is clear from the previous paragraph that no one will take up the matter during this period. Optimally - after a year.
  • You should not fill a tattoo if another pregnancy is planned in the future - the drawing will definitely be spoiled.

You can get a tattoo if:

  • The scars have healed for a long time, they are white and may have smoothed out a little (including due to care and cosmetic procedures).
  • After giving birth, you have already brought the muscles into tone, and also drove the accumulated fat.
  • You are no longer planning a pregnancy.

magic way

Brazilian tattoo artist Rodolfo Torres () came up with a unique way to mask stretch marks. He matches the paint exactly to the color of the client's skin and clogs the white stripes with it so meticulously that the result looks better than photoshop.

What is absolutely surprising, according to the same technology, the master, who was nicknamed the magician, eliminates dark circles under the eyes. He tattoos the problem area with skin-colored paint, and the client literally forgets about his problem forever.

Rodolfo is known not only in his homeland, more than 1.6 million people follow his instagram, and a line of star clients is lining up for months in advance.

How to prevent stretch marks

Even if you already have stretch marks, you need to know how to prevent new ones.

  • Watch your diet. It must be balanced, you must receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Many of them affect the elasticity of the skin, which directly determines whether it will stretch or tear if something happens.
  • Avoid dehydration. The elasticity of the skin is directly related to its hydration.
  • Watch your weight. Avoid extreme weight loss or gain.
  • Keep track of your weight and volume. If you play sports, do not strive for quick results.
  • Moisturize and nourish the skin. As long as the scars have not yet formed, all lotions, creams and oils will be good. When combined with massage, the skin will become elastic, elastic, and no stretching will be scary for it.

Everything around seems so harmonious and natural, and the expectant mother herself blooms like a beautiful flower, revealing her best feminine qualities - kindness, tenderness, joyfulness and caring.

Many questions come to mind, for example, how to properly care for yourself during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Is it possible to use the usual deodorants and cosmetics? How to prevent the appearance of cellulite? How to get rid of stretch marks on the stomach?

Today we would like to talk with you about stretch marks - why they appear and what to do about them.

What are stretch marks?

Ideally, our skin should be firm and elastic, regardless of external factors. But for some reasons, which we will discuss below, stretch marks or striae may form on it.

This means that the inner layer of the epidermis is torn, and scar tissue forms at the site of the stretch over time. Our in-house tailors darn the best they can!

At first, the skin at the site of stretch marks has a red and even purple hue, but over time it turns white to its normal color. Unfortunately for us, stretch marks are almost impossible to get rid of, and even a tan will most likely not take them away.

Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy

In order to know what helps with stretch marks during pregnancy, let's first get acquainted with the causes of stretch marks, there may be several.

  • First, it is an increase in weight and volume of the body.
  • If we take care of our skin and health incorrectly, smoke, do not use moisturizers, etc., the chance of getting stretch marks with breast and abdomen enlargement during pregnancy increases significantly.

  • Secondly, it's all about hormones.
  • With hormonal changes or failures, the synthesis of collagen and elastin can be disrupted. Because of this, the properties of the skin change, which leads to the appearance of stretch marks.

  • Thirdly, stretch marks are also affected by how you eat.
  • The lack of vitamins, proteins and nutrients is especially strong during pregnancy. The prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy can be a balanced and natural diet. Perhaps this does not guarantee the complete elimination of stretch marks, but it significantly reduces the possibility of their appearance.

  • And fourthly, the cause of the appearance of unwanted stretch marks can be a genetic predisposition.
  • If your mother and grandmother do not have stripes on their stomach and chest, then you should not have them either.

How to prevent stretch marks?

  • Eat right. Make sure your diet contains enough proteins, vitamins and minerals. Also drink more water.
  • Before pregnancy, take care of your physical form. This will help to reduce the possibility of stretch marks by almost half.
  • Take a contrast shower, which will favorably affect the condition of the skin.
  • Engage in physical education, yoga, or simple walking.
  • Use special moisturizing and skin-nourishing products before pregnancy and anti-stretch marks oils during and after pregnancy.
  • Following these simple steps will be the best prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy.

How to get rid of stretch marks at home?

  1. Starting from the third month, when the tummy is already starting to grow, it is worth paying special attention to the prevention of stretch marks.
  2. In addition to the tips that we have already mentioned above, I would like to say a few words about oils for stretch marks during pregnancy and special bandages for pregnant women.

  3. From the second trimester, it is worth stocking up on several supportive bras with wide straps to help avoid unwanted stripes and a tummy tuck.
  4. The latter is best used only as directed by a doctor. It is suitable for mothers with many children and women with weak abdominal muscles. Also, for the prevention of stretch marks on our own, natural oils and creams will become our best friend.

Oils for stretch marks during pregnancy

Specialized creams for pregnant women should contain a maximum of natural organic ingredients and, moreover, be enriched with vitamins, minerals, collagen, amino acids and active moisturizing ingredients.

Good base oils for stretch marks during pregnancy are almond and olive oil. For better absorption, it is recommended to carry out a light moisturizing massage at home.


The simplest example of such a massage would be simple stroking movements with a hand or a shower glove around the tummy, chest, buttocks and legs.

By the way, if you are thinking about how to get rid of stretch marks on your chest, then massage with natural oils against stretch marks is the easiest and most convenient way.

Another interesting way is massage with pinching movements. To do this, apply the oil on the skin of the tummy, rub it until completely absorbed, and then gently pinch the skin with your fingers, moving from the bottom up.

We have selected for you cosmetics for stretch marks for pregnant women, consisting of natural and most useful ingredients. Such oils can be used not only during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding.

Pregnancy stretch marks are a natural result of the stretching of the skin of the abdomen as it grows. They appear as red streaks and turn silver over time. Stretch marks can be reduced and prevented if you act early in your pregnancy. Learn how to prevent stretch marks by changing your lifestyle, skin care routine, and continuing special care after your baby is born.

Steps

Change your lifestyle to prevent stretch marks

    Create a diet that nourishes the skin. You are probably already eating healthy, balanced meals to make sure your baby is getting enough vitamins and nutrients. Incorporating foods that are especially good for skin health will improve skin elasticity, which will prevent stretch marks from forming. Add the following foods to your diet:

    • Foods rich in antioxidants that help nourish and protect the skin. Eat plenty of spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables.
    • Products containing vitamin E, which protects the membranes of skin cells. Eat nuts, seeds, avocados, broccoli and greens.
    • Products containing vitamin A, which restores skin tissue. Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, pumpkins, and peppers.
    • Products containing omega 3, which will support the health of the cell membrane and make your skin shiny. Eat fish, fish oil, nuts, eggs and oysters.
  1. Avoid dehydration. Water helps detoxify the body and keeps skin cells firm, making your skin healthier and more able to recover from the stress of stretching. Drink more water by instilling these habits in yourself:

    • Drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you find it difficult to absorb so much water, carry a half-liter bottle of water with you. Fill it 4 times during the day than fill a regular glass 8 times. This will make drinking enough water less of a hassle.
    • Drink herbal tea. By choosing a decaffeinated tea, you help your body stay hydrated and you can diversify the boredom of drinking only water throughout the day.
    • Eat juicy fruits and vegetables. Eating vegetables that are high in water is another great way to hydrate your body. Eat salads with cucumbers, fresh peppers and celery. Eat watermelon, strawberries, nectarines, and other juicy fruits instead of pastries for dessert.
  2. Exercise during pregnancy. Exercise helps the skin maintain its elasticity by improving the circulation of the body. As an added benefit, exercise will help prevent gaining too much excess weight too quickly by eliminating stretch marks in the bud. Incorporate exercise into your daily schedule in one of the following ways:

    • Do exercises that are designed to make pregnancy easier on the body. Stretches, Kegel exercises, and other simple movements can help you keep your blood flowing and feel more comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
    • Try pregnancy yoga and other gentle exercises. Yoga and Pilates will be a great workout for you without having to move in a way that might be uncomfortable for you during pregnancy.
  3. Gain weight gradually. Stretch marks appear when you gain a lot of weight quickly. If you follow your doctor's advice on how to gain weight gradually, rather than gaining all your pregnancy weight all at once, you will significantly reduce your chances of stretch marks.

    • Avoid "eating for two". You will need to consume more calories than before pregnancy, but not twice as much.
    • If you're craving something to eat, eat some of the things you really crave, like ice cream and a hefty serving of strawberries or fruit. You will satisfy your taste and you will be full.

    Start a new skin care regimen to prevent stretch marks

    1. Use a dry brush. Exfoliating with a dry brush improves circulation and keeps your skin healthy. This is the recommended way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks that have already appeared, but dry exfoliation can also be used as a preventive measure.

      • Use a dry, natural fiber brush. The bristles should be stiff, but not too hard.
      • Start at the bottom of your legs and work your way up to the heart. Focus on areas where stretch marks can be a problem, such as the buttocks and abdomen. When you're done brushing, take a shower to wash away dead skin cells.
      • Do not dry-brush your breasts, as the skin there is the most delicate and can be damaged by brushing.
    2. Do not apply harsh chemicals to the skin. Many body washes contain sulfates, which dry out the skin and reduce its elasticity over time. Choose a shower gel with natural oils that will hydrate your skin instead of causing it to lose a lot of moisture.

      • Coconut oil can act as a healthy skin cleanser. Rub it on the skin, rinse with warm water and pat the skin dry with a soft towel.
      • It is not necessary to apply a cleanser to the skin, especially if it is prone to dryness. Wash your skin with warm water and pat dry.
    3. Moisturize your skin. It is important to use a cream to moisturize the skin on the abdomen, flanks, lower back, thighs, legs and other places where stretch marks can appear. Regular lotion won't penetrate deep enough into the skin to keep it hydrated, so use products made specifically for pregnant women or opt for a natural oil.

      • Bio butter, cocoa butter, almond butter, shea butter, wheat germ oil are popular and effective remedies for moisturizing the skin during pregnancy. Pure lanolin, made from mutton fat, which keeps their coats supple, also works very well.
      • Moisturize your skin in the morning after bathing and then again in the evening. If you have itching where the skin is stretching, this is a sign that you need to apply more moisturizer to these areas.
    4. Use sunscreen. If you go swimming or will be out in the sun for a while, make sure you apply enough sunscreen to your belly, sides, chest, and other areas where stretch marks can form. The sun's rays are hard on the skin, so it's especially important to protect yourself during pregnancy.

    Keep fit after giving birth

  4. Power training. Building strong muscles helps the skin tighten. Try strength training, but work with a trainer who will tell you which exercises are right for you.
  5. Cardio workout. Swimming, running, cycling will support healthy circulation and help the skin return to its normal shape.
  6. Treat stretch marks. If you end up with a few stretch marks (which can happen even if you've taken preventive measures), treat them while they're still fresh. Apply a stretch mark ointment containing glycolic acid to your abdomen, flanks, and wherever red streaks appear.

    • Medicated creams containing retinoids, which should not be ingested during pregnancy or breastfeeding, can also help with stretch marks.
    • Using glycolic acid and retinoids at the same time may lead to better results than using these products alone.
    • If these products do not help to remove stretch marks, laser treatment for stretch marks will be effective.
  • You can make your own stretch mark cream with cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin E cream.
  • Stretch marks are to some extent a genetic phenomenon. If your mom has them, then you probably will have them too, although taking preventive measures can reduce their occurrence.

Warnings

  • Make sure any stretch mark products you use while pregnant or breastfeeding do not say "do not use on pregnant or breastfeeding women".

Stretch marks can appear in any woman during a period when hormonal fluctuations occur: in adolescence, with rapid weight gain, with diseases of the endocrine glands, for example, with a disease in which the secretion of glucocorticoid hormones by the adrenal glands increases, as well as when taking these hormones for treatment.

If the cause of stretch marks is endocrine pathology, treatment with cosmetics will not only fail, but will also delay the visit to an endocrinologist and adequate treatment of the disease. hips. In addition, the "hormonal storm" slows down the production of collagen to elastin - skin proteins that ensure its elasticity and firmness. The slowdown in the production of these proteins can also be caused by genetic reasons: in order to determine this, look at the number of stretch marks on the bodies of your mothers, grandmothers, sisters. You can track your heredity and clarify the likelihood of stretch marks. If all female relatives have stretch marks, then every effort should be made to prevent them. Unfortunately, even in this case, the result of the measures taken does not always meet expectations.

As a result of insufficient elasticity of the skin, microtears appear in its deep layers, which are subsequently replaced by connective tissue - stretch marks, or striae. In the connective tissue, which is replaced by micro-ruptures, blood vessels sprout, giving them a red, pink or blue-purple color. Over time, the walls of the vessels collapse and dry out, the striae become white.

Unfortunately, there is still no method that allows you to quickly and painlessly remove chronic stretch marks from the hips, abdomen and chest. It is easier to prevent the appearance of white stripes on the body than to treat them. Therefore, from the beginning of pregnancy, it is necessary to devote time to the prevention of stretch marks.

Preventive measures

Ration. As a preventive measure for the occurrence of stretch marks, a pregnant woman needs to ensure that weight gain during pregnancy does not go beyond the norm, as little as possible to eat foods high in animal fats, concentrates and preservatives (chips, french fries, hamburgers, canned food and etc.). The diet should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in vitamin E. These are vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, cereals, legumes, egg yolk, liver, milk, oatmeal, soybeans, wheat germ.

To maintain skin elasticity, you need to drink about 2 liters of water per day (if the doctor does not restrict fluid intake). And of course, an important role is played by a complete diet enriched with vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (vegetable oils, etc.) and proteins.

Massage. During massage, the skin is somewhat stretched, its firmness and elasticity, especially when using oils - peach, olive, etc. - increases, which prevents the appearance of stretch marks. Massage for pregnant women is somewhat different from the massage we are familiar with: each movement is made without the use of force, pressure, pressing, lightly and relaxed, and the stomach and chest are not massaged at all, only slightly stroked.

Stroking the abdomen, legs, arms, buttocks, a woman can do it herself. As a prevention of stretch marks, gently stroke the stomach in a circular motion from the sides to the middle. When you reach the navel, stop, wait, and after a few seconds start again. In the first and second trimester of pregnancy, in the absence of contraindications, the skin on the abdomen can be easily pinched from the sides to the navel in a circular motion. Massage is more effective if it is performed after a warm bath or shower. Light rubbing movements with a terry towel after a bath or shower can also be attributed to massage. It is recommended to start doing massage from the first months of pregnancy 1-2 times a week.

Contraindications are:

  • acute illness accompanied by fever;
  • inflammatory processes on the skin, damage to hair, nails;
  • phlebeurysm;
  • inflammatory lesions of blood vessels, lymph nodes;
  • heart disease;
  • oncological diseases;
  • mental illness accompanied by arousal;
  • your doctor's order.

Physical exercises. Stretch marks especially affect the abdomen, thighs and chest. Weak muscles located in these areas of the body are not able to bear the increasing volume of tissues and prevent excessive stretching of the skin. This is especially noticeable in the chest area. During pregnancy, the volume of the breast increases dramatically, so it needs additional support. But there are no muscles in the mammary glands that would be able to bear the increasing volume and reduce the stretching of the skin.

However, under the mammary glands are powerful muscles that can withstand the increasing weight of the mammary glands. To prevent stretch marks, it is necessary to strengthen these muscles, as well as the muscles of the thighs and abdomen. In this case, the likelihood of stretch marks is less.

The resistance of water is greater than air, which requires additional effort and trains the muscles well, at the same time, water “reduces” the weight of the abdomen, making it easier to move. You can swim both in natural reservoirs (river, sea, lake, if the water temperature is not lower than 22 ° C), and in the pool. You can also use special sets of exercises for pregnant women, which also include exercises to strengthen the muscles of the thighs and chest.

Cosmetics. From the first trimester of pregnancy, it is necessary to prevent stretch marks with the help of special cosmetics containing essential oils, proteins, vegetable oils, vegetable flavonoids (horsetail, plum viburnum, cuff, etc.) and other stimulants that increase the production of collagen and elastin - proteins connective tissue of the skin. Each cream has a certain set of specific substances that increase skin firmness and elasticity.

In the morning and evening every day, gently, without pressing on the chest and stomach, apply the funds from stretch marks to the places where stretch marks are supposed to appear.

As a means to prevent the appearance of stretch marks, you can use olive, peach oil, ordinary cosmetic milk, body cream or cream containing vitamins A, C, E, and moisturizing ingredients: these products must be applied with massaging circular movements on the chest, thighs and stomach. Their effectiveness may be lower than special anti-stretch marks, but they are cheaper.

Linen. An important method of preventing stretch marks is to wear special bras. Modern support bras are made from elastic, soft, environmentally friendly fabrics of very high quality. With the help of special underwear made from these fabrics, excessive stretching of the skin, causing stretch marks, can be prevented. Bandages are prenatal and postnatal, in the form of panties or belts.

How to get rid of stretch marks?

In the treatment of stretch marks, time is the most important factor. The older the stretch marks, the more difficult it will be to get rid of them and the more drastic measures will have to be taken.

If stretch marks are very fresh, you can try to fight them with the help of special cosmetics for the treatment of stretch marks. For example, CONTRACTUBEX is recommended as a treatment immediately after childbirth. The use of this drug is compatible with breastfeeding.

If some time has already passed after the appearance of stretch marks, cosmetics may not help. In this case, such methods as mesotherapy, peelings, microdermabrasion, micro-current therapy and the most cardinal - abdominoplasty will help.

Mesotherapy used to treat stretch marks for a long time. It is considered one of the most effective methods for treating fresh stretch marks. Mesotherapy is a microinjection under the skin of problem areas of special pharmacological preparations and vitamin complexes, such as extracts and extracts from plants and algae, vitamin C, B vitamins. These drugs stimulate the formation of connective tissue fibers. The course of treatment averages 5-15 procedures, depending on the age and number of stretch marks. After mesotherapy, the skin becomes more elastic, firmer, toned, stretch marks become less noticeable, deeper and paler. The only contraindication for mesotherapy is cholelithiasis. During breastfeeding, mesotherapy is contraindicated.

If the number of stretch marks is large and a lot of time has passed since their appearance, a more aggressive effect is carried out - medium depth peeling. This procedure is prescribed only at the end of the breastfeeding period: the chemicals used for peeling (fruit acids - glycolic, lactic) can harm the baby. During chemical peeling, the cosmetologist places special acids (trichloroacetic, alpha-hydroxy acids and phenolic acids) on problem areas for a certain time. Acids destroy the superficial and deep layers of the epidermis. Alpha hydroxy acids are weaker, they do not reach the deep layers, they only exfoliate the horny scales, making stretch marks more pale and invisible, and also stimulating increased collagen production. Phenolic acids are considered the most effective, but also the most dangerous in cosmetology. After their application, even chronic stretch marks are significantly reduced in size and turn pale, fresher ones become almost invisible. However, the peeling procedure with phenolic acids is so unpleasant that it is performed under general anesthesia. In addition, complications similar to those of a severe burn may occur. Phenol is a toxic substance that, under certain circumstances, can be absorbed through the skin. It can be on the skin for a strictly limited time. Contraindications to the procedure are cardiovascular diseases, a tendency to form keloid scars, inflammatory diseases, varicose veins if peeling is performed in the legs, neoplasms, skin diseases. Trichloroacetic acid is considered milder, but still requires accuracy. Peelings are carried out only by a cosmetologist.

To conduct laser peeling it takes 1-2 months to prepare. At this time, preparatory treatment is carried out with special cosmetic preparations. Laser peeling is considered one of the most effective means. Its action, like any other peeling, is that during the procedure the upper layers of the skin are removed. Old stretch marks do not disappear, but become almost invisible. Such peeling is carried out in stationary conditions under general anesthesia with a laser beam for 45-60 minutes. The procedure should be carried out only by a cosmetologist. The next day, the woman can return home. After the procedure for 2 weeks, the skin will be reddish, swollen and painful, as after a sunburn. You don't need to be afraid of this. It’s just that during these two weeks you will have to apply special means that accelerate healing, and refrain from sunbathing, in this regard, it is recommended to carry out this procedure in the winter. Contraindications are the tendency to form keloid scars, inflammatory diseases, varicose veins (if peeling is performed in the legs), neoplasms, skin diseases. Laser peeling can be done as early as 6 months after childbirth, regardless of whether you are breastfeeding or not.

There is another option for peeling - microdermabrasion. A special pressurized apparatus sprays a small area of ​​skin with a stream of fine solid particles through the tip. The tip, without leaving the skin, moves along its surface, and the cycle of microcrystals does not stop even for a second. This is what microcrystalline resurfacing looks like. Crystals carry away with them the smallest particles of skin. Skin resurfacing occurs - the surface of the epidermis is leveled. In addition, the dermis - a deeper layer of the skin, in which elastin and collagen fibers are located - reacts to such an impact. She begins to diligently produce elastin and collagen. Due to this, the skin seems to straighten out. It is better to apply the procedure in the presence of fresh stretch marks, but it is also possible in the presence of old ones. After the procedure, the skin remains red for several days. About 10 procedures are required for a noticeable effect. This method can be used as early as 2 months after childbirth, including during breastfeeding, except for the area of ​​​​the mammary glands.

Very popular for the treatment of stretch marks is microcurrent therapy. This method of treatment uses a healing effect on the tissues of the body of weak pulsed currents of low frequency and low strength. The currents affect the metabolism in the skin and muscles, returning their electrophysiological processes to normal values ​​and stimulating the formation of new connective tissue in place of the striae. Stretch marks become paler, thinner and similar to the color of the surrounding skin. It takes 10-15 procedures for you to notice the result.

But sometimes none of these techniques lead to significant improvement: this is usually the case in the case of deep, extensive scars, combined with flabby, stretched muscles and skin. In this case, surgical intervention is possible. In an operation called abdominoplasty, loose, stretched skin is removed along with stretch marks. The operation is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia. Surgery can be performed six months after childbirth if you are not breastfeeding or after breastfeeding is over.