Why do stretch marks occur in pregnant women? The best remedies for stretch marks!

Effectively combating stretch marks during pregnancy

Many women experience stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy.
The reason for this is the restructuring of the body, within which the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone is activated. With the development of the fetus, the woman’s weight increases, and the epidermis is not able to withstand the tension.
As a result, microcracks begin to appear on the skin surface, which are subsequently covered with scar tissue. These are stretch marks, which are an aesthetic defect. Faced with them, a woman dreams of getting rid of them and returning her body to its previous appearance.

Prevention of stretch marks on the buttocks and other places

Modern medicine has come a long way. Every day we learn something new about our skin, and the beauty industry comes up with innovative products designed to prolong youth and preserve beauty. And yet, in many cases, preventing something from happening is much easier than dealing with its consequences. This also applies to striae.

Moreover, methods for preventing stretch marks are available to anyone.

Find out which method of correcting scars and stretch marks is optimal for you!

doctor Svetlana Viktorovna Ogorodnikova.

doctor

How to prevent stretch marks on your butt:

Monitor your health . Forming healthy habits will help avoid the formation of hated stretch marks. Make it a rule to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and sleep regularly. Get your hormones tested every six months and have your thyroid checked.
Cold and hot shower. The easiest way to prevent stretch marks, and most importantly - very useful. A shower with alternating warm and cold water in the morning not only hardens your body, but also improves thermoregulation, speeds up metabolism and significantly improves skin turgor.
Scrubbing, wraps and massage. And any other actions aimed at improving skin elasticity. These procedures help with the renewal of the epidermis, improve local blood microcirculation, reduce volumes, remove excess fluid and nourish the body with vitamins.

It is important to note that people suffering from hormonal problems need to be especially attentive to their body. Naturally, it is necessary to consult with a dermatologist and endocrinologist in order to correctly select a method for correcting stretch marks. And, most importantly, to identify the true reasons for their formation. Many clinics provide consultation with a doctor. Use this option on our website completely free of charge!

When do stretch marks appear during pregnancy?

The skin consists of elastin and collagen fibers, which tend to stretch when stretched and then return to their original state. When pregnancy begins, the body faces various changes. Under the influence of certain factors, the epidermis, when stretched, is not able to return to its normal state:

The tissues begin to tear.
Cells do not have time to regenerate.
Stretch marks form, called striae.

Stretch marks may begin to form in the second trimester. All this is individual and depends on:

how quickly the fetus grows;
how much a woman’s body weight increases;
what degree of elasticity does the epidermis have?

If in the second trimester the fetus grows rapidly, the skin surface quickly becomes tense, this leads to small tears in the epidermis. As soon as a woman feels that the skin begins to itch on the abdomen, thighs and chest, then we can assume that stretch marks begin to form.

The third trimester is considered the riskiest period when an expectant mother may experience stretch marks. During this period the following changes occur:

under the heavy weight of the fetus, the epidermal tissues stretch;
the skin does not have time to recover;
noticeable stripes form on the body.

What are stretch marks and why do they appear?

Of course, the skin does not tear completely, but only its inner layer - the dermis. Its recovery occurs quite quickly, but scars in the form of wavy stripes still remain. At first they may have a violet, lilac or pinkish tint, but after a certain time they fade and become less noticeable. It is difficult to remove them; special cosmetic procedures are required.

The genetic factor also plays an important role in this matter, so if your mother or sisters have such a problem, then you most likely have a predisposition to it.

What do stretch marks look like immediately and after childbirth?

Fresh stretch marks are red or burgundy in color.
They are vertical stripes. Depending on the structure of the epidermis, the initial color of striae can be blue or dark burgundy. This will depend on the number of small vessels located in a particular area of the body. Horizontal striae appear on the body extremely rarely. But if this happens, then we are talking about a severe hormonal imbalance. The width of the stretch marks can be completely different. However, these are usually thin strips that may squirm a little.

After a period of time, the stretch marks become more faded. After childbirth, they lighten as scarring occurs in all damaged areas. Striae become less pronounced and noticeable.

Why do stretch marks appear on the skin?

Striae are scar formations on the skin, the appearance of which in most cases is associated with hormonal changes. An excess of hubbub affects the condition of the skin: the production of elastin and collagen is sharply reduced, thereby reducing the elasticity of the fibers. This leads to stretching of the dermis - the inner layer of the skin and the formation of microtraumas. Thus, stretch marks are scars that appear at the site of torn fibers.

This skin defect most often appears in pregnant women, in girls during puberty, as well as with sudden weight loss and vice versa - weight gain. But in some cases, stretch marks on the skin can be the result of an illness or genetic predisposition. Initially, stretch marks are red or even purple in color due to the many capillaries that permeate the connective tissue. Gradually, stretch marks fade, but do not completely disappear: the places where they form do not become tanned, so it is difficult to hide such a skin defect.

In what places can they appear?

First, stretch marks on the body appear in the abdominal area. It is this part of the body that constantly increases during the period of waiting for a child. Moreover, such a process can occur quite quickly. The abdomen increases several times, and at the same time the uterus itself grows.

A woman may not notice the appearance of the first stretch marks localized in the abdominal area. Since they are located below, closer to the pubis. Representatives of the fair sex notice them after childbirth, when the belly becomes smaller.

The next area of the body where stretch marks form during pregnancy is the thighs and buttocks. These places are significantly increasing in volume. Stretch marks are localized on the inside and front of the thighs. Striae also appear on the mammary glands. The following changes contribute to this:

the skin of the breast begins to stretch;
the glands become engorged;
the epidermis does not have time to adapt to the changes taking place.

A woman may also find stretch marks in the bust area.

Why do they appear on the sides and hips?

The cause of stretch marks is hormonal internal changes in the body. Due to the active production of the hormone estrogen, the restorative properties of skin cells are weakened, as a result, a woman during pregnancy is faced with such a visual defect. The main factor contributing to this phenomenon is the weakening of the subcutaneous and skin tissue. And if at the same time the fetus is characterized by intensive growth rates, then the formed reserves of fatty tissue lead to severe stretching of the skin.

Large localization of stretch marks on the thighs may be due to the fact that a woman does not monitor her diet at all while expecting a child. She does not always consume healthy and natural products.

Sometimes a failure of blood circulation in the pelvic organs can provoke the formation of stretch marks on the skin surface of the thigh. You can recognize the beginning of the process by a slight tingling and itching of the skin.

Do they appear on the stomach?

The abdomen is one of the most common areas of the body where you can notice stretch marks during pregnancy:

the fruit grows;
the uterus enlarges and rises higher;
tissues are forced to stretch.

And if all these physiological processes occur at an accelerated pace, skin cells are injured and do not have time to recover. Some women avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen. This is due to the individual characteristics of the body and the fact that the fetus itself is not large in size. This may depend on the volume of amniotic fluid.

Causes of appearance on the chest

Many expectant mothers experience stretch marks on their breasts that appear during pregnancy. Against the background of hormonal changes occurring inside the body, the mammary glands can significantly increase in size. The fabric in the bust area is fragile and has the least elasticity. It cannot cope with the load placed on it, it is stretched and injured, which leads to stretch marks.

Can they appear on the legs and ankles?

The appearance of stretch marks on the legs and ankles during pregnancy is rare. However, this is not excluded. Especially if the expectant mother, while expecting a child, does not deny herself anything and does not monitor the calorie content of her daily diet:

weight begins to increase rapidly;
large body weight presses on the lower part;
veins swell;
the calves are filling;
the epidermis is forced to stretch.

In this case, striae are localized on the back of the ankles, rising to the knee joints.

Reasons for appearance

There are several reasons for the appearance of scars on the body during pregnancy; for some, stretch marks occur due to poor nutrition and severe weight gain; for others, they are a consequence of improper skin care.

Weight gain

From the moment they conceive a baby, women begin to gain weight every month. There are certain norms for gaining kilograms for the entire period of bearing a baby; if the expectant mother does not adhere to the principles of proper nutrition, she gains much more weight, which causes the appearance of stretch marks, as the skin is overstretched.

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Perchatkina Galina Viktorovna

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If a mother-to-be has a thin physique and gains weight, she will develop more stretch marks than obese women.

Hormonal imbalance

Due to hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman, the synthesis of proteins responsible for the elasticity of the skin decreases. This causes it to become thinner and stretch marks appear.

Genetics

Hereditary factors play a role in the formation of stretch marks during pregnancy. If one of the ancestors on the female line (mother or grandmother) of the future mother had stretch marks, then with a high degree of probability they form in certain areas of the body and on her. Moreover, this problem occurs even when the stomach is small.

Improper skin care

The skin needs to be moisturized and nourished so that it is elastic. When a pregnant woman neglects skin care recommendations, she is faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as stretch marks. In cosmetics stores and special departments of pharmacies there is a large selection of creams and lotions for women carrying a child. Their use throughout pregnancy will prevent the occurrence of stretch marks and keep the skin radiant.

Weakness of the abdominal muscles

Those girls who lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not exercise during pregnancy develop multiple stretch marks on their bodies. The skin on the abdomen, in the abdominal area, is flabby, and the muscles are weak, so when the epidermis is stretched, stretch marks form on it. In addition, in the absence of motor activity, skin cells are poorly saturated with oxygen due to insufficient blood circulation that occurs with severe physical inactivity. Even during pregnancy, doctors recommend walking more in the fresh air and doing gymnastics specially designed for expectant mothers.

Risk factors

There are certain risk factors that make stretch marks appear much more often.

This includes:

Endocrine and cardiovascular pathologies.
Having bad habits such as smoking. Ingestion of nicotine and carcinogenic substances contained in cigarette smoke makes the skin flabby and inelastic.
No diet plan. Fried, spicy and salty foods negatively affect the synthesis of proteins necessary for skin elasticity. During pregnancy, chocolate, coffee, baked goods and sweets are considered especially harmful.
Vitamin deficiency in the body. During pregnancy, doctors recommend taking special vitamin and mineral complexes. Also, substances beneficial for the skin are found in vegetables and fruits, which must be consumed fresh.
The age of the expectant mother. The older the woman carrying the baby, the higher the likelihood of microcracks appearing in the epidermis during the period of abdominal growth.
Metabolic disease. It is recommended to eliminate this problem at the stage of pregnancy planning.

How to deal with stretch marks during pregnancy

If stretch marks have already appeared, it is extremely difficult to get rid of them completely. But you can reduce them and make them less noticeable. To prevent the occurrence of stretch marks, you need to first think about the condition of your epidermis. To do this, you should adjust your diet. You need to exclude high-calorie baked goods and sweets from the menu. The following foods should be consumed regularly:

flaxseed and olive oil;
fruits and vegetables;
chicken and beef meat;
cheeses and nuts.

If you additionally use a moderate contrast shower and light massage, then you will be able to reduce the risk of stretch marks. Don't forget about physical exercises specifically designed for pregnant women.

Does cream or gel help?

To get an effective result from a cream or gel and thereby reduce the size of stretch marks, this product should be used from the first days of pregnancy.
You need to choose a cream that will not only increase the elasticity of the epidermis, but also have a moisturizing effect. Excellent results can be achieved by those products that contain components such as:

jojoba;
grape seed extract;
almond;
peach extract.

Apply the drug using light massaging movements. If this procedure is repeated regularly, the elasticity and firmness of the skin will increase, and cellular regeneration will accelerate. But in order for a cream or gel to help cope with stretch marks, these cosmetics must be used in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Is it possible to apply a simple baby moisturizer?

While expecting a baby, you can use baby moisturizer to combat stretch marks. It contains safe components and saturates the epidermal cells with the necessary moisture and important mineral components. But if you use baby cream when stretch marks have already formed on the body, it will not be able to give the desired expected result.

Which lotion to use to combat stretch marks during pregnancy

To speed up the regeneration of the skin on which stretch marks have appeared, you can prepare comfrey lotion. At home, it will give a pronounced effect and improve the condition of the epidermis. To do this, you need to take one tablespoon of dried comfrey, fill it with water and let the liquid brew for thirty minutes. After this, strain the lotion and rub it into those areas where there are stretch marks.

Can scrubs be used?

Scrubs have an exfoliating effect, remove dead skin particles and promote accelerated skin regeneration. But a procedure such as scrubbing can injure the skin, which has already been subjected to mechanical stress. This product must be used carefully. A scrub based on coffee and pepper will give a good result. Rub it into the skin with gentle movements. You need to repeat the procedure every day, then treating the epidermis with a moisturizing and nourishing cream.

How to Avoid Stretch Marks

Just like the physical and psychological state of pregnancy, the skin also needs special care. It would be right to start preparing before pregnancy. Nourishing and moisturizing the skin will only have a beneficial effect on its condition during pregnancy.

Watch your weight

Remember 14 kilograms, this is the maximum. We gained weight dramatically and developed stretch marks. Listen to the doctor. Severe excess weight also threatens complications during childbirth.

Healthy eating

Your motto is “I am for healthy eating!” Only healthy foods: chicken, eggs, cheese, turkey, cottage cheese, nuts, beef. Products containing protein help our skin renew itself and be more elastic. Don't forget about dried fruits, and don't drink a lot of water. Up to two liters per day. Drinking this amount of liquid will help avoid swelling and, accordingly, stretch marks. Try not to eat sweets, buns, or sweet soda. The doctor should prescribe a complex of vitamins for pregnant women; you should definitely take it.

Move more

Even if you just walk at a leisurely pace, this is already a big plus. Going to the pool has a very positive effect on the health of the expectant mother and her baby. Fitness for pregnant women is a specially designed set of exercises. Let's just say that gentle training, which has no contraindications from your doctor, will help strengthen the muscle system.

You can practice both at home and in the antenatal clinic. If you exercise at home, show your doctor a set of exercises; perhaps some of them are not safe to do just for you. And also try to protect yourself from severe overwork and stress in the first trimester.

At the very beginning of training, try not to do it alone; there should be someone else at home.

If stretch marks have already appeared, can they be removed after pregnancy?

After childbirth, stretch marks can be removed.
But to get rid of them completely, you will have to use hardware cosmetology. One of the effective methods is laser exposure. Using a laser beam, the stretch marks are removed one by one. This procedure is more suitable for those who do not have many stretch marks on their body. Another effective method to cope with stretch marks after pregnancy is abdominoplasty. This surgical intervention allows:

straighten and tighten the skin;
remove scars;
tighten your abdominal muscles.

Is it possible to prevent stretch marks: methods of prevention

Preventing the appearance of stretch marks on the skin is much easier than getting rid of them later. After all, stretch marks on the skin can be completely removed only with the help of laser therapy. To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, it is important to eat properly and take care of your skin, paying special attention to places where stretch marks may form. The diet should include foods rich in C, B and E vitamins, zinc, copper - these substances promote the production of collagen. Therefore, it is important to regularly eat liver, avocados, green peas, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and porridge. Do not forget to eat protein foods, it is protein that helps tissues regenerate better.

It is also important to monitor skin tone: loose skin is more susceptible to stretch marks. Massage and contrast showers will help increase blood circulation, and with it skin tone. The skin of the chest, thighs and abdomen, if prone to stretch marks, needs additional care:

use of oils: 4-5 drops of essential oil (lemon, mint, rosewood, orange) added to a tablespoon of coconut, olive, almond or sesame oil will help make the skin more elastic. The mixture of oils can either be simply rubbed in with massage movements and allowed to be absorbed into the skin.
scrubs and peeling: regular ground coffee mixed with honey or cosmetic oil (olive, coconut) will be an excellent remedy for peeling at home. Scrubbing improves blood circulation and helps the skin “breathe” better.
seaweed wraps and mud wraps. As well as maintaining your own weight, avoiding sudden weight gain.

Do diet and special nutrition help in the prevention of stretch marks?

Proper nutrition is of great importance in preventing the appearance of stretch marks. A protein diet will help activate the production of collagen and elastin, which is responsible for the good structure of the epidermis and protects against the risk of stretch marks.

Fruits and vegetables will supply the body with the necessary vitamin elements. Nuts and vegetable fats will help activate cellular renewal.

But you will need to give up flour and confectionery products. They contribute to the accumulation of fat and increase the risk of stretch marks.

It is easier to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy than to try hard to fight them later. An important aspect in this case is nutrition and control of the woman’s actual weight. Do not forget about moderate physical activity and cosmetics that moisturize and nourish the cells of the epidermis.

How to get rid of stretch marks on the butt?

There is no need to take drastic measures during pregnancy, as this can affect your overall well-being and cause difficulties when carrying a baby. It is enough to take the following measures:

Take proper care of the skin of the buttocks. This is the use of special cosmetics that have a moisturizing and nutritional effect. There are separate categories of products recommended for expectant mothers.
Weight control. You need to try to gradually gain weight and this will be useful not only for the condition of the skin, but also for the whole body.
Light massage, contrast shower. If red stretch marks have already appeared on the butt during pregnancy, then it is necessary to help the skin recover from such microtraumas. Moderate exposure will promote better blood circulation and stimulate natural tissue repair.
Proper nutrition, including varied and healthy foods, a balanced menu.
Use of “light” cosmetic procedures. Short-term wrapping is allowed, but only without the use of aggressive auxiliary agents.
The use of underwear made from natural fabrics, of appropriate size and preferably especially for expectant mothers.

During pregnancy, it is necessary to use supportive measures, since they are the ones that can reduce the likelihood of stretch marks or reduce traces of them.

How to remove stretch marks if they have already appeared: methods of struggle

Unfortunately, after the birth of the baby, stretch marks that appeared during pregnancy do not disappear completely. Over time, they become paler, but are clearly visible on the skin, especially after sunbathing. When exposed to UV rays, the skin tans and white scars become clearly visible. To remove fresh stretch marks and make them less noticeable, you need to use special corrective stretch mark creams that contain active ingredients that promote skin regeneration and restoration of epidermal cells in places where stretch marks appear. Remedies against stretch marks during pregnancy will help the skin recover.

You can use creams and ointments starting from 3-4 months of pregnancy, rubbing them into problem areas, combining them with self-massage. Anti-stretch marks products intended for expectant mothers usually contain natural ingredients and active substances approved for pregnant women. But, do not forget about individual intolerance to any substance included in the cream. Before applying the product, you should definitely check it for an allergic reaction. Apply a little cream to the inside of your arm and leave for 20 minutes. If the skin is not red, you can safely use this cream for stretch marks on the body.

How to apply to stretch marks during pregnancy?

Among the most popular and effective corrective products against stretch marks intended for expectant mothers, the following innovative care products can be distinguished:

Avent is one of the best creams for stretch marks during pregnancy, which has only positive reviews. Its rich vitamin composition, including minerals, amino acids, natural extracts and oils, restores and regenerates the skin. The cream has a pleasant citrus aroma and can be used for massage.
Clarins Stretch Mark Control is a natural cream for stretch marks during pregnancy, stimulating protein synthesis and cell regeneration. It contains extracts of essential and natural vegetable oils, dropsy berry extract, Asian centella - components that moisturize and nourish the dermis. The visibility of scars is visually reduced.
Pregnacare cream - the cream contains natural ingredients that nourish the epidermis and accelerate cell division. Calendula and soy glycine remove toxins. The cream stimulates collagen production and actively removes stretch marks, preventing their reappearance.
Mama Comfort is a cosmetic series of effective and inexpensive products for combating stretch marks. Suitable for sensitive skin, the creams in this series nourish the skin and protect it from breakouts.
Mustella is a cream with a double effect; its action is aimed at both correcting stretch marks and preventing their reappearance. Contains natural ingredients (shea butter, avocado oil) that nourish the dermis.

In addition to cosmetic care products that can be purchased at cosmetic stores, you can use pharmaceutical ointments to treat scars and scars to combat stretch marks.

Mederma - a gel that contains onion extract, has virtually no contraindications, and is approved for expectant mothers.
Contractubex ointment. Heparin is an active substance that is part of the ointment, an effective remedy for eliminating raised scars and scars.
Phytolastil gel - perfectly fights against fresh and mature scars, the course of treatment is up to 2 months.

How to make your own anti-stretch mark cream

Homemade creams made from natural ingredients are an excellent alternative to expensive cosmetics; in very rare cases, allergic reactions occur to them.

Cream with mummy.

Mumiyo is a mountain resin mined in the mountains of Asia, which has healing properties to heal wounds, regenerate tissue, and resolve scars. You can buy mumiyo at a pharmacy. To prepare the cream you will need 2-3 grams of mountain resin, it must be dissolved in water (1 tsp) and mixed with any baby cream. The first effect of use can be seen within a week; it is not recommended during lactation.

Natural remedy for stretch marks with aloe.

To prepare homemade cream, you need to squeeze out 0.5 cups of aloe juice; you can twist the leaf through a meat grinder or finely chop it, and then squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. Add 0.5 cups of olive oil, 15 drops of vitamin E and 5 drops of vitamin A to aloe juice and stir. Apply the product once a day, store in the refrigerator.

Fruit peeling.

Take natural yogurt, add lemon zest and 1 tbsp. spoon of almond oil. Apply the product to problem areas for 20 minutes, and then rinse off under a warm shower. After the procedure, be sure to moisturize the skin with cream or body lotion.

White clay peeling.

To make the peeling you will need an avocado, beat its pulp in a blender, add wheat germ oil, 3 tbsp white clay, 1 tbsp. l olive oil. Apply the product to the skin for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Essential oils.

Essential oils work well in the fight against stretch marks:

Jojoba oil gives skin elasticity;
Rosewood oil resolves scars and visibly tightens the skin;
almond oil – provides skin elasticity and increases its tone;
Grape seed oil, having regenerating properties, heals scars and increases elasticity.

Exercise against stretch marks during pregnancy

To give the skin elasticity and firmness, pregnant women should not forget about physical exercise, unless it is contraindicated for them. Stretching and exercise on a fitball will strengthen the muscles of the abs, hips and back, and increase muscle tone. All types of activities related to water are useful: swimming, exercises in water. In addition to physical activity, water promotes firmness and elasticity of the skin. Do the exercises after the baby is born.

Cosmetic procedures for stretch marks

If stretch marks cannot be avoided during pregnancy, after the baby is born, you can have them removed at a beauty salon that offers services to eliminate unwanted scars on the body. You may be offered procedures such as:

Mesotherapy. To remove stretch marks, a drug is injected into the middle layer of the skin (directly into the dermis), the action of which is aimed at stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. The epidermis is restored and stretch marks disappear or become almost invisible.
Chemical peeling. With the help of active components, old layers of skin are peeled. Collagen production is stimulated. The skin becomes elastic and restored.
Laser grinding. The laser beam removes old damaged skin cells and stimulates the growth of new smooth epidermal cells. Laser resurfacing is prohibited during lactation; after the procedure, you cannot sunbathe on the beach or visit a solarium for about six months.
Abdominoplasty. Stretch marks can be permanently removed through surgery. Abdominoplasty will help get rid of deep stretch marks on visible areas of the body, tighten the skin and restore its beauty.

Which method of dealing with stretch marks to choose depends on the expectant mother. It should be remembered that it is easier to prevent their occurrence than to later get rid of a non-aesthetic skin defect. Striae in pregnant women is not a disease, but a natural phenomenon. When they appear, do not worry or panic, use our advice and always be beautiful!

What can an expectant mother do for her skin?

First of all, you need to start caring for the areas of the body that are most vulnerable. If there is a hereditary predisposition to the appearance of stretch marks, then from the first months of pregnancy you need to take care of maximum hydration and nutrition of the skin.

But during this period it is necessary to take special care, using only proven products that do not cause allergic reactions. Usually these are creams (or oils) and gels containing large quantities of vitamins E and A.

The safest oils are considered to be: avocado, almond, peach, olive.

Lotions should be designed specifically for pregnant women, and it is better to purchase them in pharmacies.

Apply oil or lotion with gentle massaging movements. In order for them to be well absorbed, it is not necessary to make a greasy layer, since the positive effect is not the amount of the product, but the regularity of its use (twice a day).

Thus, if stretch marks appear after childbirth, they will be less pronounced.

Pregnant women should not use essential oils as some of them cause uterine contractions!