Continuous Hydration: The Key to Preventing Stretch Marks
- Article
- 5th March 2024
Stretch marks are scar-like lines that appear in areas where the skin has undergone sudden stretching. They have a different texture than the surrounding skin and may be darker or lighter in color, or even tend towards redness. They commonly occur on the chest, back, lower abdomen, hands, and legs.
Causes of Stretch Marks
1- Physiological Causes
Stretch marks can be a result of physiological factors, such as rapid weight loss or gain, growth spurts during puberty, and they often appear in the later months of pregnancy in women.
2- Medical Causes
Stretch marks can also be caused by medical factors, such as increased production of the hormone cortisol, which occurs due to excessive secretion from the adrenal gland. They can also result from the misuse of topical creams containing corticosteroids.
Treatment for Stretch Marks
There are many techniques and treatments developed to address stretch marks, but there is no 100% effective method available yet. Each approach has a specific level of effectiveness.
One safe treatment option for stretch marks is the use of creams containing vitamin A, which can increase collagen-producing cells. Laser treatments, such as vascular lasers, may help reduce redness initially, while fractional lasers may be more effective for white marks, although the success rate does not exceed 30%.
Other procedures, such as fractional radiofrequency and carboxy therapy (carbon dioxide injections) combined with plasma injections, have shown some improvement, but the results are modest, and these treatments can be very costly.
Injecting fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, can be used to help alleviate the appearance of stretch marks, but it is considered an auxiliary treatment. To achieve the desired result, multiple methods need to be combined, and therapy sessions need to be repeated, with an improvement rate that does not exceed 50%.
Do Natural Remedies Treat Stretch Marks?
Just because a product is natural does not mean it is 100% safe. Some natural substances can cause allergies, contact dermatitis, or even burns, and these complaints are common in clinics due to the use of lemon, vinegar, or excessive use of corticosteroid-containing creams. When using these products, it is important to know their ingredients to avoid any potential side effects, regardless of their claimed benefits.
Preventive Measures for Stretch Marks
- During pregnancy, it is important to maintain continuous -- hydration and manage weight, as these factors can reduce - the appearance of stretch marks.
- Use products derived from vitamin A.
- Protect the skin from sun exposure.
- Maintain a healthy weight as much as possible.
- Ensure continuous hydration of the skin.