Treatment of stretch marks on the abdomen during pregnancy

Why do they appear?

Essentially, stretch marks are scars that appear on the inner layer of the epidermis. This is the result of collagen rupture and separation. Why is this happening? Usually due to heavy stress or hormonal changes in the body when there is not enough collagen.

It is he who responds to firmness and elasticity, and its deficiency provokes rupture. And this is the main cause of stretch marks during pregnancy. Most often, stretch marks appear on the chest, abdomen and thighs, but they can also appear on the back. By the way, stretch marks are not only the prerogative of pregnant women.

They are companions for people with diseases of the endocrine system. If a teenager grows quickly, the skin does not keep up with this process and there may also be stretch marks on the thighs. But they become invisible with age. Another observation is that stretch marks almost always appear in mothers who had cellulite before the “interesting situation.”

When stretch marks appear, what happens to the body? When the skin loses collagen, it becomes thinner and you can see blood vessels. Soon the internal gaps will be filled with connective tissue. So, we have found out that during pregnancy this occurs due to mechanical stretching of the epidermis.

The reasons are as follows:

rapid weight gain, usually in the 2nd and 3rd trimester;
with gestosis.

The reason may also be high levels of steroid hormones. If a woman has a large amount of estrogen, the skin becomes like thin rubber - it stretches and loses the ability to return to its original state.

remedies for stretch marks during pregnancy

REMEDIES FOR PREGNANT STRETCH MARKS. Vitamin E improves skin elasticity. Products containing it should be applied to damp, clean skin of the abdomen. Wait 5 minutes, then remove anything that is not absorbed with a napkin. The procedure should be performed every evening for two weeks after birth, and then a couple of times a week. A pleasant preventive procedure is a massage with aromatic oils in combination with a contrast shower. You can try preparing the mixture yourself: take 3 drops of lavender oil, a tablespoon of jojoba or wheat germ. If a pregnant woman has stretch marks, as they say, are evident (that is, “on the body”), it is time to resort to hardware procedures. An effective affordable program is microdermabrasion combined with chemical peeling. Through special pipes, a stream of aluminum oxide crystals is delivered to the skin at high speed. The particles penetrate the epidermis and are simultaneously sucked out using a vacuum apparatus along with keratinized skin particles. This removes the surface layers of the epidermis and smoothes the surface of the skin. Microdermabrasion sessions are complemented by chemical peeling, which not only polishes off stretch marks, but also triggers the mechanism of connective tissue regeneration. After getting rid of the stratum corneum, intensive skin restoration is carried out. Various wraps and masks are effective here, accelerating the regeneration processes of damaged fibers. At the same time, they increase the elasticity of the dermis, thereby preventing the appearance of new stretch marks. A good cosmetic effect lasts for at least a year. In some cases, a radical solution to the problem is possible with abdominoplasty. That is, sagging skin on the abdomen along with stretch marks is removed. Acceptable only for narrow defect areas. By the way, microdermabrasion can be used as early as a month after giving birth. And here are the last two, when you finish breastfeeding your baby. PREVENTION OF STRETCH MARKS IN A PREGNANT WOMAN Bring your weight back to normal at least six months before conception. This will reduce the likelihood of stretch marks in pregnant women by almost half. For skin in problem areas (chest, abdomen, thighs), good hydration is a must. You need to drink at least 2-2.5 liters of water per day. Every day after a shower, use any moisturizing creams, preferably with vitamins A, C, E, collagen and elastin. Be sure to use scrubs, intensive brushing, and massage risk areas. Eat more foods containing potassium - banana, pears, raisins, dried apricots. To prepare for pregnancy, your body will need useful polysaturated acids, which are rich in vegetable oils.

Vertical or horizontal

Many people say that the cause of stretch marks is heredity. Quite possible. But it seems to me that this has more to do with the characteristics of the skin. Women often talk about this on forums when discussing the problem.

Moms noticed that stretch marks are different:

vertical;
horizontal.

The first are the consequences of rapid weight gain, most often appearing on the butt. The latter are associated with hormonal imbalance. And they almost always leave their mark on the back. More precisely on the lower back.

It is also interesting to watch the color change. At first the stretch marks are pinkish, then gradually turn purple, then turn pale again. And after a while they can become invisible. True, if you sunbathe, the stretch marks will remain light and will be noticeable.

Three stages of development

If you are observant, you will notice that stretch marks on the stomach can be much more aggressive than on the legs. It all starts with itching and the desire to scratch the skin. If you look closely, you can see that the coda is thin and after you scratch it, pink stripes form on it. This is usually where it all starts. Then comes the second stage.

It is at this time that the stretch marks become larger in length and width. The length can be about 10 cm, and the width - 5 mm. The shape of the streamers resembles flames. If they have already appeared, but have not entered the third stage, then they can still be effectively dealt with. Provided that the vessels are functional and fibroblasts are present.

The main thing is that the scarring process does not begin. This is the third stage, which is known as atrophic. After childbirth, stretch marks on the body may decrease in size and become whiter than the rest of the skin over time. It is important to remember that the more time has passed since the birth of the baby, the more difficult it is to deal with the problem.

What do we have to do

The first question that women have is what can they apply to their stomach for stretch marks?

Opinions are divided here:

creams;
oils

Oil shows itself better as a means of prevention, and creams have a dual purpose. They can prevent stretch marks and reduce the problem if stretch marks have already appeared. “Baby Line”, a gel for stretch marks on the breasts and other parts of the body, performs well.

Identical in effectiveness to Sanosan Mama. Both products are made in Germany. Many mothers have appreciated the topical cream for stretch marks with vitamin E. If we talk about oil for stretch marks, then you can safely buy “La-Cri Mama” here. You can also use regular olive oil.

Everything is important here - the composition, usually those sold through the pharmacy chain, have a composition that is safe for mommy. As well as the motions you use to apply it. This is necessarily a massage that also affects the inner layers of the skin. This way you can perfectly protect yourself from stretch marks, including those on your legs.

Gymnastics as a prevention of striae

Considering all of the above, start preparing for the active growth of the baby in the womb in advance. Train yourself to do regular gymnastics. This will significantly simplify the process of childbirth and bearing a child, and will make the skin on the abdomen and other parts of the body toned and elastic.

The indisputable advantage of gymnastics is the natural replenishment of energy reserves, improvement of mood and strengthening of the muscular system. Below are acceptable poses for pregnant women that work different muscle groups.

Cat pose. A very good exercise for the lumbar region. Take a position on all fours so that your palms are under your shoulders. Bend like a cat, starting from the tailbone to the shoulders and vice versa, pulling the chest towards the legs. Do a few of these bends to begin with, gradually increasing the number of repetitions. Stop the exercise if you feel any discomfort, such as dizziness or slight nausea.
Butterfly pose. Take a comfortable position sitting on the floor. Connect your feet, pull them as close to you as possible and begin to move your knees up and down, maintaining a certain rhythm, maintaining a small amplitude. Your legs should work like the wings of a butterfly, flying up and down just as quickly and often.
Twisting. A useful and enjoyable exercise. It can be performed in a standing, sitting or lying position. The point is to twist the torso in the direction opposite to the position of the legs and pelvis.

A whole set of exercises to strengthen the skin and body as a whole can be performed with a gymnastic ball:

Sit upright on the mat and cross your legs. Take the ball at face level and actively squeeze it with your palms. Do 10-15 repetitions to strengthen your arms and chest.
Lie on your back, bend your legs so that one rests on the ball and the other on the floor. Roll the fit ball back and forth several times, then change legs.
Stay in a lying position with your knees bent. Lift the ball with your feet, keeping your knees at a right angle.

Don't forget about swimming. In the summer, go to open beaches, in the winter, work out in the pool, including with a trainer, if these are water aerobics lessons that are useful for pregnant women.

Mumiyo and aloe

What can you do at home? Shilajit performs excellently, but only that which is obtained naturally; pharmaceutical tablets in this matter are completely meaningless.

The cream is created like this:

Mix 2 teaspoons of warm water and 5 grams of mumiyo well, the process will be long;
add 100 grams of baby cream.

You can add some flavored oil. Must be stored in the refrigerator. Use morning and evening, after a shower, when the skin is steamed. Aloe is a well-known antioxidant. Everything is simple here.

To remove stretch marks, you need to remove the skin from the plant leaf and rub the juice on the problem area. Repeat day after day. How to remove stretch marks? Of course, it’s better not to let it come to this, but if they appear, then try not to aggravate the situation.

What will help:

contrast shower - alternate warm and cool;
proper balanced nutrition.

Physical activity helps a lot, but in moderation. An excellent solution - a bandage that supports the tummy reduces the load. And the best solution is massage.

how to get rid of red stretch marks

I understand that a lot depends on the woman’s skin, on its elasticity) And even applying various creams and oils every day won’t help in the end) But for prevention and safety reasons, I’m still studying this topic. My friends have different situations, one was plump, but the skin was soft - as a result, a lot of stretch marks, and some even deep ones. My sister has good skin, is not overweight, and her mother does not have stretch marks after childbirth. She has a lot. Here is a friend who recently gave birth - a small light stretch mark, barely noticeable near the navel and everything - the belly was normal, not small (before B. I was overweight, especially the sides and stomach), but the distinctive feature is elastic, thick skin ... and did not smear anything on the skin never. And of course there are many more examples. There are as many cases as there are people. But! I remember one year I gained a lot of weight and I had red, not deep stretch marks on my chest, sides and thighs. Yes, so red and scary that I was scared.

And this is how I got rid of them in a month and a half, they really did not develop further, and became completely invisible, only small ones remained on the sides, but they became white.

1) Baby cream + mummy

— I rubbed it in after a shower every other day, although of course they say you need to do it every day, but when and when and every day)

2) Salt scrub.

In my opinion, the best thing that I use now and again for prevention is a scrub.

Salt + sugar + butter (any kind of vegetable oil) I did it every other day, every 2 days. Every day it’s harsh, you rub it into the skin until your thighs turn red and you massage it hard - the prevention of cellulite is amazing. Breast very gently, avoiding nipples.

Now I’ve added to the recipe: I add clay, a few drops of orange or other essential oil, almond oil, coffee. After the massage movements, leave it on the body for 10 minutes)) I’ve made it a habit to shower and use this scrub) I always make a fresh one before the shower.

3) This is my downside: Mama komfort spray oil

Now I bought Mama komfort spray oil for the prevention of stretch marks - wow wow. The only plus is that it comes with a spray bottle and it’s convenient to spray on and then smear it on. The smell is strange, I won’t say it’s unpleasant, but I don’t particularly like it. And the stickiness is the main disadvantage - it doesn’t go away for a long time. You walk around to let it soak in, get dressed, and until you get into the shower you feel this stickiness. It seems to moisturize the skin well, but I won't buy it again.

4) Natural oils.

And I made the following mixture for myself: I squeezed out almond oil + vitamin E from capsules), a few drops of orange essential oil. You can add grapefruit.

You can use olive oil, wheat germ, jojoba or grape seed as a base. Well, my favorite is almond, for me it’s the most moisturizing)

Contrast shower (I rarely do it, I still can’t get used to it)

Wear a bandage in later stages

And of course, he’s not lazy, over time, of course, stretch marks can turn white and maybe in some people they dissolve, but you can shorten this time)

What products did you use? What do you think about it? can you share your experience?

*And my experience with almond oil, I don’t recommend it, it doesn’t smell like anything at all,

but from - it’s fragrant, it smells like almonds. I don’t know if there’s a difference in this, but it bothered me, I’ll only take