The content of the article
First of all, it is worthwhile to understand what striae are and why they appear. Stretch marks are atrophic scars that look like relief bands on the body. At first, the color of the stria is red or red-violet, over time it acquires a lighter shade. Stretching, whose “age” is less than six months, is considered fresh, more than six months old.
Causes of the problem
Prolonged skin tension leads to rupture of collagen and elastin fibers. The body "darnes" the damage with the help of connective tissue, due to which a scar with uneven edges forms on the body. Skin fibers are torn due to:
- a sharp change in body volume, to which the skin does not have time to adapt;
- hormonal changes in the body.
Usually there is a combined effect of both factors. In some diseases (Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, diencephalic syndrome, Marfan syndrome, adrenal hyperplasia), stretch marks occur due to the hormonal imbalance characteristic of the pathology. Stretch marks most often occur:
- during pregnancy - the volume of the abdomen and chest increases rapidly, the body undergoes hormonal changes;
- at weight jumps - when the body volume increases with a set of extra pounds, the skin can also “tear”, breaking into folds, with a sharp weight loss;
- during intense sports - body volumes change due to muscle building (the risk of stretch marks increases if the athlete uses hormonal drugs);
- in adolescents - with rapid bone growth, breast enlargement, hips in girls, as well as due to hormonal changes in the body.
How does special makeup from striae “work”
What is the principle of the cream against stretch marks? Products of this kind solve several problems at once.
Operating principle
As a result of using the product, skin elasticity increases, the epidermis recovery process is faster. With regular use, cream for stretch marks:
- accelerates regeneration processes;
- activates blood microcirculation;
- moisturizes the skin;
- saturates the epidermis with vitamins and valuable substances;
- restores reserves of elastin and collagen.
Composition
Creams and lotions are more effective for prevention, and not to eliminate striae. The composition of the cream differs from stretch marks from different manufacturers, however, almost all products of this kind contain the following components.
- Retinol. Accelerates the regeneration process and provides effective skin hydration.
- Hoods. They make the skin less susceptible to the harmful effects of external and internal factors due to the vitamins and minerals contained in them.
- Fatty Oils and Oil Extracts. Stimulate blood circulation, nourish the epidermis.
- Essential oils. Activate blood microcirculation.
- Collagen and Elastin. (Or components that stimulate their production). They increase skin tone, prevent its damage as a result of stretching, and improve the regenerative ability of the epidermis.
- Hyaluronic acid. Moisturizes the skin, activates the production of elastin and collagen.
- Hydrolyzed Proteins. Moisturize the skin, accelerate regeneration.
- Algae extracts. Stimulate metabolic processes.
Rules for the purchase of cream for stretch marks for pregnant women: what to consider
The choice of cream, for the most part, does not depend on the range offered by manufacturers, but on individual needs and opportunities.
We ask ourselves questions
Before heading to the store, it’s useful to ask yourself a few questions to avoid meaningless expenses.
- Cream is needed to prevent stretch marks or to eliminate them? If striae have already appeared, preference should be given to products with a more "strong" effect.
- Are additional striae removal methods required? It must be understood that chronic stretch marks can not be eliminated with a cream alone.
- What are the features of the skin and the body as a whole? It is necessary to carefully familiarize yourself with the composition of the product before buying, to study possible contraindications. Cream against stretch marks during pregnancy and lactation should be chosen with extreme caution.
- What are the financial opportunities? Prevention and treatment of stretch marks with a cream involves prolonged use of the product: one tube is unlikely to last for several months. Therefore, you should pay attention to the ratio of "price-quality".
We study the range
Most often, striae appear during the period of gestation and after childbirth. That is why most of the products offered by manufacturers against unaesthetic stripes on the body are for young (or future) mothers. However, you can use stretch creams not only for pregnant women, but also for those who have striae for other reasons. The table below is based on reviews: it will help to get an idea of the most popular and effective creams for stretch marks.
Table - An Overview of Popular Stretch Mark Creams
| Title | Active components | Benefits | disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indulgent Body Cream (Avent) | - Shea butter, almond, papaya; - seaweed extract | - Hypoallergenic; - approved for use during pregnancy and lactation; - has an easy-to-use consistency; - quickly absorbed; - tested, well established in the market among other manufacturers | - Rarely found on sale; - effective as a prophylactic, but does not cope with chronic stretch marks |
| 9 mois (Mustella) | - Shea Butter; - avocado peptides; - arabinogalactan; - oligo elements; - Japanese sophora; - wax | - Effective not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of striae that have already appeared; - economical to use; - maintains the water balance of the skin, giving a long-lasting feeling of hydration; - has a pleasant, barely perceptible aroma; - instantly absorbed | - High cost |
| Mama comfort | - hyaluronic acid; - oil extracts and horse chestnut extract; - REGU-STRETCH complex | - Gives a long-lasting feeling of moisturized skin; - restores the tone of the epidermis; - quickly absorbed; - affordable | - Has a pungent odor; - effective for prevention, but not for the treatment of stretch marks; - has too liquid consistency; - distributed unevenly over the skin |
| Pregnacare cream (Vitabiotics) | - Panthenol; - extracts of calendula, aloe; - lemon and primrose oil; - allantoin; - soy glycine | - Moisturizes the skin; - does not cause discomfort during use; - softens the stratum corneum; - relieves itching and irritation | - Slowly absorbed; - leaves marks on clothes; - small amount of packaging |
| Destock (Vichy) | - Thermal water; - Bassia oil; - glycerin | - Quickly absorbed, despite the greasy texture; - moisturizes the skin; - hypoallergenic; - has a pleasant smell | - Ineffective in the fight against chronic striae; - characterized by uneconomical consumption |
| Sjlaris (Dr. Nona) | - Emulsion of vegetable wax; - extracts of orange, rosemary, aloe, thyme; - oil extracts of avocado, sunflower, jojoba | - Has a natural composition; - quickly absorbed; - easy to apply; - provides a good healing and easy analgesic effect | - High cost |
| "9 months" | - soybean extract; - oils (including wheat germ and grapefruit); - echinacea extract | - Differs in reasonable price; - prevents the development of cellulite; - suitable for all areas of the body | - Has an uneconomical expense; - slowly absorbed |
| Stretch Mark Control (Clarins) | - Berries of dropsy; - oil extracts; - centella asiatica | - Hypoallergenic; - perfectly absorbed; - has a light, pleasant aroma; - highly effective | - High cost |
| Mama (Sanosan) | - Lanolin; - chitosan; - olive oil; - jojoba oil; - milk proteins; - hibiscus seed extract; - wheat proteins; - wax | - It features proven quality; - has a large volume; - perfectly increases skin hydration, makes it more elastic; - hypoallergenic | - Has too dense texture (difficult to apply, absorbed for a long time); - differs in a pungent smell due to the fragrances contained in the composition; - makes the existing stretch marks only slightly paler, but does not eliminate them; - high cost |
| Intensive Anti-Stretch Marks Cream (Collistar) | - A special complex comprising four amino acids; - hyaluronic acid; - silk proteins | - It is quickly absorbed; - has an economical expense; - prevents stretch marks | - Ineffective with chronic stretch marks; - has an unpleasant odor; - high cost |
| Bepanthol | - Dexpanthenol; - glycerin; - olive oil; - Centella asiatica; - provitamin B5, vitamins E and C | - Hypoallergenic; - perfectly fights dry skin; - eliminates an itch | - Ineffective in the fight against existing striae; - has a dispenser that often breaks when used |
Instructions for use
Instructions for the use of cream for stretch marks accompany each product: you must definitely familiarize yourself with it. Most often, the algorithm for using such tools includes three stages.
- Take a shower and wipe dry.
- Massage the cream into problem areas.
- Wait until the product is absorbed, only after that get dressed.
Features of application during gestation and after childbirth
It is advisable to start pampering the skin with cream from stretch marks even during pregnancy planning: two to three months before conception. Change in body volume is especially active in the second trimester - it is during this period that the use of funds should be approached especially responsibly. After the birth of the baby, the use of lotions and serums will help make birth marks less noticeable. When using such tools, it is important to consider that:
- not every product is suitable for use immediately after delivery - read the instructions;
- it is important to be careful when breastfeeding - the drug should not enter the baby's body with milk;
- above all, the safety of mom and baby - Before using any product, a doctor’s consultation is required
- there should be no dyes and fragrances - These substances are potential allergens.
5 tips
You can increase the effectiveness of the cream against stretch marks, if you use it, guided by five principles.
- The earlier the better. Preventing the appearance of stretch marks is much easier than fighting them later. However, if it was not possible to avoid the misfortune, it is better to start the fight as early as possible: “fresh” stretch marks are much easier to correct, but it is almost impossible to get rid of old ones with a cream.
- Cream is not a panacea. An integrated approach is important in the fight against stretch marks. To quickly get rid of striae, it is recommended to combine the use of the cream with other skin care methods: a contrast shower, massage of problem areas, oil rubbing. In advanced cases, more radical methods, such as laser resurfacing, are required.
- Need inside support. For quick recovery, the skin requires nutrients and vitamins, so it is recommended to balance the diet. If necessary, and after consulting a doctor, you can start taking multivitamin complexes.
- Regularity is the key to success. No cosmetic procedure will give the desired results if you resort to it only from time to time.
- Quality Above All. When buying a cream, you should give preference to drugs with a good composition that deserve positive feedback.
A selection of homemade recipes
Traditional medicine advocates recommend homemade creams. Below are a couple of recipes with a completely natural composition. Mumiye acts as a component that accelerates the regeneration process. Aloe intensively nourishes the skin, restoring its elasticity. However, remember that home remedies are also not able to completely rid the stomach or chest of old striae.
With mummy
Features. Used to prevent and treat stretch marks, applying to problem areas in the evening before bedtime.
Manufacture
- Crush the mummy, stir 2 g of raw materials in a tablespoon of water.
- Combine the resulting slurry with 100 g of baby cream.
- Put in a glass container, send for storage in the refrigerator.
With aloe and dandelion
Features. The mass is spread on problem areas with a thick layer, after 20 minutes they are removed by taking a warm shower.
Manufacture
- Using a blender or meat grinder, grind three large leaves of aloe and 100 g of leaves dandelion. Components must first be flushed.
- Pour 80 ml of unrefined olive oil cold pressed.
- Add a small amount of oatmeal to obtain a uniform, pasty-like consistency.
- Before use, warm to room temperature.
Precautionary measures
Since most creams for stretch marks are created for pregnant women, side effects are minimal when used. However, so that the use of such products does not cause harm to health, it is recommended:
- consult a doctor - especially during pregnancy and the presence of dermatological diseases;
- to study the composition and possible contraindications - correlate with the individual characteristics of the skin and body;
- conduct an allergotest - apply a little funds on the elbow, wait a day: if the skin has not reacted with undesirable manifestations (itching, burning, peeling), you can apply.
Cream for stretch marks is better to use for prevention, and not to eliminate striae. If gaps could not be avoided, it is necessary to use a tool to increase the effectiveness of treatment in combination with other correction methods.
What really helps: reviews
When I became pregnant, my girlfriend recommended Avent Stretch Mark Cream.She did not have a single stretch. I listened and bought despite a fairly high price. A friend said that 1.5 tubes were enough for her entire pregnancy, so the price did not bother me. I started using the cream for 10-12 weeks. Every evening I smeared my stomach, hips, buttocks and chest. The result met my expectations - not a single stretch !!! And this despite the fact that I have sooooo dry skin and I was ready for the appearance of stretch marks. In addition, it is often said that the appearance of stretch marks is hereditary and you need to look at the mother’s stomach. So my mom has a lot of stretch marks, but I was lucky. But I just needed much more tubes of cream than my girlfriend - pieces 4-5. But I do not regret, because the main thing is the result. According to the composition of the cream, I can say that it is of medium density and smells very nice. The aroma is fresh and resembles something marine. The composition of the cream is absolutely natural, contains shea butter, papaya, sweet almond oil and seaweed extract. I supplement my review - the second pregnancy used the same cream, there are no stretch marks! Surprising fact - spent only 2 tubes. Apparently in the summer months, consumption is less, because in winter the skin is drier.
Nastasya_71, http://irecommend.ru/content/pomog-na-vse-100-0
Of course, it’s better to use a cream and know that you did everything possible to prevent stretch marks, even if they appear ... I made my own version of the cream for stretch marks: mixed 1) olive oil (about 2 tbsp.spoons) 2)sea buckthorn oil(a little, caustic, 1 tea. l.) 3) castor oil 1 tsp; 4) any massage or baby oil (I took Johnsons baby scarlet, 2-3 tbsp.) 5) mummy 4 drops. 6) Vitamin A (3 drops) 7)vitamin e (3 drops) ... well, I add a regular cream that is light to make it thicker (1 tbsp.spoon with a slide, so that the oil does not flow) with the cream is absorbed faster, I think the children's one will do. This talker helps me! old stretch marks are smoothed out and turn pale, there are no new ones! .... you can add any aroma oil to the groin cream. And of course, to know if you are allergic to these components !!! and so I smear 2 times a day - very happy) ... I wish you all good health and good results!
Julia, http://www.woman.ru/beauty/body/thread/4276711/
Mom comfort used both pregnancies. And the first appeared two barely noticeable at 38 weeks only, now there are no new ones yet. Maybe a natural feature (the sister was like a purple-striped watermelon), it could really help - I don’t know.
Fenix, https://deti.mail.ru/forum/v_ozhidanii_chuda/beremennost/posovetujte_krem_ot_rastjazhek/?page=2
I began to use cosmetics for pregnant women actively at 4 months of pregnancy. I believe that future mothers should smear the body not only so that stretch marks do not appear, but also in order to give the skin a comfortable feeling. All these 9 months I lacked such sensations. I don’t know how anyone’s, but my skin was peeling and itching terribly, I cleaned them with Sanosan mama cream. Of course, it is naive to believe that rubbing the cream into the stomach, chest and hips is more than enough. I dare to assure that no.
I was able to overcome my tendency to stretch marks with massage movements, cream and there is still a good effect from a massage of the shower, you should not forget about the bandage. Cream for stretch marks during pregnancy is the main in this matter. I liked Sanosan for its reputation for good and safe formulations. No wonder people praise German quality. In addition to skin care and the safe composition of cream for stretch marks, I also got an amazing effect: dryness disappeared with time, itching stopped, and there were no stretch marks both during pregnancy and after childbirth. This happiness cost me 360 rubles for one tube of 100 ml. (and I used two of them for the entire period), and 5-10 minutes of time each day for rubbing.
Purina, http://ratings.7ya.ru/cosmetics/Geli-i-kremy-ot-rastyazhek/
When I threw off 11 kilos from 74 kilograms, I did not lose weight to 63 kg, which is very sharp, but in a fairly short time, I lost weight at the permissible rate per month, but it turned out that the maximum. Then both stretch marks and cellulite raged on my body. The view was of course disgusting, but it’s good that it didn’t drag on and started to smear and wrap all kinds of creams, though I won’t say that it had a very good effect, but the stretch marks somehow smoothed out, I especially liked the Hendel's Garden “Pomegranate Emulsion” garnet emulsion, but my sister brought this tube to me from Germany, and I don’t know where to buy from us. From him the most sensible result was.
Ladara, http://www.woman.ru/beauty/body/thread/4489299/
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