Morphological and hormonal changes related to maternity sometimes lead to the appearance of stretch marks. In the postpartum period, these red or white streaks appear on certain areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and breasts. Considered unsightly, these marks often become a source of insecurity for young mothers. How to remove stretch marks ? Although it is not always possible to make stretch marks disappear completely, there are medical treatments to reduce their appearance.
Benign for health but unaesthetic, stretch marks are far from an isolated phenomenon. Between 70 % and 80 % of women are affected. Depending on the quality of the skin and its elasticity, they are more or less visible. Pregnancy is a particularly favorable period for the appearance of stretch marks. This is explained by more or less rapid and significant weight gain, the strong stretching the skin undergoes, but also hormonal changes. The increase in cortisol production, the stress hormone, during pregnancy plays a major role in the development of stretch marks. From a physiological standpoint, a stretch mark results from a rupture of the skin’s collagen fibers, subjected to excessive tension. The hereditary factor must also be taken into account.
To prevent their appearance, many pregnant women apply oils and anti stretch mark creams. Unfortunately, taking care of the skin is not enough.
During pregnancy, stretch marks most often appear on the parts of the body that have undergone the greatest volume changes, such as the abdomen. Stretch marks on the abdomen may form streaks or lines around the navel or on the sides.
Every pregnancy is different and weight gain is distributed differently for each woman. However, the thighs, hips and buttocks are the body’s preferred fat storage areas. As a result, this localized weight gain and the associated stretching of the skin cause stretch marks. Another frequently affected area is the chest. Indeed, the body of a pregnant woman prepares for 9 months to breastfeed the future baby. The breasts enlarge and their thin, delicate skin undergoes strong tension.
Stretch marks can be red, pink, or purplish in color, or they may appear pearly white. In both cases, they are still stretch marks — they are simply at different stages of development. There are two clinical phases. The red color corresponds to the inflammatory stage, which lasts between 12 and 24 months. After this phase, they reach their final stage and become white.
Using a specific cream or oil on the affected areas does not visibly reduce stretch marks. Medical techniques can improve the appearance of the skin by smoothing its imperfections without resorting to surgery. Several methods have proven effective in treating stretch marks : laser (particularly ablative erbium or fractional CO₂ laser and the photorejuvenation laser that densifies the skin), peeling (superficial peeling, PRX-T33 peeling and body peeling). Fractional CO₂ laser remains the most commonly used method for treating stretch marks.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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