Stretch marks are injuries that occur on the skin due to breakage of connective tissue fibers or elastic skin fibers. As a consequence, the skin of that area acquires a color between pink and purple that then turns red and, finally, clears up, forming whitish lines of a different texture than the rest of the skin.
Weight changes due to diet or other processes, such as pregnancy , growth or menopause , make stretch marks a very frequent problem in women, (although it also occurs in men, for example, when it increases or loses muscle mass) that, sometimes, complexes those who suffer it.
When a lot of weight is gained or lost, the skin stretches or shrinks to accommodate the new volume of the body. Being very elastic, it is able to tolerate these changes in a short period of time, but when it reaches its limit, the fibers of its inner layers break, giving rise to stretch marks.
Stretch marks and weight
Before starting a diet in which you want to lose a lot of weight, it is important to keep in mind that this problem can appear, but there are also ways to prevent and mitigate it.
Genoveva Lucena, a pharmacist expert in dermopharmacy and dermo-cosmetics explains that if the diet to be followed is to lose five kilos, stretch marks are unlikely, although prevention is always better.
Dermocosmetics is the best way to do it. “We can not use a normal moisturizer, but we must use a specially formulated to prepare and keep our skin in good condition during this change process,” he says. The specialist recommends using creams and consuming food or supplements with some of the active ingredients that have been shown to reduce stretch marks:
- Centella asiatica: induces healing by promoting the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
- Rosehip oil: for its retinoic acid content.
- Almond oil: great moisturizer and emollient.
- Collagen and elastin hydrolyzate: improves tissue consistency and elasticity.
- Hyaluronic acid hydrolyzate: improves the hydration capacity of the skin.
- Vitamin E (we can find it in wheat germ oil): antioxidant .
- Moisturizing, emollient and / or nutritive excipients: it is essential to keep the skin in a high state of hydration.
The application will be made with a gentle massage to stimulate microcirculation. Lucena advises to insist on the use of an anti-stretch mark cream and a firming cream at the same time: one during the day and the other at night, which will also help combat flaccidity, another of the problems derived from weight loss.
Drinking two liters of water daily will help us keep the skin hydrated during this process.
