Along with cellulite, stretch marks are one of the main causes of complexes and lack of acceptance among women. They can appear on different areas of the body, but are most often located on the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. They may remain invisible on a daily basis, but they often stop you from visiting the pool, sunbathing on the beach or wearing short shorts in the summer. Many women ask themselves how to get rid of stretch marks, although they do not always find the right answer.
Where it comes from – the causes of stretch marks
To begin with, it is worth considering what stretch marks actually are and when and why they appear on the surface of the skin. As defined as spindle-shaped bands, these are skin lesions that result from local disruption of collagen fibers. They are referred to as scars. Some of the most common causes of stretch marks include:
- pregnancy,
- hormonal disorders,
- Rapid fluctuations in weight,
- rapid increase in muscle mass
- reduced skin tone and elasticity
- too low collagen production
- genetic conditions.
However, it is difficult to pinpoint the direct cause of the lesions and determine the exact predisposition, some women struggle with stretch marks more often, others less often, the above factors, however, most often accompany the formation of stretch marks.
How to get rid of stretch marks yourself?
Once stretch marks appear on the skin, the panic of removing them begins. A great many myths have grown up around ways to treat stretch marks, and some of them are really absurd. However, among the misguided advice you can also find some that will actually reduce stretch marks at the first stage of formation, when they are still red. The first important thing you can do for skin with inflammatory stretch marks (red or purple) is to intensively oil and moisturize the skin. Ensuring adequate hydration is the basis of skin firmness and elasticity. At this stage of lesion formation, mechanical peels are also a good way to get rid of stretch marks. Exfoliating the skin improves its condition and increases its elasticity. At the inflammatory stage of stretch marks, the skin is trying to deal with the stretch mark on its own, and any supportive treatments will certainly enable it to do so. Massaging the skin is an equally good way, as well as taking short showers alternating very hot and very cold water.
Stretch marks in the fading phase
The second phase of stretch mark formation is the fading phase. If the skin fails to cope during inflammation, when the stretch marks are red or purple in color, the stretch marks turn pearly and become lesions that cannot be removed on their own. The only solution then is to lighten them, the purpose of which is to reduce the visibility of these lesions. These include bathing with salt and lemon juice, using aloe vera extract, and performing chemical peels at cosmetic clinics. However, these are methods that only reduce the appearance of the lesions, they cannot remove them. At this stage, only laser removal of stretch marks is possible.
Laser removal of stretch marks
Fortunately, there are effective ways to get rid of stretch marks also in the second phase, when home methods do not give any results. The only effective solution is laser removal of stretch marks. Using a light beam, micro-punctures are created on the surface of the skin, making it capable of regeneration. This treatment involves deep and gentle resurfacing, during which all dead cells are removed. The iPixel laser treatment allows it to target damaged and altered cells while leaving healthy tissue intact, making it completely safe for the skin.