Stretch marks on the skin are a problem, on many occasions, only aesthetic. However, it worries parents and children a lot. Do we have any way to remove them?
Why do they occur and what types are there?
They are due to the breakage of the fibers of the inner layer of the skin due to rapid stretching of the skin. The skin becomes weaker and loses its elasticity.
Are produced:
- In puberty they are frequent. They are due to rapid growth.
- By rapid or sudden increase or decrease in weight .
- In pregnancy.
- Due to prolonged use of corticosteroid creams.
- When taking oral corticosteroids for a long time.
- In Cushing’s syndrome (excessive production of cortisol).
- In Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (disease with very loose and fragile skin).
They are located, above all, in the buttocks and lower back in male adolescents; buttocks and thighs in female adolescents; and in the abdomen, breasts and thighs in pregnant women.
Can they be prevented?
Prevention is always better than treatment. What can you do?
- Maintain a healthy diet .
- Avoid foods with a lot of salt and drinks with caffeine .
- Eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, D and zinc.
- Drink lots of water .
- Avoid rapid weight gain .
- Improves skin elasticity. Keep her well hydrated. You can use creams or oils. Specific “anti-stretch mark” creams do not usually do much.
And to hide them? Do we have any choice?
Summer is the time when they are most seen and usually worry.
Self-tanning creams help hide them, although stretch marks do not tan. You can also wear body makeup of the same skin tone, so they look less. There are lines of waterproof makeup.
In extreme cases, you can use a swimsuit model that covers them, both for boys and girls.
How can they be treated?
They are usually difficult to treat. In addition, the treatments are invasive and expensive. They require careful evaluation by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Best thing to do is prevent.
Treatment is best not done during adolescence. You continue to grow and, with hydration, they could be hidden.
Possible treatments are:
- laser . It is considered the most effective treatment. The heat it gives to the deep layers of the skin increases its elasticity. You can improve and hide stretch marks with several sessions. It does not repair the skin lesion. 3-4 sessions can be done every 15 days or every month. But you have to avoid the summer months, to prevent sun spots.
- Retinoic acid cream. It is effective on initial, reddish stretch marks. In most countries it is sold only with a prescription. It cannot be used in pregnancy and in the sunny months. While it is given there may be irritation and swelling of the skin. It must be applied with caution, every other night (one yes and one no), for 6-12 months.
- Mechanical peeling or microdermabrasion . It is a special machine with tiny crystals, which lift the skin to deep levels. Several sessions are usually needed to improve.
- Chemical peel . They usually use glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid.
- Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) . They should be used in cream at a concentration greater than 8%.
- Cosmetic surgery or abdominoplasty . It must be valued very carefully. And save it for serious cases. It has the same risks as other surgery.
When should you see the pediatrician?
If the stretch marks come out without a justified cause. In pregnancy, after rapidly gaining or losing weight or at puberty they are normal. You should also consult if you are looking for treatment options.
