Removal of stretch marks
Almost all women, with rare exceptions, are familiar with the problem of stretch marks. Most often, stretch marks, or striae, appear as a result of hormonal changes in the body: with prolonged use of hormonal drugs, during puberty, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as with various diseases of the endocrine system. Often the cause of the appearance of stretch marks is a sharp gain and weight loss. Women are especially concerned about the problem of removing stretch marks on the abdomen, hips, breasts and buttocks.
Skin structure: how are stretch marks formed?
Stretch marks are cicatricial changes in the skin resulting from microtrauma of elastic fibers. To better understand the mechanism of stretch marks formation, it is necessary to know the structure of the skin. There are three main layers in the skin: the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue).
The dermis is the middle layer, which is the connective tissue. The dermis is located between the hypodermis and the epidermis, and its main cells are fibroblasts, which produce elastin and collagen, which are responsible for the elasticity, thickness and strength of the skin. In addition to elastin and collagen fibers, the dermis contains lymphatic and blood vessels, nerve endings and enzymes. Thus, we can safely say that the dermis is the skeleton of the skin, and the condition of the human skin largely depends on its condition.
The skin of the slope becomes thinner and less elastic under the influence of various factors (weight fluctuations, nervous tension, hormonal fluctuations, etc.), which often leads to the appearance of internal micro-ruptures of elastin and collagen fibers. In places of rupture, fibroblasts begin to intensively produce collagen, and if this does not happen, then a scar forms at the site of rupture, i.e. stretching.
Initially, stretch marks have a bright red or blue color (as a result of vascular hemorrhage), but after 1-1.5 years they become faded, and the scar tissue completely atrophies.
Stretch marks removal methods
Today, all the main methods for removing stretch marks are divided into:
- peels and resurfacing;
- surgical methods;
- physiotherapy;
- enzyme therapy and pharmacotherapy;
- injection therapy.
All these methods, with the exception of the surgical removal of stretch marks with a laser or scalpel, are aimed at activating the fibroblasts and increasing the production of collagen, which is necessary for the restoration of destroyed dermal cells. Also, these methods are used to improve cell metabolism, microcirculation and tissue nutrition with vitamins and microelements.
Peeling and resurfacing methods are aimed at leveling out color and relief between healthy skin and the scar. These methods help a lot to remove stretch marks after childbirth. Mechanical resurfacing of stretch marks (microdermabrasion) involves layer-by-layer elimination of the upper layers of the epidermis using solid particles (diamond grinding, aluminum crystals). It stimulates collagen synthesis and helps to improve microcirculation and skin renewal.
Removing stretch marks with a laser (laser resurfacing) with a carbon dioxide or erbium laser produces an ablation effect, i.e. promotes the evaporation of horny cells from the skin surface. This stimulates the regeneration processes. Laser resurfacing is great for removing stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and other areas of the body.
Surgical methods for removing stretch marks after childbirth involve excision of the scar with a laser or scalpel, after which the edges of the scar are lifted and a beautiful cosmetic suture is applied. Thus, the scars become less visible.
Another effective method for removing stretch marks, according to reviews, is subcision - a procedure for undercutting the connective tissue strands with a special needle, as a result of which the bottom of the scar rises up, leveling the skin relief.
Today, the increasingly popular procedure is fractional thermolysis, the effect of which is directed directly to the dermis and stimulates increased collagen production.
According to reviews, removing stretch marks has a good effect using peeling (chemical or AHA acids). During the peeling procedure, old cells of the epidermis are exfoliated and a new layer of tissue is formed through a controlled burn. As a result, the relief is leveled and the skin is renewed. Peeling can be superficial, medium or deep. With deep peeling, the effect occurs not only on the epidermis, but also on the dermis.
Physiotherapy methods are aimed at improving the normal trophism of tissues. For this purpose, phonophoresis, microcurrent therapy, mechanovacuum therapy are used in combination with various cosmetics or drugs. Positive results were noted for the removal of stretch marks on the abdomen and other parts of the body after cryomassage using liquid nitrogen.
Injection methods for removing stretch marks include ozone therapy, mesotherapy, carboxytherapy. The essence of all these methods lies in the introduction of special formulations under the skin, which have a positive effect on the dermis, saturating it with useful trace elements and stimulating blood circulation.
The mesotherapy procedure consists in the introduction of special cocktails under the skin, consisting of minerals, vitamins, extracts of medicinal plants and collagen. In ozone therapy, an ozone-oxygen mixture is injected into problem areas of the skin, and in carboxytherapy, medical carbon dioxide is injected, which promotes vasodilation and stimulates blood circulation. These methods are quite effective for removing stretch marks after childbirth, especially if they are fresh.
Pharmacotherapy is the most ineffective method of removing stretch marks, according to reviews. All kinds of creams, ointments and other cosmetic products for stretch marks are designed to have a beneficial effect on the formation of connective tissue, to increase the elasticity of the skin and its hydration.
Choosing the best method for removing stretch marks
Most experts agree that it is impossible to completely remove stretch marks and return the skin to its original state. But it is in their power to make striae and scars as less noticeable as possible to the human eye. The age of stretch marks plays a big role here. So, the younger they are, the greater the skin's potential for recovery.
In the case of single stretch marks, the use of creams and ointments, various massages and algae wraps can help as a preventive measure. To remove stretch marks after childbirth, still quite fresh, having a red-blue color, the entire arsenal of physiotherapy is mainly used, as well as grinding, peeling, and enzyme therapy.
Old colorless scars can be removed, or rather, slightly corrected, only with the help of a surgical method. You can also use the laser stretch mark removal method.
For stretch mark correction to be successful, specialists, as a rule, apply alternation of different methods, taking into account the age of the stretch marks themselves, the age of the patient and other factors.
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