HEALING FOR STRETCH MARKS

WHAT ARE STRETCH MARKS?

Stretch marks are lines on the skin that have undergone rapid growth. They are known medically as striae or stria gravidarum. Stretch marks typically appear as parallel lines on your skin. These lines have a different color and texture than your normal skin. At first, it appears as a thin red or purple line, later it takes on a pale translucent-like color. You may feel a slight bulge or indentation in your skin when you touch the stretch marks with your fingers. Sometimes, stretch marks can feel itchy or painful.

The skin consists of epidermis, dermis and hypodermis layers from top to bottom. Elastin and collagen fibers in the dermis are the structures that give the skin a healthy appearance and are responsible for its elasticity. When these fibers break and the bonds between them weaken, visible and unaesthetic deteriorations, namely stretch marks, occur on the skin. These lines usually appear when there is a sudden change in your weight, such as during and after pregnancy. In addition, fast-growing adolescents can also develop stretch marks. Although it is more common in women, stretch marks can also occur in men. Stretch marks are not dangerous and usually disappear over time.

You can have stretch marks almost anywhere, but stretch marks are most common on the stomach, breasts, upper arms, lower back, thighs, and buttocks.

WHY DOES STRETCH MARKS OCCUR?

Stretch marks are the result of stretching the skin and an increase in the hormone cortisone. Cortisone is a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands. Too much of this hormone can cause your skin to lose its elasticity.

Conditions leading to the formation of stretch marks:

• During pregnancy, the skin is stretched in various ways and stretch marks form to make room for the developing baby.
• Rapid weight gain and loss
• Sudden growth spurts in young people
• Sudden development of muscles with bodybuilding
• Corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills can reduce the skin's ability to stretch and cause stretch marks.
• Cushing's syndrome, Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other adrenal gland disorders can cause stretch marks by increasing the amount of cortisone in your body.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STRETCH MARKS?

There are no other symptoms of stretch marks other than their appearance. However, in some dense and large stretch marks, itching, wounds, etc. may occur. Since hormones are effective in the formation of stretch marks, stretch marks are seen in different areas in men and women. In women, stretch marks are seen mostly in the chest area after the hip and leg area; In men, stretch marks are seen on the arms, lower back and hips.

PREVENTING STRETCH MARKS

There is no way to completely prevent stretch marks. However, keeping your weight in a healthy range by eating well and exercising regularly can help prevent stretch marks caused by sudden weight gain and loss.

Drinking enough water can help keep your skin hydrated and soft. Soft skin is not as prone to stretch marks as dry skin. Drinking caffeinated beverages like coffee can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. If you drink coffee, be sure to balance your fluid intake with plenty of water, herbal tea, and other non-caffeinated liquids.

Make sure your diet includes vitamins A, C, D, E, protein and zinc.

HOW TO HEAL STRETCH MARKS?

With the view that stretch marks spoil the aesthetic appearance of the body, different treatment methods have emerged over the years in response to demand. More successful results are obtained when treatment is started at the stages of stretch marks formation. However, it should be known that stretch marks cannot be completely removed, but most of them can be removed cosmetically.

The main purpose in the treatment of stretch marks is to prevent the reduction of collagen fibers and to ensure their production, to provide elasticity to the skin and to minimize the formation of stretch marks by providing moisture balance of the skin.

One of the treatment methods used for this purpose is topical massage. Products containing vitamin A, hyaluronic acid or herbal oils are used in massage. Since some ingredients are not suitable for pregnant women in topical application, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

In addition, methods such as laser therapy, light therapy, phototherapy and radiofrequency are used medically.

A Natural Supplement: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ Oils

You can massage the areas where you see stretch marks with herbal oils at home to ensure the production of collagen in your skin, to maintain the moisture balance and elasticity of your skin, and to help improve the appearance of your skin naturally.

Some herbal oils that help reduce the appearance of stretch marks:

• Sweet Almond Oil:  When applied topically, it helps to reduce the spread of stretch marks, redness and itching in the abdomen [1].

• Sweet Orange Peel Oil:  Shows antioxidant characteristic. It helps to maintain the health, bright and smooth appearance and texture of the skin by supporting the nourishment of the skin, soothing dryness and irritation [2] [3].

• Rosehip Seed Oil:  Rosehip is one of the plants with the highest vitamin C content [4]. Vitamin C has antioxidant characteristic, helping to support collagen production, preventing drying of the skin and moisturizing it [5].

• Grape Seed Oil:  Contains proanthocyanidins (GSP), powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers [6]. Thanks to these, grape seed oil helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It helps to tighten and smooth the skin and even out the skin tone. [7]

• Wheat Germ Oil:  Rich in vitamin E, an essential nutrient with antioxidant characteristic [8] [9]. It helps nourish and regenerate the skin.

• Avocado Oil:  Thanks to its antioxidant characteristic and ingredients such as oleic acid, linoleic acid and vitamin E, it helps to reduce skin itching, protect against skin damage, heal chapped skin, and moisturize the skin [10] [11].

• Rosemary Oil:  Shows antioxidant characteristic. It helps your skin to be nourished, firm and glowing [12].

Massage:  You can apply these fixed and essential oils individually or in a mixture by massaging the affected area to alleviate stretch marks. Remember, essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin to avoid irritation, but should be diluted with fixed oils at an appropriate rate. You can drop 2 - 3 drops of essential oil into 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of fixed oil and mix them.

We recommended that you consult your doctor before using these herbal oils.

ACADEMIC STUDIES:

[1] M. Hajhashemi, M. Rafieian, H. A. R. Boroujeni, S. Miraj, S. Memarian, A. Keivani, F. Haghollahi (2017). The effect of Aloe vera gel and sweet almond oil on striae gravidarum in nulliparous women. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, Volume 31, 2018 - Issue 13.

[2] C. Yang, H. Chen, H. Chen, B. Zhong, X. Luo, J. Chun (2017). Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Essential Oil from Gannan Navel Orange Peel. Molecules. 2017 Aug; 22(8): 1391.

[3] Espina L, Somolinos M, Loreen S, Conchello P, Garcia D, Pageen R (2010). Chemical composition of commercial Citrus fruit essential oils and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity acting alone or in combined processes. Food Control 22:896-902.

[4] N. Ahmad, F. Anwar, A. H. Gilani (). Rose Hip (Rosa canina L.) Oils. Preedy, V.R. (Ed.), Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. Academic Press, 667–675.

[5] B. Poljšak, R. Dahmane (2012). Free Radicals and Extrinsic Skin Aging. Open Access, Volume 2012 |Article ID 135206.

[6] R. R. Korać, K. M. Khambholja (2011). Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011 Jul-Dec; 5(10): 164–173.

[7] Garavaglia et al. Grape Seed Oil Compounds: Biological and Chemical Actions for Health. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights 2016:9 59–64 doi:10.4137/NMI.S32910.

[8] Nurhan T. Dunford; Gourmet and Health Prompting Speciality Oils AOCS Monograf Series On Oil Seeds Chapter 13 s. 359-376

[9] Ghafoor K., Özcan M.M., Juhaımı F.A., Babıker E.E., Sarker Z.I., Ahmed I.A.M., Ahmed M.A. (2016). Nutritional Composition, Extraction and Utilization of Wheat Germ Oil: A Review. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, doi:10.1002/ejlt.201600160.

[10] Forero-Doria, O.; Flores, M.; Vergara, C.E.; Guzman, L. Thermal analysis and antioxidant activity of oil extracted from pulp of ripe avocados. J. Therm. Anal. Calorim. 2017, 130, 959–966.

[11] Abaide, E.; Zabot, G.; Tres, M.; Martins, R.; Fagundez, J.; Nunes, L.; Druzian, S.; Soares, J.; Dal Prá, V.; Silva, J.; et al. Yield composition, and antioxidant activity of avocado pulp oil extracted by pressurized fluids. Food Bioprod. Process. 2017, 102, 289–298.

[12] B. Bozin, N. Mimica-Dukic, I. Samojlik and E. Jovin, Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of rosemary and sage (Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) essential oils. Journal of  Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55, 7879–7885 (2007)