A beautiful body with smooth skin and toned contours always attracts the eye, and it is not surprising that every person strives to look good. On the path to beauty, both women and men face many difficulties, including stretch marks. They occur in both sexes, but women are at greater risk. Red or white stripes on the butt cannot please you; they reduce self-esteem and confidence in your attractiveness. Why do they appear and is it possible to remove them? Let’s look into these issues.
What causes stretch marks on the butt: causes of stretch marks
At its core, any stretch mark is a tear in the inner layers of the skin, which causes visible deformation on the outer layers. The butt is an area where stretch marks do not appear so often, especially compared to the stomach and sides, and even despite the fact that this area of the body is almost always closed from prying eyes, the defect greatly affects a person’s confidence in his appearance . The process always occurs the same way: rupture of collagen fibers due to overstrain of one kind or another, healing of the rupture with scar tissue and the appearance of a noticeable stripe on the skin. There can be many reasons for this phenomenon:
- Adolescent striae are very common. Active growth of the body is not always accompanied by the same active development of the skin, which is why the fibers are strongly stretched and easily torn;
- excess weight. If there is an excessive amount of fat deposits, the skin becomes covered with microtraumas;
- Stretch marks may appear after losing weight;
- Often the problem appears after childbirth, that is, during the period of hormonal changes in the woman’s body. Many people are perplexed by this fact, since stretch marks on the stomach are an obvious consequence, but on the butt they are incomprehensible. The thing is that during the period of bearing a baby, hormonal levels change, as well as the shape of the breasts, abdomen, hips and butts, and together with the production of substances for relaxing tissues, stretch marks are formed;
- hormone therapy;
- intense physical activity for dry and thin skin;
- problems in the functioning of the endocrine system;
- hereditary predisposition;
- some diseases.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks or stretch marks are skin imperfections in the form of lines or stripes that are localized in areas of greatest stretching of the skin.
Favorite places for stretch marks are the legs, breast skin, buttocks, abdomen and thighs. With accompanying hormonal changes, stretch marks may appear on the face. Fresh damage to the dermis has a red-violet or pink color; over time, the stretch marks lighten or become discolored. In an advanced stage, stretch marks externally become like scars, which cause internal discomfort and uncertainty.
Red, blue and white striae - is it possible to get rid of them?
It is thanks to color that it is possible to determine the age of stretch marks on the skin. So, every stretch mark is an injury, so it is obvious that immediately after its appearance it has a red or pink tint. It will not be surprising if these places swell a little - this is how the body fights any type of damage in the body. If small vessels were also affected during the rupture, the color will be very rich, even brown. The defect can remain in this state for several months, and it is believed that it is during this period that it will be easiest to get rid of it. With stretch marks on the butt, as with any disease, the earlier treatment is started, the more noticeable and rapid the result will be.
The second stage is stretch marks up to a year old, which acquire a blue-violet hue. At first, fresh connective tissue is well saturated with small vessels, but as scars age, the capillaries die and disappear, depriving the tissue of normal metabolism and leading to discoloration. Such stretch marks can also be dealt with, but the process will be more difficult.
Old stretch marks are white and are more than a year old. They are considered the most difficult in terms of the ability to eliminate a defect, and sometimes this is completely impossible. However, there are effective methods that will significantly reduce the severity of stretch marks on the skin and make them almost invisible.
Contraindications to the use of methods for getting rid of stretch marks
Having figured out why stretch marks appear on the butt, and having studied methods of dealing with them, it is important not to forget about possible side effects and contraindications:
- allergy to ingredients of products for external use;
- neoplasms (malignant and benign);
- infections;
- exacerbation of skin diseases;
- decreased blood clotting;
- mental disorders;
- diabetes;
- pathologies of the heart, blood vessels, internal organs.
If there is at least one of the contraindications, it is better to consult a doctor before starting treatment. The use of salon methods is impossible without a preliminary examination.
In conclusion, here is the main rule in the fight against stretch marks: figure out why stretch marks occur and remove not only the consequences, but also the cause.
Is it possible to remove old stretch marks on the butt and legs?
Old neglected stretch marks, which have long since turned white, cannot be completely removed from the body. Sometimes, if it is absolutely necessary to remove them, they resort to plastic surgery and simply cut out the damaged areas, but this is a radical method and is only possible if there are single defects. But don’t give up - modern methods allow you to even out the relief, reduce the intensity of their expression and bring them as close as possible to the condition of the surrounding skin. This is a long process that requires a lot of effort, but thanks to this, the stretch marks will become less noticeable.
Symptoms of stretch marks
Striae in men, adolescents and women have the same appearance. These are always wavy narrow stripes that are localized on the stomach, hips, chest, buttocks and legs, red-bluish or white.
Striae do not lend themselves to tanning. Visually they resemble scars (you can verify this by looking at a photo of stretch marks).
If you experience similar symptoms,
consult your doctor . It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.
Why do stretch marks on the buttocks itch?
The rupture of collagen fibers, which leads to stretch marks, can be accompanied by severe itching. This is a normal phenomenon, a signal from the body that the skin is undergoing deformation. This symptom often indicates insufficient moisture in the area and the need for urgent replenishment, otherwise new stretch marks will continue to form with the same activity. The course of the process depends entirely on the condition and characteristics of the skin, for example, itching may appear on the prepared buttocks, but stretch marks do not form. Whatever the reasons explain the process, you should not scratch the skin - this can increase the severity of the tears and aggravate them. It is better to use a special cream with a calming effect.
Treatment of stretch marks
Whether stretch marks can be cured completely depends on how long ago they occurred. If they appeared less than a year ago, the chances of giving your skin a healthy look are very high. Unfortunately, old stretch marks cannot be removed 100%.
Modern treatment of striae includes a comprehensive course based on alternation and combination of different techniques. This is a long and painstaking process that involves the use of:
- chemical peeling;
- laser peeling;
- wraps;
- methods of plastic surgery.
At home, women can independently resort to help:
- products that are structural components of the skin and aimed at its rapid restoration;
- drugs that improve circulation in the skin;
- formulations for topical use against stretch marks (ointments, gels, creams, lotions);
- vitamin preparations (vitamins E, A, C, group B are especially important).
Chemical peeling
To make stretch marks disappear, strong acids are applied to the skin, which burn the epidermis and activate the production of its own collagen. During the chemical peeling procedure the following are used:
- phenolic acid;
- trichloroacetic acid;
- alpha hydroxy acids.
The most pronounced effect is produced by phenolic acid, but it has serious side effects. Also, its use is associated with severe pain, so the removal of stretch marks is carried out under anesthesia. This drug is not suitable for people with heart and vascular diseases.
Trichloroacetic and alpha-hydroxy acids do not act as deeply, but require safety precautions.
Laser peeling
Laser peeling to eliminate stretch marks cannot be performed unless the patient undergoes special training. Its essence consists of applying creams that contain a large percentage of ascorbic acid to damaged skin. The procedure itself takes up to one hour and is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.
During laser peeling, the doctor treats stretch marks with a laser beam, due to which they are burned out. The patient is discharged the next day. After laser treatment of stretch marks, swelling and red lesions that resemble burns form on the skin. They need to be lubricated for a long time with a special restoring cream.
Wraps
Thinking about how to remove stretch marks on the thighs, many women decide to take a body wrap course. The option is optimal if stretch marks appeared recently (no later than 6 months ago). Good results can be achieved by thalassotherapy - seaweed wrapping. Spirulina (seaweed) improves skin tone, saturates it with microelements and vitamins.
During the wrap, an algae mask is applied to the body, a film and a thermal blanket are placed on top. Due to heating, beneficial substances penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin more efficiently. Afterwards, wash off the mask with warm water.
Plastic surgery
The most radical and effective method of getting rid of stretch marks on the skin is surgery. During abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), excess skin is excised along with stretch marks. The sutures are removed within 7-10 days. The patient can return to her normal life after 2-3 weeks - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body.
Like any other surgical intervention, abdominoplasty can lead to purulent complications, the formation of noticeable postoperative scars, and poorly healing wounds.
Store-bought creams, gels and ointments will remove stretch marks on the butt
One of the main predisposing factors that increases the risk of stretch marks on the buttocks is too dry skin. The most comfortable form of combating it is a cream, but the products can also be presented in gel form. Compositions for stretch marks are usually enriched with beneficial components, elastin and collagen, which have a positive effect on the condition of the skin as a whole.
Stores and pharmacies offer many options for products for stretch marks on any part of the body, and you have to choose the best one through experience. You can try one of the options below:
- Vichy Integrale Werking cream;
- Clarins Stretch Mark Control cream;
- Dr Pierre Ricaud cream;
- creams from Faberlic;
- gel Lierac phytolastil;
- gel from Biocon;
special safe creams for pregnant nursing mothers (Mama Comfort, 9 months, Pregnacare, Vichy, etc.).
Types of striae
Depending on the stage of development, there are several types of stretch marks:
- Red - occur at the initial stage, immediately after microfracture of the fibers. They have a bright color and are often deep. Their width can vary from a few millimeters to 0.5 cm.
- Pink ones are, as a rule, not very fresh stretch marks. Unlike the initial stage, they are paler and less noticeable.
- White - characterize the last stage of development. In this case, the stretch marks become light and unnoticeable. However, small depressions remain.
The skin in the area of stretch marks is very sensitive to any irritant. Even if you overdo it with massage, you can aggravate the symptoms.
What oils help with stretch marks: list of the best
Natural oils are an excellent remedy for eliminating existing stretch marks and preventing stretch marks that have not yet appeared. They fight the main risk factors - insufficient skin hydration and insufficient production of collagen and elastin, supplying the skin with all the necessary beneficial components. A mixture of solid, liquid and essential oils creates an effective cream that will be easily absorbed into the skin and produce noticeable improvements. Coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, wheat germ oil and almond oil are excellent as a base. They can be supplemented with essential oils of lavender, tangerine, rosemary, etc.
A good addition to this composition would be vitamins A and E. In general, any oils that are easily absorbed into the skin, moisturize it, increase elasticity, eliminating the problems of dryness and lack of collagen are suitable.
Vitamin C
This vitamin has a healing effect on the skin, heals wounds and scars. Without it, collagen synthesis does not occur. Vitamin C is a kind of connective substance for skin cells. To get this vitamin from food, you should include rose hips, kiwi, citrus fruits, and berries in your diet.
To do this, you can treat yourself to a delicious fruit salad. To prepare it, cut the fruit to your taste; banana, kiwi, and orange will go well together. You can use natural yogurt as a dressing, and sprinkle powdered sugar on top of the finished salad.
How to quickly remove skin blemishes at home
There is simply no magic remedy that would instantly get rid of unpleasant stretch marks. This is a complex problem, and when using any means it is important to maintain consistency and perseverance, and only in this way the first results will not be long in coming.
Massage against stretch marks
Even teenagers can develop stretch marks, so remedies should be as environmentally friendly and safe as possible. An important step in treating the problem is massage, which must be performed in repeated courses of 15 procedures (breaks should not be too long).
On the buttocks, or on any other area, the procedure should include two types of influence - rubbing circular movements and light pinching actions. They should not be too strong and intense, otherwise the situation can only worsen. To carry out the procedure you need to use oil.
Recipes for folk remedies: effective masks and scrubs
Scrubbing the skin and applying nourishing masks is an effective set of measures that combines the effect of smoothing the skin and actively moisturizing it. It is worth considering that if you have stretch marks, you cannot use scrubs that are too rough; you should focus on the smallest particles for a delicate effect. The most popular option is a coffee exfoliator. To prepare it, you need to pour a small amount of boiling water over finely ground coffee so that it brews a little, and after cooling, add a few drops of coconut, olive, wheat germ or flax oil. The resulting mixture is used during the shower.
Afterwards you can apply an aloe mask. To create it, several fleshy leaves are kneaded, a few drops of olive oil and two capsules of vitamin E are added, and then applied to the skin of the buttocks for an hour.
Honey wrap or with mumiyo for stretch marks and cellulite
Let's look at a few more popular and effective techniques for dealing with stretch marks:
- Shilajit is often recommended to combat stretch marks as the most effective and fastest remedy. The method of using it is very simple: one crushed tablet is diluted in a small amount of water and added to 100 grams of your favorite moisturizer;
- Honey wraps have proven themselves as a treatment for cellulite and stretch marks. It is also very simple: honey is applied to the buttocks, after which the area is wrapped in plastic wrap to create a thermal effect and left in this form for several hours.
How to get rid of stretch marks on thighs?
Depending on the age of stretch marks on the legs and hips, the method of dealing with them is also selected. We suggest considering the main options and finding out the pros and cons of each approach.
Salon treatments
There are quite a lot of salon procedures to combat stretch marks, and new ones appear every day. Today there are several common services:
- Wraps . The procedure helps speed up blood circulation and metabolism, which is very effective for fresh stretch marks, but is unlikely to help in the case of old ones.
- Invasive procedures . Substances are injected into the areas where stretch marks appear to help destroy connective tissue and speed up skin regeneration. As in the previous case, they are effective for fresh stretch marks. For older people, it can only be used in combination with other procedures.
- Peels . The essence of peeling is to polish the skin - using a laser or a special composition, connective tissue is destroyed, in its place healthy skin is formed. A very effective procedure if you choose the right drugs and number of sessions. However, it is also very painful, which can interfere with the elimination of stretch marks on the inner thighs and other sensitive areas. In addition, after peeling, a rehabilitation period is required, and the cost of all procedures can be quite hefty.
- Microdermabrasion . Mechanical damage to the skin to obtain a result similar to the effect of peeling. An effective, but rather traumatic method. During the recovery period, careful skin care is necessary.
- ELOS-rejuvenation (Electro-Optical Synergy). This procedure combines pulsed light and electric current. Atrophied areas warm up and decrease in size. Suitable for eliminating old stretch marks.
Pros: Most salon treatments have an overall healing effect on the skin. Along with getting rid of stretch marks, you can get increased elasticity, even out color and eliminate other imperfections.
Cons: Many options are quite traumatic and require a recovery period and careful care. In addition, salon procedures are the most expensive way to combat stretch marks . Especially if we are talking about old stretch marks, which may require several courses.
Massage
As with other procedures, massage is selected depending on the type of stretch marks and the presence of contraindications. Today they most often offer:
- Hydromassage . A pleasant procedure consisting of a massage using water jets and adding beneficial ingredients to the water. Unfortunately, it cannot be called effective, because... it can only help with fresh stretch marks.
- Hardware massage . It is performed with a special device with attachments for vacuum and vibration massage. The patient is put on an endormological suit, which helps reduce pain. Effective for fresh stretch marks; for old ones, a long course or combination with other methods of struggle may be required.
- Honey massage . One of the most pleasant types of massage. It is done manually, using natural honey or compositions based on it. The procedure only helps with fresh stretch marks, but it has a very beneficial effect on the skin as a whole and helps get rid of cellulite.
Pros : A well-executed massage will be useful not only as a fight against stretch marks, but also for tightening the skin, eliminating cellulite and as a relaxant.
Cons : Like salon treatments, massage is an expensive pleasure. At the same time, it is designed more to combat fresh stretch marks ; for old ones, you will have to combine procedures with other options.
Salon treatments will help quickly solve the problem
There are also more aggressive methods that can quickly get rid of stretch marks on the butt. But they have some contraindications and are quite dangerous if implemented incorrectly.
Chemical peeling
Chemical peeling involves applying aggressive acids to stretch marks, which burn the epidermis and stimulate the restoration of skin cells in the future. The stress that the tissue experiences causes it to produce elastin and collagen, which restores itself. The procedure is performed to renew the skin of the buttocks, and for this purpose one procedure is usually sufficient. Trichloroacetic or phenolic acid can be used as the active component. The procedure is very aggressive, it is carried out only under anesthesia, and, accordingly, there can be no talk of any home use of the method - improper peeling leads to severe chemical burns and changes in pigmentation. There are also contraindications, since the method is toxic, including heart disease, problems with blood vessels, and the respiratory system. This is a medical procedure, which means it must be carried out by a qualified specialist.
Laser treatment of stretch marks
The most common method of removing stretch marks is laser peeling, which is recommended before the autumn-winter period (since after the procedures you will not be able to enjoy sunbathing for 3-4 months). The event requires lengthy preparation - for several months you need to treat the skin of the buttocks with certain creams, and only after that you can come to the session. It is carried out under anesthesia, during which the scar tissue is processed and burned with a laser. Usually everything takes about an hour, after which special measures need to be implemented over the course of two weeks using specialized cosmetics for active skin restoration. This is the so-called skin resurfacing.
There are other configurations of laser correction that imply a less active effect, and, therefore, obtaining results in a series of procedures: phototherapy (to give the stretch marks the same color as the surrounding tissues), photothermolysis, etc.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy involves the introduction of certain substances into injured areas of the skin; in the case of stretch marks, these can be amino acids, collagen, algae extracts, etc. Cocktails can be administered both in the traditional way using long needles, and with the help of special devices, thanks to which the product is at a high pressure enters directly through the skin pores. This procedure is considered the safest, since medicinal serums usually do not contain any components harmful to the body. Contraindications to the procedure exist, as in any other case: blood diseases, infections, cancer diagnoses, pregnancy and gallstones.
Vitamin A
This element plays a special role in the process of skin growth. It is responsible for maintaining healthy nails, bones, and also hair. Sufficient use of this vitamin together with food will ensure the restoration of damaged skin by being absorbed into it. Vitamin A stimulates the metabolic process, making the skin elastic, firm, and dense. In addition, vitamin A helps skin cells renew themselves, making it thicker. At the same time, collagen accumulates in the blood and the elasticity of the epidermis improves.
So, we figured out what can cause stretch marks on the butt. But how to get rid of them using vitamin A? To obtain this element, you should consume the required amount of the following food products: offal, broccoli, carrots, wild garlic, lettuce, fish oil. You can make a delicious and simple salad from these products. To do this, mix radishes, lettuce leaves, cucumbers, stewed or fried liver, and greens in the desired proportions. Dress the salad with sunflower or olive oil, add salt and other spices to taste.
Reviews
Christina: I have had stretch marks since I was a teenager. They have never bothered me, but now I’m planning a pregnancy, and it’s become scary to become completely covered in them, so I’ll use oils for prevention.
Oleg: I have stretch marks on my sides, butt and back; they appeared during a period of active growth. They said it could only be removed with complex procedures, so I didn’t.
Anya: Vichy is a very effective remedy for stretch marks!
Vika: After giving birth, I use a whole range of procedures: massage, coffee scrub, oil emulsion and mummy cream.
Prevention of stretch marks
To reduce the risk of stretch marks, you must follow several preventive recommendations:
- Include foods rich in omega-3 acids in your diet (fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds).
- Get enough vitamin D.
- Limit the amount of sugar and sweets you consume.
- Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of clean drinking water a day.
- Monitor weight gain during pregnancy.
- Use moisturizing creams and body lotions.
- Do not abuse the use of corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.
- Stop smoking.
- Exercise regularly.
- Visit a nutritionist and cosmetologist in a timely manner.
make an appointment with a dermatocosmetologist at the Korchagina Clinic in Moscow from the consulting manager on the website or by phone.
