Stretchmarks: Why we get them and how to prevent or fade them
We’ve all heard of the dreaded stretch marks! Whether they started to appear during adolescent growth spurts or they pop up throughout pregnancy, the majority of us ladies will fall victim to these scars at some stage in life! Whether you embrace them or dislike them greatly, stretch marks are very normal! But why do we get them? And what can we do to prevent or reduce them?
Stretch marks develop when our skin quite literally stretches (or shrinks!) at a rapid pace, causing the collagen and elastin (which our bodies naturally produce) in the dermis, to tear or ‘rupture’. As it heals we are left with a scar known as a stretch mark. Unfortunately, while there is no way to permanently get rid of these marks, there are effective treatments you can use to either help prevent them from appearing in the first place or to soften the severity of pre-existing marks.
The first thing you need to know when choosing the treatment are its ingredients. Similar to skincare, there are a number of key ingredients to look out for, which will help improve or reduce the appearance of stretch marks; Hyaluronic Acid (which plumps the lines), retinol (which resurfaces and strengthens the skin) and elastin.
When I found out I was pregnant I have to admit I did worry about the toll it would take on my body, namely stretch marks, so I got to moisturising both my stomach and thighs religiously every day, morning and night. I tried a few different creams as recommended by close friends and professionals alike, but the one cream that became my firm favourite was the Medicalia Stretchmark Guard Cream. I really liked its light and non-greasy texture, yet loved how it felt deeply nourishing. It’s formulated with Retinyl Palmitate, which is effective in boosting collagen fibre production in your skin – yes please we could all do with as much collagen as possible as we age!), Marine Elastin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin E! It’s 100% safe to use in pregnancy and I can honestly say I am a testament that this stuff really does work! Having been prone to a few stretch marks in my time, especially when I was younger and went through growth spurts, I thought it was a given I’d get at least a few more, even if I stuck with my vigilant body care routine! But not one stretchmark formed on my stomach! For me, it’s the best product to prevent stretch marks but it’s also a game-changer when it comes to helping heal them once they’ve formed too!
With regards to the technicalities, Medicalia’s Stretchmark Guard Cream effectively prevents stretchmark formation while smoothing pre-exisiting marks as well as other skin damage! It renews skin cells and boosts hydration for levels of stronger, smoother and suppler skin. All hail Medicalia’s Stretchmark Guard cream I say!
