Prevention
Collagen and elastin are proteins in the skin that contribute to the skins strength, resilience, flexibility, and help skin that has been stretched to recover its original state. Boosting the production of collagen and elastin helps prevent stretch marks from occurring. Stretch marks can also derive from nutritional deficiencies. Consuming foods that contribute to the skins health, such as zinc-rich foods, foods high in vitamin A, C, D, and protein rich foods, can help suppress stretch marks. A systematic review has not found evidence that creams and oils are useful for preventing or reducing stretch marks in pregnancy. The safety in pregnancy of one ingredient, Centella asiatica, has been questioned. Evidence on treatments for reducing the appearance of the scars after pregnancy is limited. Treatment
There are no clearly useful treatments for stretch marks, although there are many different suggestions on how to remove them or lessen their appearance.Various efforts that have been tried including laser treatments, glycolic acid, and microdermabrasion. Tretinoin (0.1% w/w), which is a retinoid, has found to be effective on early stretch marks in several studies. Hyaluronic acid also improves the appearance of stretch marks. Topical tretinoin is categorized by the FDA as a known teratogen (causing malformations in fetuses) in animals, without adequate human studies on safety in pregnancy.Carboxytherapy is a known procedure; however, there is a lack of evidence to support how effective it is. History
Since ancient times, pregnant women have sought remedies to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
This is particularly the case when there is new tissue growth (which can interfere with the underlying physical support of the dermis or epidermis, by displacing the supportive tissue).Examples of cases where stretch marks are common, also given by the Mayo Clinic, include weight gain (in the form of fat and/or muscle), pregnancy, and adolescent growth spurts, though it is also noted that some medications, as well as other medical conditions and diseases, may increase the likelihood of stretch marks appearing. In the case of medication, the Clinic points to "corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills and chronic use of oral or systemic steroids" as a common contributing factor. Medical conditions that can contribute to stretch marks include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Cushings syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and "adrenal gland diseases". Pregnancy
Pregnancy stretch marks, also known as striae gravidarum, are a specific form of scarring of the skin of the abdominal area due to rapid expansion of the uterus as well as sudden weight gain during pregnancy. About 90% of pregnant women are affected.A number of additional factors appear to promote the appearance of stretchmarks: one study of 324 women, done just after they had given birth, demonstrated that low maternal age, high body mass index, weight gain over 15 kg (33 pounds) and higher neonatal birth weight were independently correlated with the occurrence of striae. Teenagers were found to be at the highest risk of developing severe striae.These skin marks are symptoms of pregnancy caused by the tearing of the dermis, resulting in atrophy and loss of rete ridges.