Dr. Giuseppe De Matteis, Biologist who works as a Nutritionist Biologist and professor of herbal medicine, dermatology, hair care and cosmetology in Taranto, illustrates the causes, remedies and advice in case of stretch marks.
Stretch marks are fairly visible striae that appear on the skin , especially on the abdomen, buttocks, breasts and thighs. Initially they are reddish and with the passage of time they become white-mother of pearl. From the histological point of view they are the consequence of the rupture of the elastic fibers of the dermis, so it is not a superficial problem but a profound one. In fact, there is scarring of the skin with a different shade of color, apparently due to glucorticoid hormones that prevent the development of elastin and collagen fibers from fibroblasts. In the stretched area, the skin is atrophic, does not tan, does not sweat, no hair grows.
CAUSES
The causes of stretch marks are not all known, the ones we do know are the following:
- Weight loss diets
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Feeding time
- Senescence
It is quite common for them to appear between the sixth and eighth month of pregnancy , especially in primiparous women, ie the first pregnancy. Another critical period is that of puberty , when the body stretches and settles down. Even the use of jeans that are too tight , limiting circulation , certainly does not help in already predisposed women. In addition, we know other factors that predispose to stretch marks:
- Hereditary (the tendency to stretch marks is inherited)
- Endocrine (corticosteroid imbalance)
- Pathological (Cushing's syndrome, rare disease)
- Constitutional (tendency to have loose tissues)
- Pharmacological (use of cortisone)
WHAT TO DO
First of all we must avoid that they turn white, otherwise it is already late; the best weapon is prevention. In this regard, the following remedies may be useful:
NIGELLA OIL
Extracted from black cumin seeds, it contains arginine, ascorbic acid, glutamic acid, calcium, carbohydrates, carotene, cysteine, iron , lysine, magnesium, minerals, potassium, proteins, selenium, vitamins A-B1-B2-C, zinc. Property:
- Regenerating
- Cicatrizing
- Promotes skin elasticity
NEEM OIL
Neem oil is obtained from the leaves of the Azadirachta Indica plant, a centuries-old remedy of Ayurvedic medicine. Excellent antifungal and pesticide, but also good healing , very useful in case of stretch marks.
ZINC
Zinc is essential for the production of collagen , for this reason it must not be missing to avoid the formation of stretch marks.
COSMETIC PREVENTION
One tip is to prepare the following blend of oils to apply 2-3 times a day, when the stretch marks are still red:
