Stretch Marks: Common Causes and How To Get Rid of Them

Anyone who thinks that stretch marks only occur during pregnancy is sorely mistaken. The cracks in the subcutaneous tissue can develop at any time on the thighs, buttocks, stomach and breasts. But is it possible to get rid of them at all?

What are stretch marks?

The cracks in the subcutis, which are reddish in the first stage and later shimmer whitish, are caused by an overstretching of the connective tissue. Where the connective tissue is particularly stressed, they usually occur more frequently: on the stomach, hips, buttocks, upper arms and breasts. These cracks are called striae.

Especially the female connective tissue is weaker and tends to stretch marks – because for a pregnancy the skin on the belly and breast must be able to expand naturally. This is why skin tears are often referred to as stretch marks. Statistics say that around 30% of all pregnant women are affected by stretch marks. But even without being pregnant, the skin can tear in some places.

We give you tips on how you can strengthen the connective tissue.

• People with weak connective tissue (yes, men can also get the stripes) are more prone to visible overstretching of the tissue.
• Stretch marks on the chest can also occur during sports if the chest does not find enough support when jerky movements are made. This is why it is so important to make sure you wear a good sports bra, especially if there is a weakness of the connective tissue.
• But even during cortisone therapy or in growth phases, the tissue can overstretch and tear the skin.
• Of course, this can also happen if you gain a lot of weight, but even radical and fast weight loss is not good for the tissue and the skin.

What can you do about stretch marks?

Stretch marks are relatively persistent and not easy to get rid of. They are like small scars in the tissue, which are easily reduced by creams containing vitamin A ointment. However, the ointment should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Stretch marks laser

Dermatologists offer laser treatment to reduce stretch marks. However, the costs must be borne by the patient himself – and these are calculated according to the size of the skin areas. Three sessions are usually necessary to see the first results – in most cases results are only visible after months.

Home remedies for stretch marks

It has been proven that regular massage – here we show you how the cellulite massage according to the Chinese Tunia technique works – and the good blood circulation associated with it is good for the connective tissue. The good old plucking massage is considered THE recipe par excellence, which is usually recommended to all pregnant women even before the 20th week of pregnancy.

And this is how the plucking massage works: Take two small skin rolls between thumb and forefinger and pull them gently upwards. But it must not hurt! Pluck from the navel towards the outside of the abdomen and up to the ribcage.

Important for pregnant women: It is essential to leave out the area above the pubic bone, where the massage could irritate the uterus into contractions. Four weeks before the birth date, the abdomen should not be massaged, but only oiled.

Besides the plucking massage, a brush massage is also great to prevent skin cracks. The brush should have very soft bristles and after brushing the skin should be well creamed or oiled.

Good against skin cracks: Massage with oil

If you use certain oils for the massage with your hands, you can increase the effect even more. If you want to make your own massage oil, you can use almond, sesame or coconut oil, a few drops of lavender essential oil and orange or lemon oil. Cocoa butter and vitamin E are also perfect for massaging the connective tissue. Warm castor oil and calendula ointment also do small repairs to the skin.

Ready-mixed, the beauty shelf naturally has a lot in store – usually the products against stretch marks are labelled as pregnancy care oils, which are supposed to prevent cracks in the tissue. Of course, oils against cellulite can also strengthen the connective tissue. However, a daily massage is a prerequisite.

Needling – Roll away stretch marks?

Microneedling is said to help against skin problems such as acne, scars, couperose and orange peel skin – and is also used for stretch marks. The roller with very fine, short needles is rolled over the skin.

The principle: The needles prick (without pain) small holes in the skin. Like after an injury, the skin tries to heal as quickly as possible, releasing collagen, which is essential for firm skin. Stretch marks should be minimized in this way. There are scooters that can be used at home, but the cosmetician also offers this treatment. Once a week the roller can be used, the beauty roller should be cleaned thoroughly afterwards.

Cheating with self tanner

Many people feel more comfortable with slightly tanned skin – especially when thighs see the light of day. Self-tanning is the healthier alternative to tanning the skin. We have tips on how to achieve a streak-free tan from the tube.

Exercise makes us tighter

To keep us taut – and to prevent stretch marks – alternating showers are a simple method for at home. Of course, the best thing is to exercise to stimulate the blood circulation and help burn fat. Endurance sports like jogging, walking, swimming, cycling or skating are great for taut legs, buttocks and upper arms.

We are not alone – learn to love stretch marks

The wave of self-acceptance is rolling through the social network – and platforms like Instagram and Facebook in particular are filled with images that advertise body acceptance. Stretch marks are ugly? Two mothers from the USA, for example, are currently defending themselves against this claim with a social media campaign on the Internet. They were simply tired of the eternal negative discussions about their bodies and how they change after birth. So they founded the Instagram account “Love your lines” and posted photos of themselves and their own stretch marks. At the same time they called on other women to stand by their stretch marks and do the same. The idea behind “Love your lines”: “two mothers who worship real women, real bodies and real self-love”. In the meantime hundreds of photos have been posted under the hashtag #LoveYourLines.

Even more body positivity in the network for stretch marks

More hashtags followed that focused on cracks in the skin: #takingbackpostpartum is also one of the calls to accept your cracks in your skin and wear them with pride. Blogger January Harshe had had enough of absurd demands on women’s bodies. Above all, she was bothered by the fact that mothers who tagged a picture with the Hastag #postpartum on Instagram were often approached by companies without asking if they wanted to sell them the right antidote for their “problem”.

“Nobody needs to tell us that we are not good enough,” she wrote on her website. “We don’t need lotions or tinctures full of chemicals (…). What we need is love, grace, friendship and support. The call to all mothers: Show your bodies as they are! Stretch marks, dents on the body, sagging breasts – all this is not only normal, but an expression of how strong you really have to be for a birth.