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Stretch marks on the chest or striae are strip-like stretch marks of the skin that have a fibrous structure and an elongated shape. The color of the striae varies from white to purple. They make the surface of the skin embossed and heterogeneous. The skin on the chest is very thin and delicate, it is more sensitive than on other parts of the body, so stretch marks most often appear there. In addition, the female breast changes throughout life not only size, but also shape. It depends on the hormonal background of the woman, and it is largely determined by the menstrual cycle. Towards its end, the breast enlarges and rounds, and then slightly decreases in size. What can we say about such serious changes as pregnancy and lactation.
What are striae
The appearance of stretch marks is associated not only with the expectation of a child or a sharp weight gain, although striae in most cases appear precisely in such periods of life. So, during lactation, the breast increases in size, the skin stretches and becomes thinner. Microcracks appear in the subcutaneous connective fibers, which become more and more under the influence of external factors. The upper layer of the skin, the epidermis, in such areas fails. Outwardly, it all looks like pinkish stripes on the skin, which are called stretch marks. They can be a bright red color due to damage to blood vessels and the ingress of microparticles of blood into the body tissue. If you do not pay attention to the problem, stretch marks become wider and deeper. Torn fibers are filled with connective tissue, so it seems that wrinkles appear in place of striae. In fact, this deformed skin is so different in structure from the rest of the skin. Sometimes scars have a white shade with a pearly shimmer, and even during tanning, they do not darken. On the part of the stria, they look like scars, although they do not cause any harm to health. The main problem is their unaesthetic appearance.
Where do stretch marks appear on the chest
- In adolescent girls, during puberty, the breast can increase from size zero to size 4 in just a few months. Such obvious changes are accompanied by a strong stretching of the skin, and stretch marks are indispensable here.
- As a result of diets, a woman in a short time can lose over 10 kg of weight per month. Given that 1 kg of total body weight accounts for 15-20 grams of breast, then, dropping 10 kg, a woman loses 150-200 grams in the chest area. And this is the whole size. If a woman with an extreme diet or after abdominal surgery, when several days fed only broth, you can lose in a short period of time and more than 10 kg. Those. breast size can decrease by 2-3 sizes in just a couple of months. Of course, all this will not affect the structure of the skin in the best way. Unesthetic pink stripes called stretch marks will appear on it.
- Dramatic weight gain. This is as bad as losing weight. The body successfully copes with changes if they fluctuate within 2.5 kg in one direction or another. Otherwise, striae on the chest and not only there are provided.
- when playing sports, building muscle mass, the elastin and collagen proteins, responsible for the structure and elasticity of the skin, do not have time to be produced in the volume in which growing muscles require. In this case, stretch marks also appear in men who make the rib cage bulky and muscular.
- Hormonal disorders.With it, fibroblasts that synthesize proteins responsible for skin elasticity (they are located in the middle layers of the skin and are involved in cell regeneration) are not produced in tissue cells. But with hormonal disorders, enzymes are produced that destroy protein compounds and reduce the synthesis of protein polymers.
- Waiting for a baby to be born. During pregnancy, a woman already produces the hormone progesterone in the early stages. With its help, a fertilized egg is attached to the walls of the uterus, it protects the fetus from miscarriage and helps stretch the uterus, depending on the growth of the baby. However, progesterone softens not only the tissues of the genital organs, but also the entire body, including smooth muscles. As a result of this, stretch marks appear throughout the body, including on the chest.
- Lactation. The breast of a nursing woman may not change size. The amount of milk does not depend on this. However, in most nursing mothers, the breasts increase by several sizes. The appearance of striae is also facilitated by the way the baby is fed. He grabs the nipple and pulls it down. When expressing milk, the breast is also exposed. Stretching tissue is inevitable.
What remedies effectively help with stretch marks on the chest
There are effective effective methods that can eliminate stretch marks on the chest. These include the following:
- Ultrasound combined with lidase. The latter is an enzyme that breaks down hyalouranic acid, which cements connective tissue. As a result of exposure to ultrasound, the components of Lidase penetrate deep into the skin, eliminating scars. In addition, ultrasound stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, necessary to maintain skin elasticity. This method is much more effective than the simple use of various moisturizers.
- Mesotherapy or subcutaneous injection of a mesococktail that breaks down scar tissue and improves intercellular metabolism. Meso-cocktails contain substances necessary for the skin (hyalouranic acid, collagen), however, after the first application, the results are unlikely to be noticeable. The effect of drugs is cumulative.
- Chemical peeling. In fact, peeling is not the most effective method of dealing with stretch marks on the chest, because the components do not reach the deep layers of the dermis. Recently, however, trichloroacetic acid, which reaches the reticular dermis, has been used instead of fruit acids. The skin becomes highly permeable, and peeling ends with the next step - applying a special cream that restores the level of elastin and collagen. It contains vitamins C and E, various acids and antioxidants, plant extracts and other excipients. The cream neutralizes the effects of peeling, nourishes the skin and smooths its structure.
- Biorevitalization or injection of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is involved in the metabolism of skin cells, maintains water balance, keeps the skin supple and smooth. Places of stretch marks have poor nutrition, sweat glands do not work there and hair does not grow. Biorevitalization will restore the structure of areas with striae, the surface will become flat, stretch marks will be less noticeable.
- Microdembrasion. This is a mechanical peeling, which consists in grinding the skin with a special device. Microcrystals are poured into the place of stretch marks, which, under the influence of the apparatus, remove keratinized particles of the epidermis. Scars soften, stretch marks become less noticeable, their length and width are reduced. The process of microdembrasion lasts half an hour, to visually reduce stretch marks you need to take a course of 5-6 procedures.
- Mammoplasty. This is the most radical method, which should be resorted to only in special cases. This is a band operation performed under anesthesia, during which the affected skin areas are removed.Mammoplasty will not be performed just to eliminate striae, it is mainly done to remove sagging breast and adjacent tissues. The breast after this operation takes a beautiful shape, and with it the woman gets rid of the problem of stretch marks.
Creams and lotions in the fight against striae
- A solution of Tocopherol acetate or an oily solution of vitamin E. This is a powerful prophylactic that has no contraindications, is absolutely safe and incredibly effective. In order to prevent stretch marks, pregnant women are recommended to rub into the skin of the breast, starting from the second semester of pregnancy. The solution is easily absorbed, making the skin soft and supple. This is the best way to prevent the appearance of striae.
- Cacao butter. It is also a natural and generally available remedy for striae. It is used in two ways: in the first case, a piece is broken off from a bar of cocoa butter, rubbed in the hands and rubbed into the skin of the chest. In the second case, two teaspoons of cocoa butter are melted in a water bath, a teaspoon of castor oil and a few drops of jojoba are added. Apply the mixture after showering. Regular use of cocoa butter will protect you from the appearance of striae during pregnancy or sudden fluctuations in weight.
- Extract of Gotu Kola or Asian Wormwort. It is a dried and powdered plant that increases collagen synthesis and improves skin elasticity. Gotu Kola extract alone is not used, but it is added to various creams and lotions that are rubbed into stretch-prone areas of the skin. Enzymes contained in the plant dissolve scars and improve blood microcirculation. As a result, stretch marks are less noticeable, and in combination with other methods disappear completely.
- Allantoin or uric acid oxide. Contained in sprouted wheat and comfrey roots. The substance is added to the cream, and the active ingredients remove keratinized cells, softens scars, and evens out the skin structure.
- Fish fat. It contains eicosapentanoic and docosahexaenoic acids, omega-3 acids and a host of other beneficial substances. Only take fish oil should not externally, but inside in the form of capsules.
What remedies are ineffective for stretch marks on the chest
- Mud wraps. They can soften the skin in the affected area with stretch marks, but there will be no significant changes.
- Pouring cold water. They stimulate blood circulation and maintain skin tone, but do not fight striae.
- Physiotherapy. Do not forget that the chest is a very sensitive part of the body, and any manipulation affects not the best way.
- Massage. As in the previous case, breast massage is contraindicated, unlike other parts of the body, such as the abdomen or buttocks.
The best way to deal with breast stretch marks is prevention. After 25-30 years, a girl must pay attention to the skin around her chest. She is very tender, sensitively reacts to the slightest hormonal changes in the body. If the problem is serious, combine salon procedures with daily home care, using natural products such as cocoa butter or vitamin E. And then the problem of stretch marks may well be a thing of the past.
Video: how to get rid of stretch marks
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