Stretch marks in men: causes and treatment

Stretch marks on the legs are a familiar problem to many. Every girl, starting from adolescence, can encounter it.

Neither body type nor age can prevent the appearance of stretch marks - they are equally common in both thin and well-fed young ladies.

And during hormonal changes in the body and during pregnancy, the chances of acquiring a couple of new stretch marks reach 90%.

Unsightly red stripes appear in areas of accumulation of adipose tissue, most often on the thighs and buttocks, and much less often in the area of ​​the calves and knees.

Over time, the color of stretch marks becomes less saturated, grayish-white, and eliminating such stretch marks becomes an extremely difficult task.

The essence of the natural process of stretch marks

Our skin consists of several layers (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis). The surface layer, the epidermis, is the most plastic and mobile.

Even if our body quickly loses or gains weight, the epidermis stretches in accordance with the changes occurring in the body.

However, the second layer of skin, the dermis, is not so elastic, and with sharp fluctuations in weight, tears can occur in it. They are the visible stretch marks (striae).

If the necessary substances, primarily collagen, are not enough for the complete restoration of the dermis, then the resulting scars do not heal completely, turning into unsightly white stripes on the surface of the skin.

Causes of stretch marks

Stretch marks on the legs or any other parts of the body appear as a result of a sharp increase or decrease in weight caused by changes in the hormonal balance of the body.

The level of certain hormones also affects the elasticity and intensity of skin restoration. The most common causes of stretch marks are:

• intensive growth of the body during puberty;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• disturbances in blood circulation;
• taking oral contraceptives and other hormone-containing drugs;
• diseases of the thyroid glands and other hormonal disorders.

What causes stretch marks

Striae are not a new problem, but they still raise many questions. Why do stretch marks appear on the skin? How to get rid of them? How to prevent their occurrence? Types of striae? But don't worry too much. The problem of stretch marks is not as bad as it seems. Today you can be offered cosmetics, hardware techniques, and plastic surgery. To prevent things from happening to the latter, the most important thing is to detect the problem in time and begin immediate treatment at the initial stage of its occurrence. The main reason for the appearance of stretch marks is hormonal imbalance with a sharp decrease or increase in body weight. But there are a number of other provoking factors. But first things first…

Striae can form due to stretching of the skin. The cause may also be the effects of wound healing, microtrauma and scarring of sutures after surgical operations. It is worth considering the main reasons in more detail.

Stretch marks in men (on the lower back, sides, buttocks, thighs, armpits and forearms). Causes:

• Horizontal stretch marks on the sides, lower back and hips are formed as a result of excessive physical activity, sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• The defect may occur due to hormonal changes or problems with the pancreas.

Stretch marks in women (can form in almost any area of ​​the body). Causes:

• Pregnancy. During this period, the skin stretches in the chest and abdomen.
• Obesity. Rapid weight gain dramatically stretches the skin.
• Diabetes. Due to cracking and drying of the skin.
• Endocrine diseases and pancreatic diseases. The body releases large amounts of cortisol, which weakens connective skin tissue.
• Sharp weight loss.
• Long-term use of drugs from the glucocorticoid group, which lead to obesity and, consequently, stretch marks.
• Heredity.

Stretch marks in teenagers (form all over the body). Causes:

• Obesity.
• Hormonal disbalance.
• Losing weight or sudden weight gain.
• Increased growth. When the skin does not have time to grow behind the body and muscle mass.
• Stretch marks on a teenager’s back may indicate problems with internal organs.

Stretch marks in children. Causes:

• Hormonal disbalance.
• Obesity.
• Losing weight or sudden weight gain.
• Increased growth.
• Poor nutrition.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Excessive physical activity.

Hormonal striae most often appear during pregnancy, as well as during puberty. During this period, the balance of hormones is disrupted, causing the skin tissue to become thinner. You need to see a doctor, get tested and start taking medications that can normalize hormonal levels.

Pregnancy is a wonderful moment in a woman’s life, but skin defects can overshadow this period. As the fetus grows and develops, the belly of the expectant mother grows, extra pounds appear, the skin stretches, there is a lack of moisture, its elasticity is lost and then scars appear.

Striae on the face can form due to mechanical damage to the skin or an increase in the hormone progesterone, which slows down the production of much-needed elastin. Stretch marks on the face can also form due to weight loss.

Pink stretch marks. They are formed at the very beginning, after ruptures of the skin fibers. The scars are still very fresh and close to the surface of the skin.

Purple stretch marks. They become like this after the stretched tissue is no longer so fresh, but there is still a chance to quickly and easily get rid of the defect.

Blue striae. They acquire this shade after 4-5 months. In this case, creams will no longer help.

White stretch marks. Old scars become completely whitish and lose pigment. These stretch marks last about 8 months or more. They are no longer amenable to cosmetic treatment and require, at a minimum, laser resurfacing.

The choice of treatment method depends on the color of the stretch marks. You should contact a surgeon only when all other options have failed and your stretch marks are more than 8 months old.

Still, it is better to first contact a cosmetologist. Modern hardware procedures and professional products have proven their effectiveness many times.

Home treatment should be considered first. Today, on the shelves of pharmacies and cosmetic stores there is a large selection of drugs that are ways to quickly rid the body of stretch marks. But only if they are pink or purple. Such products contain amino acids, essential oils, collagen, vitamins and minerals.

It is impossible to quickly get rid of old stretch marks. Especially on the back and stomach. But in addition to special ointments, gels and lotions, cosmetology can offer you mesotherapy and laser resurfacing.

The essence of mesotherapy is the injection of a special device into the area of ​​stretch marks. This allows you to improve local metabolism. Several procedures are required.

Laser resurfacing allows you to achieve results after one session. However, this method is more painful and expensive.

• Try to do physical exercises that strengthen your body muscles.
• Take a contrast shower more often and pour cold water over your body.
• Do a light massage with your hands in different areas.
• Use moisturizing creams and gels that improve the elasticity of the skin.
• Don't forget the wraps. Contact them at least once a week.
• Wear quality underwear.
• Try to eat a balanced diet. This will avoid hormonal problems.
• Don't overeat or starve if you don't want to stretch your skin.

Can stretch marks form after breast augmentation surgery?

Yes, they can, due to a sharp increase in volume and stretching of the skin. Therefore, before surgery, it is necessary to take preventive measures against the appearance of stretch marks - moisturizing the skin, various massages, a balanced diet, taking vitamins.

What causes stretch marks on the sides?

If vertical stretch marks have formed on your sides, this is due to sudden weight gain or sudden weight loss. Horizontal striae indicate hormonal imbalance and diseases of the endocrine system.

You need to deal with stretch marks on your sides in the same way as with stretch marks in any other areas, plus you should visit a nutritionist and endocrinologist to normalize your diet and level out your hormonal levels.

Why do stretch marks appear on the buttocks of men?

This is usually due to excessive exercise, as well as sudden weight loss or weight gain. Therefore, at the first symptoms you should take immediate action.

Can stretch marks form on the hips after childbirth, and not just on the stomach and chest?

Yes, during childbirth, when pushing, there is a strong tension in the entire body of the expectant mother, including the skin. It tears, and stretch marks can form on both the thighs and buttocks, between the legs and in other areas. There is also a high risk of getting stretch marks on the legs and calves, since the legs are forced to bear a lot of weight during pregnancy. In this case, doctors usually recommend resting more often.

Remedies to combat stretch marks

Whether you can get rid of stretch marks depends on two main reasons:

• type (degree of maturation) of striae;
• effectiveness of the selected activities.

With the right approach, it is quite possible to “say goodbye” to recently appeared red or pink stretch marks. But old scars that have already turned white are really difficult to remove from the surface of the skin.

The only thing that can be done is to make the damage to the skin less noticeable using laser resurfacing procedures, special creams, etc.

Fresh stretch marks are easier to deal with, but only if you take an integrated approach to solving the problem. We have to take care of sufficient hydration of the body, increasing the intensity of blood circulation, and local procedures for caring for problem areas of the skin.

What can you do at home?

In any case, the easiest way to combat stretch marks is to prevent their occurrence. So, already in the early stages of pregnancy, it makes sense to adjust your diet to avoid sudden weight gain.

It is also necessary to apply special care products to areas of the skin where the likelihood of stretch marks appearing is maximum.

Budget products can also be quite effective: fragrance-free baby oil, baby cream to which you can add mumiyo, etc.

If it was not possible to avoid the appearance of stretch marks, it is better to start fighting them as early as possible, the effects on the skin are complex.

You can get an excellent result if you combine:

• a reasonable approach to nutrition;
• a well-chosen set of exercises;
• special cosmetic procedures (use of peelings, wraps, creams, baths with algae and essential oils);
• massages and visiting a sauna or steam bath (in the absence of contraindications).

Examples of exercises to combat stretch marks

Most often, stretch marks appear on the upper thighs. Therefore, any squats and lunges that allow you to work the hip area and make blood circulation in this area more intense will be excellent helpers in the fight against unsightly stretch marks. In addition, you can perform additional exercises.

Low amplitude leg raises

While lying on your back, raise your straightened legs to a height of 15-20 cm from the floor, hold them in this position for at least 10 seconds, and then slowly lower them. You need to repeat the movement at least 3 times.

Raising the leg from the “bridge” position

We make a simplified version of the bridge - while lying on your back, bend your legs at the knees to a right angle, and lift your pelvis higher from the floor. In this position, we straighten and pull one leg up with the heel, while leaving the other one for support on the floor.

After 3-5 seconds, return the leg to its original position and straighten the second leg. It is recommended to perform at least 2 cycles of 20 such movements.

Alternate leg raises

Lying on your back, straighten your legs on the floor, then alternately lift them from to a right angle (you should feel a slight burning sensation in the buttocks). For each leg you will have to do 2-3 approaches of 15 times.

Raising legs from a prone position

Lie on your stomach, straighten your legs. From this position, we raise our legs one by one to the maximum possible height. It is advisable to do at least 30 movements on each leg.

"Birch"

A classic exercise of wise yogis, which, perhaps, everyone performs in childhood. We lie on our backs, place our arms along the body, and raise our legs and pelvis from the floor.

We use our hands to help maintain the pelvis in a raised state for 30 seconds or more, after which we “unwind” the body and again lie flat on the floor.

Folk remedies for stretch marks

The desire to have slender, luxurious legs was not alien to our grandmothers. Is it any wonder that some recipes for stretch marks have been known for hundreds of years, but even today they can compete with modern cosmetics in terms of effectiveness.

Masks made from egg whites, rubbing a mixture of lemon and cucumber juice, as well as potato and aloe juice into the skin allowed beauties to get rid of stretch marks decades ago.

Currently, the most common remedy for stretch marks is homemade scrubs.

First option

The following are mixed in equal proportions: ground coffee and sea salt, which are diluted with olive or almond oil until the consistency of sour cream.

Place the resulting mass in an old sock or a specially sewn fabric bag, after which we intensively massage the problem areas of the legs for 10 minutes.

The procedure ends with taking a shower and applying any caring cream. Such sessions need to be repeated every other day for several weeks.

Second option

A scrub consisting of 1 part sea salt, 2 parts glycerin and honey gives a similar effect. It is enough to rub this product into your feet for 5 minutes, then rinse with water. You can repeat the procedure twice a day.

Third option

Rubbing crushed coffee beans diluted with olive oil into the skin also helps improve the condition of problem areas. The composition is rubbed into the skin, after which the legs are wrapped in a towel. You need to wash off the product after 30 minutes.

Retinoic ointment

The rate of skin cell regeneration is influenced by several important factors, including the amount of vitamin A (retinol) consumed by a person.

You can help your skin recover faster by either taking a complex of high-quality multivitamins or locally applying products with a high content of retinol.

One of the affordable and reliable options is retinoic ointment, sold in any pharmacy. You can simply rub it into the skin while simultaneously performing a light pinch massage.

This will simultaneously increase blood circulation and speed up the absorption of substances beneficial to the skin.

Stretch marks on the body: causes and types

Stretch marks on the body are a type of cosmetic defect that is observed in women, less often in men of different ages. Most often they appear on the skin of the abdomen, also on the surface of the buttocks and in other places. There are several types of stretch marks:

• by location;
• by location - parallel (straight lines or radial);
• according to the relief of the skin above the striae - retracted, smooth, convex.

The reasons for the formation of stretch marks are very different, and they make themselves felt not only in adulthood, but often also in adolescence:

1. Hormonal imbalance - during puberty, during pregnancy: the adhesion between different collagen fibers decreases, they become looser, which is why stretch marks appear.
2. Sudden weight gain (including during pregnancy), obesity - in this case, the skin stretches, and then a stretch mark forms, which is especially noticeable when the weight returns to normal.
3. Diseases of the endocrine system (organs that produce hormones): the skin stretches for the same reason - destruction of collagen fibers. This is observed, for example, in Itsenko-Cushing pathology.

Striae also appear as a consequence of other pathologies:

• Marfan syndrome is a genetic disease associated with disruption of connective tissues;
• adrenal hyperplasia is another genetic pathology in which the production of cortisol decreases;
• hypercortisolism - increased synthesis of cortisol in the adrenal cortex.

conclusions

Today there are many ways to make stretch marks on your legs almost invisible. As salon procedures, this can be mesotherapy, laser perforation, chemical peeling. At home, you can achieve results using a set of measures:

• cosmetic procedures;
• properly selected physical exercises;
• massages and baths;
• balanced diet.

This approach to self-care will allow you to get the desired result. However, this will not happen earlier than 2-3 months after the start of the procedures.

How to remove stretch marks

There are many methods to get rid of stretch marks on your legs. Some are more effective, others less so. But the best remedy is prevention . To prevent the appearance of such “decor” is the task of both parents of teenagers and pregnant women. Today, the cosmetic industry has prepared a lot of products for you to give additional elasticity to tissues and introduce substances into them that are responsible for smoothness and evenness.

In pregnant women, stretch marks on the legs also form as a result of edema. The uterus, which grows every month, puts pressure on large vessels, resulting in varicose veins and swelling. The doctor should definitely advise you to wear compression garments if he notices the appearance of varicose veins, swelling and stretch marks on the thighs and calves - their consequences.

In addition to preventive creams and ointments, it is necessary to nourish your body from the inside. Vitamins E and A are responsible for tissue elasticity. They can be used as part of vitamin complexes.

If you are worried about swelling, raise your legs up - in this case, all excess fluid will come out of the lower part of the body. Consult your doctor - you may be prescribed a diuretic or other anti-edema medications.