Are you expecting a baby but worried about stretch marks appearing? Are you in the middle of a weight-loss journey and noticing that your skin feels drier and looser? Do you train intensively and fear developing stretch marks? For everything you need to know about early stretch marks — and how to prevent them — read on!
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks, or striae distensae, are benign skin lesions, which can affect men and women alike. They are essentially micro-tears in the dermis — the middle layer of the skin (between the epidermis and the hypodermis). They result from an atrophy of the skin’s elastic network: when the skin is stretched too intensely, too quickly or too abruptly, the collagen and elastin fibres responsible for the dermis’s strength and suppleness give way. The result is streaks — more or less fine, more or less coloured — that feel soft to the touch and are accompanied by a change in the skin’s surface texture.
Stretch marks most commonly appear in situations involving changes in body shape :
- During adolescence, which brings rapid growth spurts and bodily changes linked to puberty.
- During pregnancy, as the body undergoes weight gain, an increase in the volume of the belly and breasts, and significant hormonal fluctuations.
- During significant weight gain or weight loss, where the skin is subject to intense stretching.
- During intensive physical training, particularly bodybuilding.
- In a medical context, whether due to the use of medications such as corticosteroids, or a Cushing’s Syndrome.
How do you recognise early stretch marks?
There are several types of stretch marks. The main difference between nascent stretch marks (the “early” stage) and mature stretch marks is undoubtedly their colour.
In the early stage, stretch marks are very often (though not always) coloured. Pink, red or purple, they are easy to identify. The colouration of stretch marks is benign: it is simply the visible sign of subcutaneous inflammation. The dermis, subjected to the rupture of its elastic network, undergoes significant irritation. The rush of blood — which carries the elements needed for regeneration — causes the stretch marks to become coloured. Fibroblasts, the subcutaneous cells responsible for producing collagen fibres, work at full capacity in an attempt to rebuild the elastic network. But the existing “broken” network remains so.
At the maturation stage, stretch marks turn white. The healing process is complete: the number of fibroblasts and blood vessels decreases. The stretch marks become white, supple and painless. Their whiteness is due to the end of the inflammatory and repair process, as well as localised depigmentation. The skin also retains indentations at the exact points where the elastic fibres gave way. The depth of the stretch marks stabilises as the dermis has repaired itself and new fibres have formed. The streaks are less visible — taking on a pearlescent white hue — but they remain. They are also more noticeable when exposed to the sun, as stretch marks do not tan (localised depigmentation).
What can you do to prevent stretch marks from appearing?
Prevention is always better than cure. So the first line of defence before early stretch marks appear is prevention itself! There are many ways to care for your skin and, in doing so, avoid the appearance of stretch marks.
1- Preventing stretch marks through diet
Diet alone cannot work miracles, but eating well can provide the skin with the micronutrients it needs to look its best! To address early stretch marks (or avoid them altogether!), it can be beneficial to eat foods rich in:
- Vitamin A (cell renewal) – found in offal and dairy products.
- Vitamin B5 (skin healing) – found in brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, offal and cheese.
- Vitamin C (collagen production) – found in green vegetables (chard, spinach, parsley, broccoli), citrus fruits, berries, peppers and kiwi.
- Vitamin E (supports vitamin C absorption) – found in virgin vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, avocado and seafood.
- Copper (antioxidant) – found in cocoa, shellfish and offal.
- Silicon (production of bone and skin collagen) – found in dehydrated foods and wholegrains.
- Zinc (hormone stabiliser) – found in meat, shellfish, dried fruits and wholegrains.
In addition, make sure you stay well hydrated: when we drink, the skin is the last organ to benefit. Regular, adequate hydration — 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day on top of what you get from food — will help the body function well and ensure the dermis gets its share.
2- Prevention through skincare
Nourishing the skin from within is one thing. But nourishing it from the outside matters just as much! There are many options for preventing stretch marks or treating them at an early stage. On at-risk areas (belly and bust for pregnant women, shoulders for bodybuilding enthusiasts, hips and thighs in young women, back in teenagers…), you can apply daily:
- A natural plant oil : many oils are beneficial for the skin, both for their emollient and nourishing properties. The choice is personal and will depend largely on your preferences. For a dry, fast-absorbing oil, jojoba or macadamia oils are recommended. For a richer texture, avocado or calophyllum oils are excellent. And for those who want simplicity and effectiveness, there is our Stretch Mark Prevention Oil : a synergy of 6 natural plant oils, with a prevention and repair action on all types of stretch marks, whether early or mature.
- A plant butter: it works on stretch marks in the same way as an oil. The only difference is the texture, which is richer and creamier. Plant butters (shea, mango, cocoa…) share the same properties as oils, as their respective compositions are often similar — a combination of different fatty acids.
- Natural moisturising and nourishing ingredients: other “ingredients” can form the base of a homemade anti-stretch mark treatment. These include Aloe Vera gel (an extraordinary source of hydration and nourishment), honey (thyme honey for its copper content, sunflower honey as it contains silicon, lavender honey for its healing properties) or green clay.
- Essential oils: some essential oils work wonders on stretch marks, provided they are used correctly — blended with a carrier oil, in the recommended proportions, and not to be used during pregnancy. Italian Helichrysum, Ho Wood, Rosemary verbenone and True Lavender essential oils help soothe inflammatory stretch marks and support skin regeneration.
- Serums: certain cosmetic treatments are particularly effective on early stretch marks, as they can slow their development. This is the case with our Stretch Mark Serum, enriched with natural active ingredients. Avocado oil, shea butter, pantolactone extract and sweet almond oil: a concentrated healing and regenerating formula to deeply hydrate the skin, support dermal repair and preserve the hydrolipidic film.
3- Prevention through exercise
It bears repeating: exercise has countless benefits. It is possible to prevent early stretch marks by practising gentle, regular physical activity. Exercise can indeed:
- Maintain a healthy weight, thereby avoiding the weight fluctuations that encourage stretch marks to appear.
- Prevent skin ageing, which leads to skin dryness — a factor that favours stretch marks.
- Lower blood cortisol levels — a hormone naturally present in the body but damaging to the skin when produced in excess.
- Promote healthy microcirculation, for a better-nourished and better-oxygenated dermis.
Of course, to keep stretch marks at bay, it is best to opt for gentle exercise: Pilates, gym workouts, water sports, brisk walking. Best avoided: bodybuilding, which promotes rapid and significant volume gain, and high-impact sports, which put excessive strain on the veno-lymphatic network.