Stretch marks: how to prevent and reduce them

It takes two things for stretch marks to be created

One is external and comes in the form of chronic skin stretching - usually due to pregnancy, weight gain or muscle gain. And the other is internal and has to do with poor collagen and elastin quality due to the effects of poor diet, stress and inactivity.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, leads to protein catabolism (protein breakdown) including collagen and elastin, the main skin proteins. Chronic systemic (body-wide) and local inflammation also have a direct effect on collagen levels and quality, as they stimulate the MMP enzymes that break down connective tissue. Insulin, the metabolic hormone secreted after the ingestion of carbs and sugar, leads to the creation of AGE compounds and cross links that degrade the quality of your collagen. And a diet poor in vitamin C, bioflavonoids and protein, all important for collagen equilibrium in the tissues, also contributes to connective tissue deterioration, including that of the skin.

True, if the stretching force is strong enough and persists for several months, even the strongest and healthiest skin will develop some stretch marks, but in most cases a healthier, stronger more elastic skin can adapt to the stretching forces and just lengthen to accommodate the extra mass underneath the skin (baby, fat or muscle) without being ripped off and developing stretch marks.

Stretch marks are basically deformed connective tissue, i.e. scar tissue, and as with all scar tissue, recent stretch marks can be treated better than the old ones. Naturally, it is preferable to prevent stretch marks than trying to soften them.

LipoTherapeia and the Lipo Actives to the rescue

The Lipo Active Cellulite Massage, one of the constituent parts of LipoTherapeia is ideal for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks, especially in combination with the Lipo Actives, our concentrated anti-cellulte creams that contain multiple ingredients that help keep the connective tissue in good shape, including vitamins herbal extracts, pentapeptides, proteins and aminoacids.

The combination acts in a synergistic way on the superficial connective tissues, helping eliminate inflammation, stimulate collagen production, boost circulation and provide essential nourishment.

To experience for yourself how impressive the Lipo Massage feels on your skin and connective tissues and how it can impact on the appearance of stretch marks, please click here.

To buy the Lipo Actives for stretch mark prevention and improvement please click here. To treat stretch marks over a limited skin area you only need a tiny amount of Lipo Actives, and therefore our typical 500ml bottle will last you for up to six months or more.