Do stretch marks on the body disappear after weight loss.
Although stretch marks usually cannot be prevented or cured, they disappear over time. You should know that stretch marks are often an inevitable consequence of physical changes that occur during life. Almost everyone has at least a few stretch marks.Accepting your skin as it is can help you cope with these changes.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks, known medically as striae, are indentations on the skin that look like discolored streaks. At first they may be dark, shiny and raised, but over time they can turn into light or silvery depressions, similar to scars. Usually stretch marks have a different texture than normal skin.
Stretch marks can occur on any part of the body in men and women, but most often they appear on the abdomen, chest, biceps, thighs and buttocks. In women, stretch marks appear more often than in men, especially on the chest, and in men they most often appear on the lower back.
Causes of stretch marks
Stretch marks are caused by rapid growth, which leads to stretching of the skin. Collagen and connective tissues of the skin are destroyed, which leads to the appearance of fine lines that can be dark and purplish-blue. These marks usually fade over time to a silvery or lighter skin color.
Common causes
Weight gain
Growth caused by puberty (breasts, hips, etc.)
Pregnancy and lactation
Muscle growth (hypertrophy)
The use of steroids, such as creams with corticosteroids.
Diseases (diseases of the adrenal glands, diabetes)
Prevention
Stretch marks are usually impossible to prevent. They are extremely common due to rapid growth phases such as puberty and pregnancy.
For the most part, these life events are inevitable for many people. Stretch marks are harmless and are a natural part of the physical changes that everyone faces. Stretch marks sometimes disappear on their own after weight loss or childbirth, or they may disappear over time.
Treatment of stretch marks
There are several effective treatments for stretch marks, and those that work usually have minimal effect. Local treatment and laser therapy may give some results. There is no need to treat stretch marks, since they are a common natural consequence of physical changes during life and, as a rule, are harmless.
Some treatments may cause side effects, while others are contraindicated during pregnancy. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of any treatment you choose, regardless of your gender or stage of life.
Laser therapy and other procedures
Laser therapy is another standard procedure for stretch marks. However, it works best at the initial stage of the formation of stretch marks, when they are fresh and still red.
A more radical approach to removing stretch marks is plastic surgery, such as abdominoplasty. Removing skin with stretch marks will obviously reduce stretch marks on your body. However, these procedures are fraught with risk, so you need to go through all the tests, talk to your doctor and weigh the personal pros and cons.
Result
The optimal way to deal with stretch marks may be to accept them as part of natural physical changes throughout life, including puberty, pregnancy and increased muscle mass. You should know that most people have at least some stretch marks.
Stress due to stretch marks can lead to body anxiety and lower self-esteem. Food culture, advertising, and social media often perpetuate unattainable ideals of how the body should look. These ideals do not promote self-acceptance and do not correspond to reality.
If you want to get rid of stretch marks, weigh the pros and cons of the available treatments. Also, be sure to discuss any of them you are considering with your doctor.
