They can be thin and white, wide and purple, sometimes pink—stretch marks mark our bodies. Sometimes they're evidence of rapid growth, and other times proof that we once carried life… Whether we cherish them or hate them, if you want to take care of them, you've come to the right place!
What are stretch marks?
To fully understand the phenomenon, it is often enough to compare it to plate tectonics! Under the effect of a sudden change in weight or rapid growth, the dermis stretches beyond its capacity until the point of rupture: this is the tear.
It doesn't cause an earthquake, no tsunami. Except perhaps a tsunami of tears if stretch marks are your worst nightmare, in which case we advise you to stay here because it can get better, fade away (there is hope).
Often, stretch marks appear completely unexpectedly! But sometimes, at the time of the tear and a few days before, you might feel tightness or even itching! This means something is happening underneath! Tiny tears are forming in the collagen and elastin fibers, creating: your future stretch marks!
The 2 types of stretch marks
- Growth marks
They are horizontal. You push, the normally supple and elastic dermis can't keep up and breaks. Imagine you pull on a rubber band so hard it finally snaps: it breaks horizontally, not vertically. The dermis is the same! Lacking sufficient elasticity and suppleness, it tears.
- Stretch marks related to weight fluctuations
They often appear vertically! And yes, since we're lying horizontally, we also stretch vertically ;) ! In this specific case, if weight gain is linked to their appearance, genetic, hormonal, and even environmental factors play a significant role! Some people may develop stretch marks with very little weight gain, while others have incredibly resilient skin that doesn't allow any imperfections.
Why do stretch marks affect women more?
Well, because… Mother Nature is here… Let me explain: let's be honest, women are more affected because inevitable weight fluctuations await them if they ever want to become mothers. 70% of women will get stretch marks during their pregnancy. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know: 10 kg in 9 months is a significant weight change. Especially since the body prioritizes a healthy pregnancy over skin elasticity. What does that mean? During pregnancy, cortisol levels rise: a hormone essential for the development of the unborn baby, BUT which has the disadvantage of blocking collagen production. And if you didn't know: collagen maintains good skin elasticity and strength! In the end, it's a bit like collagen is on furlough while the baby factory is running at full speed. Your body has its priorities too.
No desire for a baby? Are you saved? Well, by nature, women have less collagen, which also explains why stretch marks are more common in women. So what do we need to limit their appearance?
Preventing the appearance of stretch marks
Let's get down to brass tacks! Let's not kid ourselves: preventing them is much easier than making them disappear once they've appeared.
And if you think it's a lost cause, remember that 93% of the health problems and illnesses you may experience are determined by your environment, and only 7% by your genes. Therefore, we can all take action on our lifestyle to avoid certain conditions. Especially since new studies suggest that we can't know for sure whether having stretch marks from mother to daughter is linked to genetics or to the transmission of a similar lifestyle that contributes to stretch marks.
To put it simply: your mom has never drunk much water, doesn't really like to cook, and prefers ready-made meals… Chances are you're taking away those little habits that can have a huge impact on the formation of stretch marks…
Here are our tips to limit their occurrence:
Stay hydrated to prevent stretch marks
Drinking water is crucial, even essential! It might seem like obvious advice, but your skin is the last thing to benefit from when you drink water. There are far more important things for your body, like the proper functioning of your organs!
In fact, when you're dehydrated, your kidneys don't function as well, making it harder to eliminate toxins, which then happens through the skin: hello breakouts! Drinking enough water improves your skin's elasticity, but sometimes it's also the solution to saying goodbye to your pimples! Oh, and I almost forgot: a good water intake requires between 1 and 2 liters of pure water per day (not counting the water you get from tea, fruit, soup, etc.).
Anti-stretch mark diet
Vitamins C, D and E, as well as zinc and protein, help to maintain good skin health.
Vitamins A, C, sulfur and copper promote collagen production and there is no need to look for dietary supplements: they can be found in citrus fruits, kiwis, cabbage, legumes, garlic, onions, spinach, eggplants and even in strawberries (opt for organic).
In short: eat better, eat homemade. For the perfectionists: sprinkle with seeds or seaweed, try shiitake mushrooms, fermented foods.
And limit sugars and refined products.
On the other hand, it is often wrongly believed that one must get rid of oily fish and vegetable oils at all costs: both provide enormous benefits for maintaining good circulation of nutrients and good health in general.
What is the best skincare routine for stretch marks?
Stretch mark massage: how often should I get it?
The more you pamper your skin, the more it will reward you. With each massage, you activate blood circulation and boost skin elasticity! They also have the added benefit of relaxing your mind, and less stress means less cortisol, which translates to better collagen production. It's all connected ;).
Are you pregnant? It's best to start right away; your skin will need all your support! From the fourth month of pregnancy, twice a day would be ideal, with a massage of at least 15 minutes once a week. Perhaps this is an opportunity for the other parent to get involved and combine business with pleasure by trying haptonomy at the same time? After pregnancy, it's often mistakenly believed that you can stop massaging. It's often at this point that the skin starts to crack. The belly is empty, heavy, and pulls downwards, and it's often at this time that the skin starts to crack. Especially since sleep quality is affected, and a whole host of hormonal processes are at play. We know that we tend to neglect our bodies at this time and mostly just want to sleep. A little postpartum tip: apply your skincare oil after showering. The pores are open, the oil penetrates faster and it's dry in 3 minutes!
Anti-stretch mark active ingredients in your creams and skincare products
Massage plays a vital role in your routine, but if you use oils with low nutritional value for your skin, you're not giving yourself the best chance of preventing stretch marks. Opt instead for high-quality oils that are rich in linoleic acid, phytosterols, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Examples?
Desert Date Oil
It is known for being absorbed very quickly by the skin. It possesses incredible nourishing and softening properties. Thanks to the presence of linoleic acid and phytosterols, it helps maintain good skin hydration and tone the skin. In addition to these valuable nutrients, it provides the skin with a small dose of vitamin C and copper, enough to boost collagen production! A choice ingredient for preventing and reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Rosehip oil
Renowned for thousands of years for its exceptional healing and regenerative properties, rosehip oil helps the skin recover and renew itself faster. It's perfect for reducing the appearance of existing stretch marks AND maintaining good skin firmness and elasticity. How? It stimulates collagen production! It contains a rather rare essential fatty acid in the plant world: gamma-linolenic acid, also known as omega-6! A powerhouse of anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits that earns it a place among the top-quality active ingredients. Lastly, its richness in vitamin E gives it free radical-fighting properties. Yet another reason to include it in your stretch mark routine, as free radicals are a major factor in the development of stretch marks!Roucou aka Urucum extract
Less common, its name may not ring a bell, and yet! It's one of those rare, high-quality active ingredients! Enriched with nutrients, trace elements, and polyphenols, annatto provides the skin with everything it needs to repair and prevent stretch marks. Annatto moisturizes, plumps, and contributes to the skin's suppleness and resilience. In terms of cell renewal, annatto is among the ingredients with the highest beta-carotene content in the world! A powerful ally for strengthening the skin, protecting it from free radicals and oxidative damage, and restoring its radiance! Annatto is also easily recognizable by its warm, golden color, leaving behind a more radiant and less pale complexion.
The ultimate must-have? Combining all these ingredients in a single product: organic, certified free of endocrine disruptors, essential oils, and fragrance, suitable for pregnancy and breastfeeding, made in France, and packaged in glass! Is that too much to ask? Let us introduce it to you 🥰?
Wangari Treatment Oil by moom offers a holistic approach to preventing and reducing stretch marks. It contains the best that nature has to offer, combined with an innovative formula! Its first ingredient? Desert Date oil, closely followed by Tamanu oil with exceptional healing properties, the ever-popular Rosehip oil, and Pomegranate oil with its well-known benefits (and don't hesitate to add it to your anti-stretch mark diet!). Its added bonus? Thanks to the unique presence of lactic acid, it closely matches your skin's pH! This unique quality makes it extremely compatible with all skin types and all areas of the skin. Thanks to this innovation, it can also be used as a facial serum.
Want to try Wangari body oil ? Get 10% off your first order with code BAUBO10
Does a routine free of endocrine disruptors help to limit the appearance of stretch marks?
It's not a miracle solution, but it can add its little something! We know that hormones have an impact on the appearance of stretch marks and that hormonal processes block or promote the creation of collagen depending on the stages of life.
Exposure to endocrine disruptors impacts hormonal balance, which affects skin health and elasticity.
By choosing certified organic skincare products, free from endocrine disruptors, you also avoid the inflammation your skin can experience due to the irritating substances in conventional products. If your skin is constantly battling sulfates and other irritating ingredients, it will have less time to maintain its health and elasticity. Hence the importance of also choosing a suitable shower gel for stretch marks in your routine.
Of course, stretch marks aside, opting for a routine free of endocrine disruptors will have significant benefits in other areas. If you are pregnant, it is known for certain that the ingredients of conventional cosmetics we apply to our skin are found in the placenta of pregnant women. Therefore, what we put on our skin should be as natural and harmless as possible for the baby. As for the benefits to our own health, the reasons to avoid endocrine disruptors are numerous; avoiding them protects us from fertility problems, cancer, allergies, degenerative diseases, and more.
But that's another story, which I tell you in my book on endocrine disruptors …
This article was written by Yoko, founder of moom .
Moom is a certified organic cosmetics brand free of endocrine disruptors, fighting against the presence of these substances in our daily lives. They offer a complete routine for safe self-care: shower gel, shampoo, cleanser, makeup remover, oil, and moisturizer. Discover the entire range in their online store .
How to reduce the appearance of stretch marks?
To reduce the appearance of stretch marks, regularly moisturize your skin with creams or oils rich in vitamin E or shea and/or cocoa butter. Maintain a balanced diet to promote skin elasticity and stay well hydrated. During pregnancy or periods of rapid weight gain, massage at-risk areas such as the stomach, hips, and thighs to stimulate circulation.
If stretch marks appear, treatments such as laser, retinoid creams or microdermabrasion may help, but consult a dermatologist for appropriate advice.