Permanent stretch marks are appalling! Reading here and there about known people coming out on the challenges on not having smooth skin does to a woman’s mind is even more daunting. It struck us: how we are obsessing, believing that a skin alteration like this is “ugly”. That’s when we contacted experts to learn about this insecurity for our upcoming health talk.
Our first specialist, Dr. Sunil Kumar Prabhu, dermatologist and aesthetic physician at Aster RV Hospital, said, “Striae are indented streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, or other places on the body. They are common in pregnant women, especially during the last trimester! They also occur during an adolescent growth spurt and by dieting or putting on weight in adults and children. Stretch marks aren’t painful or harmful, but some people don’t like the way they make their skin look. So, sometimes, they fade with time; however, treatment may make them less noticeable more quickly.
A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly! The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. These grooves in your skin aren’t harmful to your health, but they aren’t great to look at either! And even though they will never really go away, they might fade over time or with help from certain products and procedures.
Their severity is affected by several factors, including your genetics and the degree of stress on the skin. Cortisol levels in your body may also play a role. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The permanency of the skin lesions causes pregnant women embarrassment, which can negatively impact pregnancy and their quality of life.
It can sometimes have an impact on self-esteem and clothing choices! Stretch marks and the concerns about developing them may be contributing factors for depression or anxiety in the perinatal period, which affects up to one in seven women during pregnancy and postpartum. If uncontrolled or untreated, perinatal depression can lead to adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes. “Bringing attention to the emotional and psychological impacts of stretch marks on patients can hopefully help in the identification and treatment of mental health disorders during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.”
Dealing with a changing body type can be difficult for girls as well. “The key to preventing stretch marks usually apart from pregnancy is to do muscle building gradually with adequate protein intake and to check for cortisol excess if predisposing conditions are present,” said Dr. Dilip Gude of Yashoda Hospitals.“Understanding the pathophysiology, accepting the reality, and embracing optimism that the stretch marks will fade away with time definitely help! There is no place for insecurities.The majority of causes of striae are not personal flaws or failures that make one feel guilty.
On the other hand, one should wear them proudly as battle scars. These show how the person has overcome the underlying disorders and come out victorious. People who have stretch marks may dread summer because their marks may be revealed by clothing. But loose-fitting, full-sleeved clothing can definitely help prevent the visibility of striae. The use of sunscreens can also help prevent pigmentation and the worsening of striae,” he added.
There is no perfect woman with flawless skin. “The generation before us grew up watching curvy actresses, while the trend changed and glorified women based on their weight. It’s unfortunate that we grew up in this environment, and many people around me feel worthless because of a few extra kilos. In this pursuit, we are moving away from our traditional and local foods and attracting so many health issues.
Fortunately, there is a huge body positivity movement that is happening across the world, and I am so glad that we are the generation changing this. It is all about how we think and how we embrace ourselves. It is quite natural that one feels good when appreciated for how they look or what they do.However, trying to do something just to get that kind of appreciation is where the problem arises! This could stem from various aspects that could impact a person.Parenting, childhood insecurities, comments and critical statements thrown at you by society, the influence of cinema, and now the pressure of social media:
all of these have rooted life-changing insecurities in us, so working on these aspects requires a lot of confidence. If you look at it, Krishna and Ram were also dark-skinned. Our culture has always been very inclusive.People who interpret various aspects of our history and culture create societal constructs, which are the source of many insecurities.Beauty is very layered. According to me, physical appearance is just an aspect of it. I am not here to define anything, but according to me, being confident is being beautiful!
There is great power that comes with making your own choices for yourself. For some, it’s about staying fit, while for others it’s about grooming themselves to enhance their features, and for others it’s about just embracing themselves the way they are,” shared Harshitha, who is a renowned cosmetologist in the city and was awarded an honorary doctorate by American Pontifical University.
How to get rid of stretch
marks, if any:
Use scar-lightening creams
Use laser therapy if necessary.
Microdermabrasion is another option.
Micro-needling
Radiofrequency therapy is another option.
Use chemical peels.
