The dermis (living layer of skin) is where our skin produces collagen and elastin, when abundant and undamaged the skin easily stretches and regains its shape. Stretch marks are fine scars caused by tearing in the dermis when the skin lacks elasticity. Collagen gives skin its strength and durability, but elastin is more stretchable and helps maintain the skin’s resilience.

By deeply nourishing the skin, penetrating through to the dermis, helping to heal, thicken and re-elasticise. With continued use the skin will become stronger and more elastic, allowing it to stretch even more without damage. Stretch mark prevention creams should not be thought of as a moisturiser.

It’s not always the product that’s not working, it’s probably more likely you’ve chosen a product that’s not suitable for your skin type. Just like choosing the correct face moisturiser for your skin, you need to use a stretch mark prevention cream that’s suitable your skin, be it dry, normal or oily. Also, how old you are needs to be considered as the skin loses elasticity as we age.

The oilier or younger your skin is, and the more elastic it is, the skin responds to treatment is quicker because it needs less elastin proteins to repair. Conversely, the drier, older or less elastic your skin is, the earlier and more long-term use of creams will be needed to prevent stretch marks happening.

Our skin type is inherited from our parents, and one can be forgiven for taking comfort in “My mother didn’t get them, so I’m unlikely to”, but how would your father’s skin react to such stretching?

Elastin can be found in lots of shampoos and conditioners, and collagen in many face and body creams, but the size of the molecule needs to be refined and small enough to penetrate to the deeper layers of the dermis. Many stretch mark prevention creams and oils make the surface of the skin smooth and moisturised, but little, if any, collagen or elastin reaches the dermis. Try using a sample of cream and a few minutes later feeling how much remains on the surface, and how much sinks in. Micro molecules that penetrate to the dermis aren’t found in cheaper products.

They should be applied morning and evening to areas prone to stretching: breasts, tummy, buttocks and thighs. For those with dry and less elastic skin, starting to use products early in the pregnancy is recommended, to prepare the skin for stretching. Continue using the products while breastfeeding, washing nipples prior to each feed.  For dry skins, products need to be layered, with the stretch mark prevention cream used first, then a suitable skin moisturiser on top.

There’s much controversy and misinformation about what products can and cannot be used during pregnancy. Many doctors tell their pregnant patients that during the first trimester (three months) they are not allowed to take Vitamin A supplements. Supplements are taken by mouth and work systemically (get into the blood). Topically applied Vitamin A is applied externally, to work within the skin, not the blood.

Vitamin A in the forms of Retinol, Retinyl, Palmitate or beta carotene are perfectly safe to be applied to the skin during pregnancy. These have great benefits for the skin, aiding condition and helping, in combination with other natural ingredients, to prevent stretch marks. Always check product labelling for product safety to use during pregnancy.

RégimA Scar Repair & Anti-Stretch Complex is safe and highly recommended to use during pregnancy.  It contains high potency pure Retinol (Vitamin A). This is a safe and extremely effective antioxidant or anti-free radical scavenger, helping to rebuild damaged collagen and elastin, improving the condition of the skin support structure. Scar Repair also contains a unique form of micro molecular synthesised elastin, this is not of animal origin, nor has it been tested on animals. Scar Repair can also be used during dieting and to heal fresh and pink stretch marks and scars.

by Lisa Henning. Published in ABC Magazine – Sussex

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Stretch Mark Prevention

RégimA Scar Repair & Anti-Stretch Complex helps generate new skin cells and repair the damaged scar tissue and helps prevent further stretching. It is an effective repair and preventative treatment, however, obviously the oilier or younger the skin, the more elastic it is and therefore the skin’s response is quicker because it needs less elastic proteins to repair. Therefore the drier and less elastic skin will require more long-term Anti-Stretch treatment.

Stretch marks cannot be eliminated completely. However, it has been seen in clinical practice that one can make them look a lot better and proper early care lessens the impact and helps prevent further damage. Our aim is to deeply nourish the skin to start with, penetrate through to the dermis and heal, thicken and re-elastisize. With continued use the skin will become stronger and more elastic, giving one the ability to stretch more without damage.

Anti-Stretch penetrates through the epidermis (outer horny layer of skin) down into the dermis regenerating new cells. It is a ‘prevention as well as a treatment’. The healing plants and our special Elastin, work synergistically healing and repairing. We help to eliminate the incessant itching associated with stretch mark development, thus helping in the prevention process. One must allow 2 to 3 months to see improvement, this varying again on the age and elasticity factors

Text from www.regima.com