Stretch Marks on the Abdomen: Causes and Treatment of Abdominal Stretch Marks

Stretch marks, or striae, are characteristic, firm-to-the-touch, fine scars of pinkish or whitish hue that appear on various parts of the body. A deficiency of collagen protein, which gives skin its elasticity, leads to the formation of small tears in areas where the skin is most subject to stretching. The body, attempting to heal the microtrauma independently, replaces healthy tissue with scar tissue at the sites of damage. As a result, stretch marks form. One of the primary locations for stretch mark appearance is the abdomen. Striae typically occur in the lower abdomen during prolonged overstretching of the anterior abdominal wall muscles. A stretch mark may be singular, but more often the abdomen suffers from multiple stretch marks. Women are usually susceptible to the formation of striae on the abdomen. However, men and children are also not exempt from their appearance.

Causes of Stretch Marks on the Abdomen

The causes of stretch marks on the abdomen are most often related to physical overstrain. The appearance of striae of endocrine origin is also possible. The causes of stretch marks on the abdomen may also lie in hereditary predisposition.

The main causes of stretch marks on the abdomen are as follows:

• Stretch marks on the abdomen appear due to rapid weight loss against the background of excessive dieting and destabilization of water-salt balance.
• Stretch marks are possible on the abdomen during pregnancy, when the growing fetus creates significant stress not only on the abdominal walls but also on all other areas of the skin.
• Stretch marks appear on the abdomen in the postpartum period, when after the birth of the baby the skin becomes flaccid and sags significantly.
• Stretch marks on the abdomen are also possible with bodybuilding activities, especially if bodybuilder athletes practice taking medications based on anabolic steroids. As a result, the skin, unable to withstand the load of rapidly increasing muscles, first tears and then scars, consequently forming striae.
• Striae on the abdomen due to hormonal imbalances, when treatment of stretch marks by traditional methods is impossible and it becomes necessary to consult an endocrinologist.

Treatment of Stretch Marks on the Abdomen with COLLOST® Gel

Until recently, effective removal of stretch marks was accomplished through the application of various procedures in cosmetic centers: excision, laser or chemical peels, and some others. Such treatment of striae is often associated with pain and a certain degree of health risk for patients.

A significant improvement in the situation regarding elimination of stretch marks was achieved after the development and introduction into cosmetic practice of such a unique biomaterial as COLLOST® collagen gel based on natural collagen.

Collagen therapy is currently the most effective method that allows eliminating old striae quickly and without problems. Its essence lies in the intradermal injection of COLLOST® gel into the stretch mark area. Under the influence of the gel, healthy tissue restoration occurs.

COLLOST collagen gel is characterized by the following main advantages:

• Safety of application. COLLOST® gel is non-toxic.
• Patient comfort. Treatment of striae using COLLOST® gel occurs virtually without pain.
• High effectiveness. Injections of COLLOST® gel into areas where old stretch marks are localized lead to positive results in all age groups.

Patient reviews and medical trial data show that eliminating stretch marks from the abdomen using COLLOST® gel is much easier than when using other treatment methods.