Stretch Marks After Pregnancy (Post-pregnancy stretch marks)

Abdominal stretch marks are now a practically systematic consequence of pregnancy which affects more than 90% of women in labour [01].

Until now it is assumed that stretch marks after pregnancy are an inevitable blemish although an end in itself, is it really so?
Contrary to common belief, stretch marks on abdomen and pubic area can cause significant damages to the mothers’ health. In fact, we know that these stretch marks cause a systemic and local alteration of the connective tissue of our skin, the one in charge of ensuring its density and elasticity. This variation of the skin balance of the abdominal area can cause severe skin retractions or sagging skin.

Retractions may rarely lead to serious chronic consequences such as infertility and pelvic pain02, while sagging skin may cause, again rarely, urinary incontinence03 and vaginal prolapse or retraction [04].

Although no direct correlation has been demonstrated, there are statistical data hinting that such stretch marks may be a cause or a contributing cause of further pathologies. In fact, analysing groups of women with abdominal and pubic stretch marks compared to women without such pathologies, it was noticed that women with stretch marks have more than double impact of varicose veins and an %80 higher risk factor of hemorrhoids formation than healthy women [04].

So, it is clear that post-pregnancy stretch marks can cause serious health problems; but is there a therapy that can cure them? And is it also effective against old stretch marks, e.g. over 30 years?

Well, yes, there is a therapy called Biodermogenesi®, developed entirely in Italy, capable of treating post-pregnancy stretch marks on abdomen and pubic area, the efficacy of which has been proved by a joined study brought by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the University of Verona [01].

Thanks to this study, it has been found not only that stretch marks are regenerated, they are gradually replenished and then get tanned with sun exposure, but also the skin gets firmer and more elastic again, allowing to prevent the risks that potentially come along with the stretch marks on abdomen and pubic area. Some patients had stretch marks up to 35 years and even in these cases it was seen a clear improvement and a more turgid and harmonious abdomen.

Practically, this study confirms what has already been shown by a study brought by the University of Chieti-Pescara that had proven a multiplication of elastic fibres and collagen [05].

References:

1. Veronese S, Bacci PA, Garcia Gimenez V, Canel Micheloud CC, Haro García NL, Sbarbati. A. V-EMF therapy: A new painless and completely noninvasive treatment for striae gravidarum. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;00:1-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.16220
2. Lichtman Y, Horev A, Matyashov T, et al. Association between striae gravidarum and pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms during pregnancy. Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(12):3441-3447. doi:10.1007/s00192-022-05249-8
3. Kokanalı MK, Ersak B, Tugrul D, Elmas B, Doganay M, Caglar AT. The neglected secret: association of abdominal striae with stress urinary incontinence in primigravid pregnant women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022;275:37-40. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.06.011
4. Sharon A Salter, Ritu S Batra, Thomas E Rohrer, Neeraj Kohli, Alexa B Kimball. Striae and pelvic relaxation: two disorders of connective tissue with a strong association. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Aug;126(8):1745-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700258
5. Antonio Scarano, Andrea Sbarbati, Roberto Amore, Eugenio L. Iorio, Giuseppe Ferraro, Felice Lorusso, Domenico Amuso. A New Treatment for Stretch Marks and Skin Ptosis with
   Electromagnetic Fields and Negative Pressure: A Clinical and Histological Study. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021 Apr-Jun; 14(2): 222–228. doi: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_122_20: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_122_20