Living Healthy

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Collagen Drinks & Stretch Marks

Stretch Marks – Is there anything we can do to rid of them permanently?

If you’re like 80% of women in the world, you have stretch marks that you wish would disappear. Stretch marks are narrow lines or streaks that develop on the skin’s surface. Although they don’t pose any health risks, stretch marks are unsightly. Areas of the body where stretch marks commonly develop include the thighs, hips, buttocks, and stomach. Stretch marks develop when the skin is stretched extensively for a short period of time.

This rapid stretching causes the connective tissues and fibers of the dermis, or middle layer of the skin, to get damaged. The dermis is made up of interconnected fibers that allow your skin to stretch as your body grows. If your body grows rapidly in a short period of time, however, the fibers become thin and overstretched. They may break in some places, allowing deeper layers of skin to show through. New stretch marks are often red or purple, but they start to fade as time passes. Causes of stretch marks include the following:

  • Pregnancy
  • Rapid weight gain
  • Puberty
  • Bodybuilding
  • Hormone fluctuations
  • Family history of stretch marks 
  • Rare, underlying health conditions 
  • Prolonged or inappropriate use of corticosteroid medicines 

As collagen levels decrease in your skin, the likelihood that stretch marks will develop increases. The reason for this has to do with collagen, a protein that functions to hold or bind skin cells together and which serves to keep skin supple. As you age, your body produces less and less collagen, which results in the inevitable formation of fine lines, wrinkles — and stretch marks. Extreme stretching of the skin paired with a lack of collagen causes the dermis of your skin to tear. The best treatment for stretch marks is prevention. It’s important to ensure that your skin stays hydrated and pliable, which increases its capability to stretch. Massaging moisturizer into your skin every day can improve circulation and encourage new tissue growth, but true hydration happens from the inside, so good nutrition is key. Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids is critical to keeping your skin healthy. Vitamins and minerals that are essential to healthy skin include vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and silicon.

Prevent and Heal Stretch Marks with a Collagen Supplement

To prevent and heal stretch marks, your body needs more collagen, which provides the skin with the flexibility and resilience needed to withstand stretching. Consuming a collagen beauty drink on a regular basis can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks from the inside out. However, the collagen molecules in collagen creams cannot penetrate the skin because they are too large to be absorbed.

Collagen drinks are promising because they stimulate collagen production within the body, making your skin more supple and elastic. Not only does consuming collagen drinks fade the stretch marks you already have, it also prevents new ones from forming. It’s important to choose a collagen drink made with hydrolyzed marine collagen, which consists of highly soluble collagen peptides with a low molecular weight. This type of collagen offers improved digestibility and increased bioavailability. Compared to bovine and porcine collagen, marine collagen also contains higher levels of specific amino acids shown to be beneficial to the formation and health of connective tissue.

For the best results, select a collagen supplement that contains vitamin C, which helps create and strengthen collagen fibers. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful promoters of collagen synthesis. It works in concert with hydrolyzed collagen to maximize collagen formation. The best time to consume a collagen drink is at night on an empty stomach because all of the repair work occurs at a cellular level while you’re sleeping. After consuming collagen drinks for some time, you’ll likely notice your stretch marks getting lighter each day.

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