What are the respective costs?
The cost range of options for stretch mark removal is very wide. The cheapest are most likely the home remedies. For example, a homemade peeling made of salt/sugar and olive oil costs around 3-4 € and has a shelf life of about 1 month and if used 3 times a week.
Alternate showers and exercise, on the other hand, are free. The price range for creams and ointments, on the other hand, is somewhat wider. A simple good body lotion from the drugstore costs about 4€.
For higher quality creams that are specially designed for stretch marks, the prices go up to 50€ per tube. In between all imaginable prices are possible. The microneedling with a derma roller can be done professionally at the family doctor or at home.
Accordingly, the treatment can be between 80-450€ per treatment. The costs for a laser treatment to remove stretch marks are the highest. Depending on which practice is consulted, a session can cost up to 200€ and a complete treatment up to 4000€.
Basically, it is important to note that every person or woman has an individual skin type and therefore reacts differently to the respective methods. For some women, regular use of creams, ointments and household remedies is sufficient to make the stretch marks fade. For the other woman, methods such as microneedling or laser treatment are necessary.
The choice of method also depends on how pronounced the stretch marks are at the beginning, so that success can be seen. Microneedling and laser treatment lead to a faster visible success than household remedies, creams and ointments. But even these can be successful in their effect and stretch marks can fade away if they are used regularly over a longer period of time.
Therefore, one might think that the more expensive methods like lasers and microneedling are more effective. However, this is usually because these methods are mainly used when the stretch marks are very pronounced at the beginning and the before and after effect is greater. It is important to mention that none of the methods can promise complete removal of stretch marks.
They can only support the healing and fading of the skin cracks. Since stretch marks never recede completely and are therefore difficult to remove once they have developed, the focus is mainly on prevention, so that they do not develop in the first place, or if they do, at least in a less pronounced form.Whether and to what extent stretch marks develop during pregnancy depends on many factors that cannot be influenced: For example, how strong the connective tissue is or whether you are expecting multiple babies or a very large baby, both of which lead to increased weight gain, which increases the risk of stretch marks. Ultimately, prophylaxis begins much earlier in life, but at the latest when pregnancy is assured, one should start to actively do something to prepare the skin for the upcoming stretch, i.e. well before the time when external changes become visible.
The decisive point here is to promote the elasticity of the skin. This elasticity is reduced during pregnancy, which is why the connective tissue tears more easily and requires special care. As far as possible, the connective tissue should not be subjected to extraordinary stress, for example, supporting bras help to relieve the connective tissue.
The first important area for prevention is a healthy lifestyle, which involves sport and nutrition. Women who exercise before and also during pregnancy are less likely to suffer from stretch marks than others. Suitable sports are mainly gymnastics and swimming.
It also helps if you eat a healthy diet. This means, on the one hand, a diet rich in vitamins, whereby special emphasis should be placed on a diet rich in vitamin E. Pregnant women should expect a daily requirement of about 13 mg. Vitamin E is found in high doses in nuts, germs and oils. On the other hand, you should pay attention to your weight and try not to gain too much weight.
The normal range of weight gain during pregnancy is between ten and fifteen kilos and should not be exceeded if possible. Another important role is played by personal hygiene. The skin, especially on the stomach, should be rubbed with a skin oil every day.
Various creams and oils such as jojoba oil, wheat germ oil containing vitamin E and almond oil are particularly suitable for this. These oils make the skin elastic and smooth, protect it from drying out and provide it with vitamins at the same time. Cold showers or alternating showers stimulate the circulation and also tighten the skin.
In addition, regular massages are extremely important, which are ideally carried out after a shower, as long as the skin is still a little moist. The so-called plucking massage is particularly suitable for this. In this massage, the blood circulation is stimulated and the connective tissue is loosened.
First of all, the cream or body oil is distributed on the desired area of the skin. Then you take a small piece of skin between thumb and index finger, pull it up a little and then let go immediately. This procedure is repeated on all areas of the problem zones.
From the 3rd month of pregnancy onwards, it makes sense to use this massage technique twice a day, as it can only achieve the desired positive effects if performed regularly. It should be noted that the skin over the pubic bone should be left out in order to protect the uterus and from two weeks before the expected date of birth it should be stopped or only very gently performed in order not to trigger premature contractions. Alternatives are the massage with fine dry brushes or with the sisal glove.
This is used in the shower, with circular movements around the navel and then the skin is well oiled or creamed. It is best to have the gynecologist or midwife demonstrate the various massage techniques.
