Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks with Collagen

Increasing collagen in your body counters cortisone which is known to reduce elasticity and cause stretch marks in the skin.

Reduce the appearance of stretch marks with collagen 

Life isn’t easy on the skin. Sun exposure, pollution, water quality….honestly, sometimes it feels like the elements have it out for smooth, glowing skin. But since we’re just not built to look like Ken and Barbie, our skin is the tapestry of our life stories: good, not-so-good and simply routine. Dry hands indicate frequent handwashing, telling the story of a healthcare worker, a teacher or an animal caretaker; callused, blistered feet indicate an athlete or dancer; and stretch marks nod to self-sacrificing motherhood.

While we all might idolize glassy, perfect skin, the reality of our lives - pursuing our passions, living out our vocations and carrying out day to day tasks - makes this an almost silly goal to hope for. And while we aren’t recommending simply throwing in the towel on good skincare (we’ve only got one set of skin, so we’d better take darn good care of it!), we’re more of the ‘health over perfection’ mindset when it comes to changing the appearance of your skin. 

A healthy balance

Typically, an irritation of the skin occurs because something within the body is out of line. For example, acne might be present on the skin because of excess sugar or inflammatory foods in the system. Another example would be stretch marks - there are different causes for stretch marks, but one of the internal reasons stretch marks appear on the skin is due to a lack of collagen in the body and an overabundance of cortisone. 

Cortisone causes the skin to lose its elasticity, so when the skin stretches, there’s not enough “bounce” to stretch properly. Stretch marks are the result. 

Additional causes 

While an overabundance of cortisone is a major cause of stretch marks, it is not the only one. Stretch marks (which most commonly occur on the stomach, thighs, breasts, upper arms and butt) are also a result of: 

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  Pregnancy due to the baby’s stretching and pulling at the skin in the abdominal area

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  A quick growth spurt, such as those experienced during puberty

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  Rapidly gaining or losing weight, including bodybuilding

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  Corticosteroid creams and lotions 

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  Disorders of the adrenal gland which cause an excess amount of cortisone, making the skin more susceptible to stretch marks, like Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danos syndrome    

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  High amounts of steroids from medication or Cushing’s syndrome

Stretch marks can look different depending on one’s skin tone, but typically they range in colors of red, pink, purple, red-brown or dark brown. They may itch or be slightly raised.

Stretch marks aren’t threatening or dangerous in any way, and they will fade naturally as time passes. However, there are methods of lessening their appearance if you wish to speed up the process, plus choosing to treat stretch marks might alleviate some of the irritation.

Collagen for stretch marks 

Stretch marks are a result of low collagen count in the body and a high cortisone count. Therefore, one of the best natural methods - that is, those that don’t require taking medication or an expensive trip to the dermatologist’s - is boosting collagen. This can be done by focusing on eating more collagen-rich foods, or by turning to collagen supplements as an important boost in the amino acids needed to build it. 

Collagen-rich foods include chicken and fish, lots of dark leafy greens like kale and spinach, citrus fruits and berries, bell peppers, garlic and even cashews. By incorporating more of these ingredients into your daily diet, you can boost your collagen levels to combat cortisone and reintroduce that much-needed bounce back into your skin. 

Plus, you can incorporate The Fountain of Youth Formula or Collagen Protein Powder into your daily routine for an additional 10g - 20g of added collagen a day. 

Collagen Supplements  

With collagen supplements you are able to provide to your body the collagen it has either stopped producing on its own or is producing in very low amounts. While the high levels of cortisone work against the skin’s elasticity, supplemented collagen reinforces the skin and provides that “bounce,” offering a layer of protection against the damaging effects of cortisone.

Since stretch marks are most commonly expected to appear during pregnancy, it’s important to note that collagen is, in fact, completely safe to consume during pregnancy. Taking collagen has very few cons - especially if you make sure you don’t take more than the recommended 20g a day to avoid over consumption side effects - and numerous benefits that look out for your overall health. So collagen is not only safe for pregnancy, but it’s helpful in getting as many nutrients into your system as possible. 

Plus, with The Fountain of Youth Formula and it’s 1000mg of vitamin C, biotin and the antioxidant effects of the maqui berry, your daily collagen intake for preventing stretch marks now includes a boost to your immune system as well!

Your daily collagen to fight stretch marks 

BUBS designed our collagen to fit smoothly into your daily schedule without hassle. With our 10g scoop, all you need is to ladle two of these into your morning coffee, smoothie or other favorite drink to start your day off on the right foot. Not only will the collagen work in the skin to regenerate elasticity and provide room and bounce for your skin to stretch free of ridges and discoloring, but it will bolster the immune system, lubricate joints for fluidity and ease of movement, and encourage healthy nails and hair. 

So if you’re on the lookout for a product that does it all and then some, look no further and sample BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein Powder.