What is a pregnancy stretch mark?
A stretch mark is a scar that develops when skin stretches quickly. This sudden change causes the collagen and elastin, which support the skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear.
Stretch marks begin as tiny little micro tears, which form at pressure points created by the skin stretching. These can be seen as little red dots and they often itch. Because the skin is already weakened, these micro tears will often rip downwards at right angles to the bodies natural skin lines (known as langers lines). Think if it like a crack in a car windscreen which has been hit by a passing stone. If left, it will slowly spread downwards across the glass. Once formed (just like a cracked glass windscreen) stretch marks never completely disappear.
Not everyone develops these tears in their skin. Fluctuating hormone levels, genetics, age and the rate at which the skin stretches all play a role. Stretch marks tend to form more frequently during puberty, periods of rapid weight gain, pregnancy and periods of intensive weight training - all key times the body sees significant growth in a short time frame.
Of course, our key focus is pregnancy stretch marks!
Can anything prevent stretch marks?
Short answer: Until Secret Saviours preventionwear, No!
Researchers have discovered that many treatments which claim to prevent stretch marks don’t actually work. In studies, neither almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, nor vitamin E prevented stretch marks. There is some evidence that Centella Asiatica (a South East Asian herb) and Hyaluronic acid may help slightly, but no topical cream, gel or oil can completely prevent the process of skin ripping as it stretches.
What is so different about Secret Saviours preventionwear?
Secret Saviours offers a 3-step system proven to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy. The system is centred around innovative maternity shapewear (which we call preventionwear) that has been developed with clever pad technology we call Derma Dot Technology™. Our textile technology is a world first and has been invented specifically for pregnant women (watch this space as we look to help teenagers next!). Invented by doctors at University College Hospital, London, Secret Saviours Dermal Support Technology™ changes the way your skin reacts when it’s being stretched.
How does our clever textile technology work?
Our inventors realised that the only way to prevent stretch marks was to attack the problem on two fronts. Firstly, something needed to be done to relieve the pressure on skin as it stretched – this would stop the micro-tears forming. And secondly, if any micro-tears did appear they needed to be stopped from ripping in a straight line downwards.
They quickly realised that no cream, gel or oil was going to equalise the pressure of stretching skin. So they invented a fabric that worked as a mechanical support across the bump. By creating raised pads that gently grip the skin they were able to take away those “hotspots” where too much pressure created micro-tears.
Although this invention prevents most micro-tears forming, sometimes nothing can be done to stop the odd few appearing. So, to prevent them tearing into fully blown stretch marks, our inventors designed the pads in a specific random pattern, blocking the straight line path stretch marks need to rip downwards. Take a look at the pattern in this picture – you can see there is no clear straight path for stretch marks to take.
Why an accompanying cream and gel?
Secret Saviours Day Gel is slightly tacky and when rubbed into the skin makes it easier for the pads to grip it. And the Night Cream nourishes the skin at night, after it has been wrapped up and protected in preventionwear all day. They are equally essential to the success of our 3-step pregnancy stretch mark prevention system.
Both are blended with our magic ingredient Centella Asiatica, also known as Indian pennywort. This extract is taken from plants growing in the swamps of Asia and for centuries has had both culinary and medicinal uses. Thanks to active compounds, including madecassoside which serves as an antioxidant, Centella Asiatica has a long history of traditional use for wound healing and has been shown to boost collagen content and skin strength as well as improve blood flow and cell regeneration, which are both essential for healing. Keep an eye out for this fantastic ingredient in the years to come, it’s been commonly found in South Korean skin products for sometime and now global brands such as Estee Lauder are beginning to understand this extract’s amazing benefits.
Other key ingredients to keep the skin supple and hydrated are a blend of carefully chosen vitamins and essential oils. Vitamins B5 and E maintain cell structure and ward off tissue damage and essential oils geranium, rose, bergamot and lavender not only smell divine, but soothe and calm the skin, leaving it soft and supple.
Secret Saviours 3-step system when used daily throughout pregnancy has an 82% success rate. You can find out more about our clinical trials here. Now you understand how stretch marks form and how clever our 3-step system is at preventing pregnancy stretch marks, it’s a no-brainer isn’t it?
Secret Saviours preventionwear has been developed with Derma Dot™ pads to cover all key areas susceptible to stretch marks during pregnancy. Our collection comes in black and mocha mousse, in 5 styles: the band, the brief, the bra, the shorties, and the leggings – meaning we’ve got your bump, bottom, breasts, and thighs covered!
Made from 85% recycled yarns and OEKO-TEX approved, the products have been designed to support, smooth, and sculpt the body, providing a comfortable and stylish solution whilst enhancing every woman’s natural curves. This game-changing technology plays an integral role in our 3-step stretch mark prevention system, which like all good skincare routines, focuses on maintaining healthy skin.
