Plastic Surgeon Develops Anti-ageing Treatment for the Mature Pregnancy Bump.
- Women waiting longer to have children – also more likely to have twins through IVF assistance – skin fibres less ‘elastic’ in later life
- First-ever scientifically formulated duo designed to help ‘age-proof’ a pregnant/post-pregnant stomach, aimed at preventing and treating stretch marks
- Previous over-the-counter products had little or no scientific data behind them – studies shown them to be a ‘waste of money’
- Leading UK plastic surgeon and international wound-healing expert have formula with unique active ingredient proven to shrink scars
Approximately 90% of pregnant women end up with stretch marks, yet a recent American study confirmed that women have been ‘wasting their money’ on over-the-counter products that have no scientific basis and do little other than simply moisturise the skin. The average age at which UK women are having children is now 34, and for the first time middle-aged mothers now make up a bigger percentage than young mothers. Many will undergo IVF, resulting in twins, so demand for solutions with active ingredients that keep maturing skin supple is higher than ever: so much so that a leading UK plastic surgeon has co-developed the first anti-ageing treatment for the pregnant bump – based on the only formulation scientifically proven to shrink some scars by up to 40%.
Stretch Marks Defence™ and Solution for Stretch Marks™ by Science of Skin (www.scienceofskin.com) is a brand new anti-ageing product duo scientifically formulated not just to rapidly and effectively hydrate skin, but also to support the skin’s structure from the first signs of stretching. In addition, it works on the redness and irritation of already-formed marks to halt inflammation and reduce their visibility.
Top consultant plastic surgeon Mr Douglas McGeorge (former President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) is no stranger to the effects of pregnancy on ageing skin and is regularly asked by patients for ways to reduce these unsightly marks – many request surgery after spending hundreds on ineffective over-the-counter products which yield no results.
Douglas McGeorge has worked alongside internationally acclaimed wound-healing expert and skin biologist Dr Ardeshir Bayat, and the pair have spent several years exploring formulas that could directly impact the formation, development and appearance of scars, which has led them to identifying and harnessing the unique properties of a particular active extract found within the natural compounds of green tea. Research had never been conducted solely on this specific extract (although green tea as a whole can be a common ingredient in other products), so through painstaking, peer-reviewed studies they were able to prove that the active radically changes the course of scar development – seeing it reduce some types of scar by up to 40%.
Douglas McGeorge explains:
“More than ever we’re seeing women have children later in life. Their skin doesn’t ‘snap back’ into shape as it normally would in younger mums. With glamorous celebrity mothers regularly photographed in swimsuits and bikinis, there’s a natural search by women for treatments to try and maintain a youthful appearance of their tummies and thighs and combat the inevitable toll pregnancy takes on mature skin – namely stretch marks. As we get older, our skin loses elasticity, thus someone having a child – or even twins, as is common with IVF assistance – in their 30s or 40s is much more likely to experience visible markings than someone in their early 20s.
“It was astonishing to us that in such a thriving market, there could be so little science behind the popular, mainly oil-based products targeting stretch marks and scarring. Products sell despite published studies proving their lack of effectiveness. We’ve spent a long time developing the formula for Solution for Stretch Marks, based entirely on ingredients that have a direct impact on symptomatic marks and scars to offer women a viable, affordable solution which has a basis in science.”
For use throughout pregnancy, the duo includes Stretch Mark Defence™, an ultra-fine mist spray for the pregnant bump. The formula offers rapid and effective hydration, whilst delivering actives and oils to support the skin’s structure and help tackle early signs of stretching to derail their progress. It’s also formulated to act as a relaxing, pampering treatment to soothe and nourish skin. It is light enough not to stain or mark clothing. Once stretch marks have started to appear, the skin enters an inflammatory phase and as a result it can become red, dry, itchy and uncomfortable. Where previous treatments offer little benefit other than temporary moisturisation of the upper layer of the skin, the formula in Solution for Stretch Marks™ has been designed and proven to immediately combat this redness, irritation and inflammation, to alter the course of the scar development, promoting smoother healing and reduced visibility of lasting marks.
As an international expert in keloid scarring (an invasive, aggressive and recurrent scar type) and one of the most published clinician scientists worldwide on the topic of wound healing in human skin, Dr Ardeshir Bayat wanted to find a solution that combined the best that science and nature could offer. He explains:
“At Science of Skin, we are focused wholly on promoting better skin health and finding real scientific solutions for better healing. Although the inclusion of green tea may seem common, it’s an ingredient made up of many different compounds and, following exhaustive experimentation, we identified particular, active extracts that have been the basis of our research. In contrast to the treatment options on the market, our formula is directed at producing a completely new, improved outcome for the appearance and symptoms of stretch marks. Early intervention has been proven to change the course of scar formation, a concept that had never been contemplated previously. With these products, we are introducing a brand new solution for healthy, smoother and youthful skin during and after pregnancy.”