Stretch marks on the back in adults and adolescents: causes and methods of getting rid of them

Stretch marks on the back appear on the skin of a wide variety of people, regardless of their gender and age. Both men, women, and adolescents of both sexes suffer from this disease. Externally, stretch marks can look like scars or look like streaks, giving the skin an unesthetic, loose appearance.

It is not easy to remove stretch marks, but they are not a disease in themselves. Even old stretch marks do not cause pain or other physical discomfort. But they pose a big cosmetic problem.

Stretch marks on the back, located where a person cannot see them, are clearly visible to others on the beach, in the pool, or in the sauna. The very awareness of the presence of these ugly stripes can lead to the development of self-doubt.

What stretch marks look like

The clinical and morphological picture changes at different stages of stretch mark development. At first, in appearance they resemble small scars of a pinkish or purple hue. Depending on the cause of occurrence, they can be either vertical or horizontal. Favorite places for stretch marks are the chest, abdomen, thighs or buttocks, and in some cases the skin on the back may also be affected.

Later, when the damaged tissue has lost its former elasticity, the stretch marks acquire a stable whitish color that does not change even after exposure to ultraviolet rays.

This is what stretch marks look like in the second stage

No matter where stretch marks are located, they are, in fact, just cicatricial changes in the skin - a cosmetic flaw that does not pose a health hazard. They do not cause any physical discomfort, but cause aesthetic discomfort, especially at a young age. However, in some cases, stretch marks can signal alarming changes occurring in the body.

Prevention

In order to prevent overload and ruptures, you need to take care of your body in a timely manner: start with diet and cosmetics.

Diet

A balanced diet will provide the body with a sufficient dose of vitamins and minerals. Drink plenty of water . Remember: eating “fast food” aggravates the cause of stretch marks on the back – metabolism is disrupted in teenagers. Why? “Non-living” food (highly processed, lacking the organic power of fruits and vegetables) is not capable of enriching the body.

Familiarize yourself with nutrition sources for skin tears:

• zinc. Animal protein (beef, pork, lamb contain more zinc than fish; dark poultry meat has more zinc than light poultry). Also include nuts, whole grains, legumes and yeast. Multivitamin and mineral supplements, like zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate;
• silicon. The mineral is found in plant foods (dried fruits, grains, brown rice, green beans, nuts, bananas, root vegetables), whole grain bread, seafood and mineral water;
• vitamin A. High concentrations are found in liver and fish oil; other sources: milk and eggs; green leafy, orange and yellow vegetables; tomatoes, fruits and vegetable oil; carrots, broccoli, melon;
• Vitamin E. Bet on the following: sunflower seeds, spinach, vegetable oil, peanuts, shrimp, hazelnuts, asparagus, broccoli, fruits, greens, almonds.

Bio Oil with purcellin oil - a cosmetic product against stretch marks on the skin

Cosmetics

Collagen creams and oils that moisturize the skin and improve its elasticity. Let's look at what works in this direction:

• bio-oil with purcellin oil is an effective weapon against stretch marks (vitamin A, E, calendula, lavender, rosemary, chamomile), there is no excuse not to try the active product;
• Silderm is developed and scientifically proven against skin breaks;
• trilastin complements elasticity, contains 15 natural oils, extracts, is well absorbed;
• Aleva cream with menthol and lavender, based on shea butter, olives and soy protein, tones the skin.

Tips" work well at the initial stage, observe improvements within a month, repeat the procedures before taking a bath:

• sugar as a natural exfoliant for the skin: add a few drops of almond oil and lemon juice to a tablespoon of sugar, mix, apply to stretch marks, rub in for five minutes, take a shower;
• potato juice is rich in minerals and vitamins, restores skin cells: rub a slice of potato into the grooves for 2-3 minutes, use a medium tuber at a time;
• aloe juice is a healing homeopathic remedy, a known skin soothing (juice + 5 capsules of vitamin A + 10 capsules of vitamin E) rub in circular movements;
• olive oil nourishes the skin, heals, improves blood flow: warm up, rub in;
• rubbing with lemon and cucumber juice (in equal proportions);
• alfalfa powder + chamomile oil: make a paste, massage 3 times a day, the skin will be cleansed, enriched with proteins and vitamins E, K;

Aloe juice is widely known for its healing properties. This miraculous plant can also be used for stretch marks.

• egg white compress: beat a mixture of two eggs, apply with a brush to the affected area, dry, rinse, soak in olive oil, apply daily for 2 weeks;
• Fresh apricot paste is applied to stretch marks for 20 minutes, repeat for a month.

Say goodbye to the problem - the results of natural interventions are promising.

As can be seen from the article, stretch marks on the back in adolescents are removable, the causes have been revealed, and it’s time to apply the recommendations.

What causes stretch marks on the back?

Most often, stretch marks in the back indicate a loss of skin elasticity due to a sharp increase in body fat or muscle mass, for example, during pregnancy or puberty. The skin simply cannot keep up with the growth of a changing organism, since the process of cell division in the epidermis occurs much more slowly than in the tissues of internal organs. This is especially noticeable in teenagers who have grown an entire head in one summer, and whose back is suddenly subjected to an extreme load, which subsequently adversely affects the condition of the skin. It's also common to see men quickly gain muscle mass through strength training (sometimes coupled with anabolic steroids). Together with them, they acquire scars that disfigure the body.

A special role is played by hormonal changes in the body. Complex biochemical processes, lack of collagen, wild growth or weight changes are the main culprits for the occurrence of micro-tears in the reticular layer of the dermis. There are other reasons for the appearance of stretch marks, and some of them are not so harmless and require close attention:

• insufficiently active lifestyle;
• errors in nutrition;
• obesity;
• skin features;
• endocrine disorders;
• decreased immunity;
• long-term hormonal therapy;
• genetic predisposition;
• excessive physical activity;
• vertebral displacement;
• hidden pathologies and diseases of internal organs.

It is good if parents help their children by contacting a qualified dermatologist or cosmetologist in this regard. Specialists will be able to determine the cause and select the most rational solution in each specific case.

Prevention of occurrence

To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, especially during pregnancy, you must follow these recommendations:

• Follow the principles of proper nutrition.

Tears in the connective layers of the epidermis occur due to a lack of collagen and elastin. To produce it, you need to eat more protein foods: chicken, beef, pork, eggs, fish, cottage cheese and hard cheese.

• Get vitamin E from food or through medication supplements.
• Control your weight gain. Diets and fasting are contraindicated for pregnant women. However, even doctors advise reducing the consumption of sugar and fast food during this period.
• Wear comfortable underwear and a special bandage while expecting a baby and after giving birth. Clothing should not be tight or pinch the skin.
• Do gymnastics and special exercises to strengthen your muscles. Then the skin will be able to better abstract from changes in body volume and weight.

The article has been verified by the editors

How to remove stretch marks on your back at home

Today there are many ways to combat stretch marks on the back, but most of them are effective only when the stretch marks have not yet turned white. Otherwise, you can only reduce the depth of the stretch marks and make them less noticeable. Unfortunately, neither tanning nor decorative cosmetic products are able to disguise these stripes, so all that remains is to approach the problem comprehensively, using not only care products, essential oils or massage, but also changing your diet and even lifestyle. And if treatment at home does not produce an effect, you can try to resort to hardware techniques that will help get rid of cosmetic defects quickly and forever. Let's look at popular home methods for dealing with stretch marks.

Caring cosmetics

Today, pharmaceutical cosmetology produces various moisturizing and regenerating creams containing collagen, elastin, as well as a complex of vitamins necessary for skin restoration. They help reduce the depth of stretch marks on the back and prevent the appearance of new stretch marks on the back, increasing turgor. For example, Avent moisturizing cream, recognized as one of the best cosmetics for combating stretch marks and congestion.

Avent stretch mark cream has helped many women restore their skin elasticity. The product contains papaya and shea seed oils, as well as seaweed extract

You can moisturize your skin with it several times a day, paying attention not only to problem areas, but also to the surface surrounding them. Cosmetologists strongly recommend treating the body with a hard washcloth or soft scrub 2 times a week before applying the cream, thus helping to exfoliate dead cells and speed up their renewal.

You can replace the scrub with leftover ground coffee!

Sanosan mama cream, developed by German manufacturers, has also proven itself well.

Sanosan mama stretch mark cream contains beeswax, wheat proteins and jojoba oil

Despite the fact that most cosmetic products are designed to combat stretch marks during pregnancy, they can also be prescribed to adolescents, since they contain mainly natural ingredients and are safe.

Massage and essential oils

During puberty, the skin of a growing organism becomes extremely sensitive and quickly responds to any massaging influences. Thanks to careful treatment of problem areas, skin tone significantly increases, blood and lymph circulation improves. The main thing is to do it correctly, starting with soft kneading movements, smoothly moving to more intense actions, and ending with relaxing stroking. Be sure to include a variety of techniques. For example, tong-like kneading, felting or rubbing. Use additional devices (soft brushes, rollers). All manipulations should cause only pleasant sensations.

It is advisable to use special oils for stretch marks on the back or moisturizing creams during the procedure to ensure easy and quick gliding. You can prepare a massage mixture yourself by adding a few drops of lavender, neroli, rosewood or rosemary ether to 1 tablespoon of any base oil (almond, coconut, jojoba or even sunflower).

Back massage is easier to do with the help of various devices

Tangible results are obtained by cupping (vacuum) massage, during which lymph and blood circulation increases, and along with their influx, a large amount of oxygen and nutrients enters the tissues. However, this technique requires maximum caution, preparation and certain skills.

How to do cupping massage correctly to remove traces of stretch marks

The massage is carried out using silicone cups. First, the skin is thoroughly cleansed, generously moisturized with massage oil, and warmed with light hand movements. Some people use anti-cellulite cream instead of oil. The massage jar should be pressed against the surface being massaged, squeezed in your hands to force out the air, then carefully move in different directions along the lines of least stretch.

With your free hand, try to help by creating resistance.

It is important that the jar slides easily and quickly over the skin, otherwise it will leave severe bruises that will take a very long time to heal. After 5–7 minutes, it is better to complete the massage, not forgetting to wipe the affected areas with ice cubes. Ice contrast will reduce the likelihood of bruising and increase the effect of the procedure.

Properly organized nutrition

A diet containing healthy foods, fresh fruits and vegetables will help those who suffer from stretch marks on the back due to excess weight and everyone else. In addition, by eating a balanced diet, it is much easier for teenagers to endure the difficulties of hormonal surges, strengthen the immune system and prevent the appearance of not only stretch marks, but also acne.

To stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, as well as speed up metabolic processes, it is necessary to provide the body with enough water. The menu should include dishes high in vitamins A and E, C, D and K as often as possible, which have a beneficial effect on the condition of the epidermis, promote accelerated cell renewal and healing of scars. In addition, it is important to provide the growing body with products containing zinc and silicon. These microelements increase the level of skin resistance to atrophy and other adverse factors.

The diet of young people must certainly contain proteins - building material for the formation of new epithelial cells. It is also worth buying at the pharmacy a suitable multivitamin complex with macro- and microelements, which allows you to develop harmoniously during adolescence. These are such popular drugs as Vitrum Junior or Alphabet Teen, specially designed to meet the needs of a growing body.

Gymnastics

People who are predisposed to the appearance of stretch marks on their back should definitely strengthen the muscles of their back, arms, abdomen, hips and chest by regularly exercising. You should not choose complex strength exercises for this, which involve intense muscle work and physical overexertion, as this can aggravate the situation. It is better to give preference to water sports, during which there is a soft and deep massage effect of water jets on the skin, shaping, yoga or light jogging. The skin of teenagers who love sports is more elastic and toned, therefore it is resistant to adverse factors.

Cosmetic procedures to combat stretch marks

If there are too many stretch marks and they are located extremely deep under the skin, more serious methods are used to eliminate them. They can only be carried out in special cosmetology rooms by doctors or paramedical personnel with appropriate education. Currently, the following methods are used to combat stretch marks:

1. Mesotherapy is the introduction of a certain medicinal product into the skin and accompanying fiber. Most often, various phospholipids or hyaluronic acid are used for this purpose. They help to uniformly fill existing gaps and defects. Using a thin syringe, the doctor sequentially injects the drug to a shallow depth, and then assesses the condition of the soft tissues. The procedure itself is absolutely painless, but after it is performed, swelling and red dots may persist for some time at the site where the needle was inserted. To achieve the desired effect, you need to attend at least 6 procedures costing from 2000 to 4000 rubles.
2. Massage. There are several methods for eliminating stretch marks and increasing skin elasticity: traditional manual and cupping massage. The use of the first is based on pinpoint stimulation of certain reflexogenic zones in the human body. As a result, the formation of new cells increases, and the stretch marks themselves disappear. Experienced professionals carry out this procedure using vegetable oils. Cupping massage is based on creating a vacuum, which helps improve blood circulation and outflow of lymphatic fluid in the desired area. It is recommended to complete a course of 20 procedures, each of which is performed once a week. The price of a massage session is approximately 1200 rubles.

   Cupping massage is an effective remedy for combating stretch marks

3. Laser resurfacing of stretch marks. This procedure is based on the effect of a laser beam on the skin defect, which releases a large amount of energy. The result of this is damage to the scar tissue and death of the connective substance in the stretch area. Gradually, new cells begin to form in this place, and the skin becomes even. To obtain a lasting result, it is recommended to take a course of 3–5 procedures, each of which costs from 500 to 1500 rubles.
4. Acid peeling. This procedure is based on the sequential application of a preparation based on glycolic or trichloroacetic acid to the skin. As a result, the surface layers of the skin are destroyed and it comes off in the form of scales. After the period of peeling ends, the color of the skin is significantly evened out, and the stretch marks fade. It is prohibited to carry out the procedure during the period of active sun (from May to October) due to the likelihood of pigment spots. On average, about 5–10 peelings are required, each costing about 2,000 rubles.
5. Ozone therapy is the introduction of ozone under the skin, which improves the regeneration of soft tissues and helps fill the defect. Stretch marks become less noticeable even in bright sunlight. The course consists of 3–8 procedures, each of which costs about 700 rubles.
6. Collagen injections using Collost gel. Before administering the drug, the area where the stretch marks are located is anesthetized so that the procedure does not bring discomfort to the person. Using a syringe, the gel is evenly distributed in the tissues, improving the synthesis of collagen protein. On average, to reduce the visibility of stretch marks, it is necessary to carry out 4 procedures costing 2000 rubles each.

Do not forget that before contacting a specialist, you must make sure that he has the appropriate certificate. One of my close friends chose a specialist based on reviews on the Internet, which turned out to be fake, since he did not have a medical education. As a result of a violation of the laser resurfacing procedure, the girl received a deep burn and needed a skin transplant.

How to get rid of stretch marks on the back forever in the salon: before and after photos

Most specialists in the field of cosmetology and dermatologists who have studied this problem agreed that noticeable and lasting improvements can only be achieved with the help of certain hardware techniques. These include:

• radiofrequency therapy in combination with laser irradiation (photorejuvenation), as a result of which collagen synthesis is activated;
• mechanical dermabrasion - deep resurfacing of the skin, during which the damaged layers are gradually removed;
• mesotherapy - the introduction under the skin of special mesotherapy preparations containing biologically active substances and capable of accelerating collagen synthesis;
• Skin resurfacing using laser, chemical peeling or microdermabrasion are effective methods that quickly smooth out the skin texture.

These are the results obtained after a laser procedure using the FRAXEL ReStore DUAL device.
Many clinics successfully treat even chronic stretch marks using the 3D method. It is based on a combination of laser technology with collagen injections.

Impressive results from 3D treatment of stretch marks

All of the above procedures are carried out exclusively by specialists after appropriate examination, since they have restrictions on their use.

How to prevent stretch marks on your body

The best way to deal with any problems is to prevent them in a timely manner. Prevention of microtrauma to skin fibers consists of following simple rules:

• balanced diet with enough water, minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates;
• active lifestyle;
• maintaining constant body weight in accordance with age standards;
• careful skin care, especially during adolescence;
• regular use of exfoliating products and cosmetic oils;
• hardening the body with water procedures, paying special attention to contrast showers;
• normalization of hormonal levels.

I want to share my personal experience. Even in the first trimester of pregnancy, I developed reddish stretch marks on the upper part of the mammary glands, most likely associated with hormonal changes in the body, since there was no tendency to be overweight. During my rare shaping sessions before pregnancy, I neglected exercises for the chest muscles, believing that everything was fine in this area, and put the main emphasis on working out the hips and abs. It is in these areas that the skin retained its elasticity and remained clean, without stretch marks. Exercises for the chest muscles, massage with essential oils, and contrast douches again helped to reduce the manifestations of stretch marks.

Prevention of stretch marks

Prevention measures should be taken even before stretch marks appear.
After all, this phenomenon is easier to prevent than to treat. Basic preventive measures:

• Drink plenty of water: about 2 liters of water per day. It is especially important to replenish the lack of water in the body during training and other physical activities.
• Avoiding excessive consumption of salt and sugar.
• Proper, balanced nutrition, in which the body receives all the variety of vitamins and microelements.
• Swimming and a contrast shower will help not only prevent, but also remove existing stretch marks.
• Massage using essential oils and scrubs.

Prevention of stretch marks should be done regularly. To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, men involved in sports should avoid extremes - overeating and excessive, uncontrolled physical activity.

Precautions and contraindications

Before using any cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, it is better to consult with your doctor, read the instructions/instructions for use, and first test the products on a small and sensitive area of ​​skin.

Most hardware techniques have strict contraindications. Here is just a sample list:

• suspicious neoplasms;
• oncology;
• blood diseases and clotting problems;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• infectious diseases in the acute stage;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• heart, kidney and liver failure;
• severe forms of diabetes mellitus;
• mental disorders;
• feverish conditions;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• pregnancy;
• individual intolerance, etc.

Important! If the formation of stretch marks on a teenager’s back is accompanied by suspicious symptoms such as increased blood pressure or excess hair growth, it is worth examining him with a specialist and finding out if there are any disorders or ailments in the growing body.

Preventive measures

It is impossible to predict exactly when stretch marks may appear. The main thing is preventive measures aimed at obtaining the effect of strengthening the skin. It is necessary to pay close attention to problematic parts of the body.

For prevention at this age, it is recommended to limit physical activity so as not to cause microtrauma to the skin, which leads to the appearance of stretch marks on the back and other parts of the body.

Nutrition of the child is also a preventive measure. The diet must contain substances that successfully regenerate the skin and eliminate the appearance of stretch marks. As soon as a girl’s figure begins to form, she should not go on weight loss diets. When the body grows, losing weight can lead to hormonal imbalance in the body, which can also trigger the appearance of stretch marks.

At the sites where stretch marks form, you need to do self-massage, using cosmetics aimed at combating such a defect. Pay attention to the instructions, which indicate at what age the child can use the drug.

An excellent way to prevent and treat stretch marks is a contrast shower, swimming and a bath with sea salt.

Reviews

Avent stretch mark cream is excellent at preventing stretch marks on the back, it is important to know how to use it correctly! In my review, I want to not only describe the advantages of Avent cream, but also give some tips and dispel some myths.

I started using Avent cream back in 2002, on the recommendation of my friend, who had already had two pregnancies and not a single stretch mark. My doctor confirmed that the cream perfectly prevents the appearance of stretch marks and gave me many recommendations for its use.

1. You need to start using the cream immediately when you become aware of pregnancy. The skin needs to be prepared for stretching in advance; the collagen contained in it accumulates gradually, and it helps prevent stretch marks on the back; the less collagen protein in the skin, the greater the chances of getting stretch marks. In pregnant women, the amount of collagen in the skin decreases under the influence of the hormone Cortisol. The substances included in the cream nourish and moisturize the skin more intensely than regular body cream.

2. Be sure to use the cream twice a day, every day after a shower! There is no need to shower with detergents every time, as you wash away the protective sebum and thereby cause dry skin. These procedures cannot be skipped. Use it before and after childbirth, for another couple of months.

3. For the cream to be more effective, a couple of times a week you need to remove dead skin layers using peeling or a medium-hard sponge.

4. It is recommended to apply the cream from the neck to the knees; it is from these areas that the skin begins to stretch towards the center. Rub the cream in with intense, circular, massage movements. This method will improve blood circulation and help the formation of new, young skin cells! The breasts need to be given special attention.

5. Finish your shower with a contrast douche on your chest, this will improve blood circulation and tone the skin, preparing it for applying the cream.

6. Itching on the skin indicates a moment of stretching. Don’t be lazy to apply a drop of cream to this place one more time!

Overall impression: Great for preventing stretch marks, it's important to know how to use it correctly!

HVZ

https://otzovik.com/review_254566.html

This is some kind of miracle! Getting rid of stretch marks and tightened skin for PENIES and a minimum of time with the help of a badyagi! Advantages: 100% natural remedy, accessible to everyone, beneficial for the whole body, easy to use, effective. Disadvantages: somewhat painful, you need to force yourself to do it regularly.

I encountered the problem of stretch marks back in my teens—at about 14 years old. Stretch marks crawled up my outer thighs and along the sides of my abdomen. At first they were translucent, thin and white, but after about 6 years deep, wide dark stretch marks began to appear; there weren’t many of them, but they were very noticeable. At the same time, during the period when such stretch marks appeared, my weight did not change at all; most likely, this is just a feature of my skin.

I struggled with them for 2 years with the help of regular use of regeneration creams, but they did not help at all. I found one recipe, very simple, consisting of a bag of dry badyagi and any oil, even sunflower. The mixture is applied with rubbing movements to problem areas. The first time, leave it on for 5 minutes and wash off with water.

For the first time I observed slight redness 10 minutes after the procedure. On the second day, the feeling of discomfort decreases, but you can still see that the skin is slightly inflamed. After about 5-6 days, the skin began to peel and itch slightly, but it was quite tolerable. I began to actively use body milk so as not to dry out my skin too much.

According to the prescription, it is recommended to do the procedure every other day for 20 days, i.e. 10 times. But since the New Year was just around the corner, I stopped at 4. So, what have we achieved? The skin has become much more even, there are no pronounced stretch marks, the dark ones have become much lighter, the light ones have become less noticeable, as new skin has covered the top. By the way, I previously bought a badyagu for 8 rubles, and now I took some other one, more expensive - there is no difference!

Sunny_Spring

https://irecommend.ru/content/kak-izbavitsya-ot-rastyazhek-strii-na-bedrakhtele-kak-ustranit-umenshit-rastyazhki-strii-bad

Red lines on our everyday field

In our Russian “media” environment - among journalists, leading radio stations and television, current political strategists, political scientists, “bloggers”, diplomats and other comrades with “higher education” - it has become fashionable to use the expression “red line” in rhetoric (“verbal expression”) , red line,” crossing which is ugly, indecent, tactless – no matter what they say – disgusting.

They don’t talk, but they do it themselves.

The author, among other things, has in mind numerous programs, for example, on television, the abomination of which was brilliantly depicted in the article “Dismemberment of Dzhigarkhanyan” by the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Zavtra” Alexander Prokhanov - honor and glory to him for this.

And even if “these professional talkers,” instead of dirty sex stories, told the world about icebreakers built in Russia, the latest nuclear power plants, or the achievements of the military-industrial complex, then it seems that this abomination of “presentation of material” would have leaked there too.

Why?

Yes, because it - this “abomination” - permeates almost the entire media environment, which has a century and a half of experience in “shutting up the population” and cultivating in it the miasma of anarchy, chaos and destruction.

Attempts to introduce, for example, into the public education system “Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics”, abbreviated ORKSE - an educational subject included by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in the school curriculum as a federal component and having “not a doctrinal, but a cultural character”, in essence (and in fact), are a “bureaucratic reply” to society.

Like: “if you want it, you can get it, but don’t pester us.”

The effectiveness of introducing this subject into the educational environment, as they say, “according to the Hamburg account”, is “negative” and here’s why: the “transparent detachment” of the implementers of the ORKSE project and “formalism” bordering on “cynicism” are so “harmoniously” combined with the practice of everyday life surrounding schoolchildren and students, that along with the “bureaucratic garbage” of the subject (details of formalism), young people discard grains of “sincere truth”, perhaps. contained in the item.

Children and youth are more sensitive to such “attention to themselves” than people who have been splashing for years in the “infernal information” sea, not to say a mess.

So, taking into account our everyday experience, confirmed, in particular, by the summary article “Dismemberment of Dzhigarkhanyan,” we have to admit that all “red lines” by the media have already been crossed. And therefore, when calls are heard along the “external contour” not to cross the “red line,” for example, of anti-Russian sanctions, or not to withdraw from international treaties of the “arms race,” Russian society perceives these calls quite calmly and, quite possibly, will soon no longer feel “white and fluffy”; as time goes by, the clock is ticking, and the “mass media” is trying to “keep up with the West”, taking its example of a “glamorous pastime”. Alas, the West has already crossed all conceivable and inconceivable red lines in many areas and sectors of public life so long ago that it no longer even notices who is “white and fluffy” when outlining targets for economic sanctions, armed intervention or an atomic strike.

At one time, Comrade R. Reagan crossed the red line by hastening to call Russia the “Evil Empire,” fearing that Russia would be the first to use this name in relation to the United States; but, in reality (since the famous speech of the English figure Churchill in Fulton), it is the United States that is now the “Evil Empire” (which is worth the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima alone), and taking an example from it means following an example in this very “ Empire of evil."

Or: “Since the Russian “new elite” is pro-Western, comprador in spirit, “paralysis” (“paralysis” - Yu.U.) has been systematically happening in our country for decades. What is passed off today as culture, works of art, Russian literature, often has nothing to do with culture, art, or Russian literature in their traditional understanding, but has a specific purpose - to replace the meanings of existence, to corrupt (emphasized by Yu.U.) our people" (V. Kirillov).

That is why we observe all those phenomena that “our mass media” show us; who do not even see God, and perhaps want to pay off their sins with “generous alms,” forgetting that “God cannot be mocked.”

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) also warns about this: “During the reign of the Greek Emperor Leo, there lived in Constantinople a very famous and rich man, who gave abundant alms to the poor. Unfortunately, he indulged in the sin of adultery and remained in it until old age, because over time an evil custom had become stronger in him. Constantly giving alms, he did not deviate from adultery - and suddenly died. Patriarch Gennady and other bishops talked a lot about his eternal fate. Some said that he was saved, according to what was said in Scripture: the deliverance of a man’s soul is wealth to him. Others argued against this, that the servant of God must be blameless and undefiled, because it is also said in Scripture: even if a person fulfills the whole law, he sins in one thing and is guilty of everything, all his righteousness will not be remembered; and God said: whatever I find you doing, that’s what I will judge you with. The Patriarch commanded all monasteries and all hermits to ask God to reveal the fate of the deceased, and God revealed it to a certain recluse. He invited the patriarch to his place and told him in front of everyone: Last night I was in prayer and saw a certain place with a paradise on the right hand, filled with indescribable blessings, and on the left a lake of fire, the flames of which rose to the clouds. Between the blissful paradise and the terrible flame the deceased stood bound and moaned terribly; he often turned his gaze to heaven and indulged in bitter sobs. And I saw a luminous Angel approaching him and saying: “Man, why are you moaning in vain? Behold, for the sake of your alms, you have been delivered from torment; and because you did not give up vile fornication, you are deprived of blissful paradise.” The Patriarch and those who were with him, hearing this, were overcome with fear (emphasized by Yu.U.) and said: the Apostle Paul proclaimed the truth: flee from fornication: for every sin that a man commits is except the body: but a fornicator sins in his own body. Where are those who say: even if we fall into fornication, we will be saved by alms? The merciful, if he is truly merciful, must first have mercy on himself and acquire purity of body, without which no one will see God. Silver, distributed by an unclean hand and an unrepentant soul, does not bring any benefit.”

The one who looks, let him see, the one who listens, let him hear...

Utkin Yuri Gerasimovich, Orthodox publicist