We firmly believe that nothing makes you feel more like a woman than being pregnant . A new life is growing within you. Your body is changing to make that possible. You are preparing yourself mentally and physically to love and raise your new baby into a happy and healthy baby… What could be better?
Some of the changes that come with pregnancy may be less attractive. Stretch marks are one of those changes .
But what exactly are stretch marks? How are they formed? Is there a way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy? We will answer all those questions in this article.
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What are stretch marks and how are they formed?
The grooves are basically small scars located in the middle layer of skin (dermis) that are visible in the top layer of skin (epidermis). They form when rapid weight gain or hormonal changes stretch the skin beyond its ability to repair. That is why they are called stretch marks.
Your skin has an incredible ability to stretch and adapt thanks to its collagen and elastin fibers. But when the skin is stretched too fast or too much, it can tear slightly. When this happens, your body will immediately start working to heal the new scars. Despite the natural defense mechanisms of our body, small scars can still appear once everything is healed.
Stretch marks are most often associated with pregnancy because pregnancy hormones, such as cortisol and estrogen, reduce the activity and effectiveness of fibroblasts in the skin. This, in turn, reduces the collagen and elastin that give your skin its elasticity. Combine that with your growing abdomen, thighs and chest and the conditions are ripe for stretch marks to form.
But enough about the technical stuff! We are going to find the best ways to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy .
How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
The most powerful way to prevent stretch marks is to treat them early, before they appear, and often.
This is important because once stretch marks have formed, they are more difficult to remove. It is better to prevent them from forming than to deal with them after your baby is born. So as soon as you know you’re pregnant, start putting the tips below into action.
1. Eat a healthy diet
Following a healthy diet is an excellent first step in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy . Remember, stretch marks form due to rapid weight gain. That weight gain can’t be prevented (you’re pregnant after all), but you can work to keep it within healthy limits.
We recommend a balanced diet that includes:
- Plenty of fruits and vegetables (at least 4 servings a day)
- Whole grains like oatmeal and wheat bread (6-11 ounces per day)
- Lean proteins such as chicken, fish, and beans (3 servings a day)
- Dairy products for calcium (1,000 mg daily)
- A prenatal vitamin to fill in nutritional gaps
Try to keep sweets and sugars to a minimum to minimize nausea. And since every woman and every pregnancy is different, be sure to talk to your doctor about a diet that is right for you and your baby.
2. Anti-stretch mark treatment with natural oil
A great way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy is to keep your skin hydrated . You are probably used to doing it with your face and neck, but you will also have to start hydrating other parts of your body.
The best solution is to apply an all- natural soothing moisturizing oil to the stomach, hips, thighs, and chest, at least twice a day. A proper and natural anti-stretch mark treatment will increase the elasticity of your skin and will not cause any negative effects on your body during pregnancy. This allows your skin to expand and grow without tearing and without forming stretch marks.
Make sure to choose a product that is safe for pregnant women, which has been proven to be suitable for both mother and baby, such as Weleda eco-cosmetics . For best results, apply an anti-stretch mark oil after showering to maximize your skin’s ability to defend against stretch marks.
Remember that the best way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy is to use a suitable oil for their prevention. This product feels great when applied, it will especially help to keep your skin soft, flexible and without stretch marks during pregnancy .
3. Exfoliate stretch mark prone areas once a week
To get the most out of your oil to prevent stretch marks , be sure to exfoliate your abdomen, hips, thighs, and chest once a week. Exfoliation removes dry, dead skin cells that can prevent your moisturizers and creams from penetrating the lower layers of your skin. It also promotes the growth of new skin cells that can help keep your abdomen, hips, thighs, and chest soft, supple, and stretch mark-free.
There are a number of natural herbs and ingredients that can be used as scrubs. Our favorite natural ingredients are baking soda and witch hazel. These ingredients can be applied directly to the skin and are gentle enough not to harm sensitive skin. For an added exfoliating boost, scrub stretch mark prone areas with baking soda during showering or apply witch hazel immediately afterward.
4. Massage your skin to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
In addition to keeping your skin hydrated during your pregnancy with the right products, if you take just 10 more minutes to massage these products into your skin, you can increase your body’s stretch mark prevention potential .
Gently massaging stretch mark prone areas offers four benefits:
- Keeps the skin supple and elastic.
- It favors the absorption of the product in your skin.
- Breaks down stretch marks that may have started to form.
- Improves circulation.
To get the most out of your stretch mark massage , we recommend that you first apply the product to your fingertips. Then, massage your skin with gentle pressure and small circular motions. Do this every day for amazing results.
How to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy
If you are already suffering from stretch marks, don’t worry. Getting rid of stretch marks after pregnancy is not impossible. Here are our two favorite treatment options.
How to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy
If you are already suffering from stretch marks, don’t worry. Getting rid of stretch marks after pregnancy is not impossible. Here are our two favorite treatment options.
1. Apply an ultra-strong treatment
An ultra strong treatment is your best option to cure stretch marks after pregnancy. It’s cost-effective, easy to apply, and doesn’t require time-consuming doctor visits. Trust us, you will be busy enough once your baby arrives.
2. Use invasive treatments only as a last resort
For persistent stretch marks, you may want to consider invasive treatments, such as microdermabrasion or laser therapy. Try everything else first and use these treatments only as a last resort.
The microdermabrasion is essentially a super powerful exfoliant. Use a microcrystalline spray to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells. Laser treatments also use small bursts of light directed towards the middle layers of the skin.
Both treatments, while uncomfortable, will reduce the appearance of stretch marks by revealing younger, healthier skin.
Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.