Besides gaining too much weight, having stretch marks is one of the aftermaths of pregnancy that women wish to avoid. If you are an expectant mother, you might be wondering if there’s a way for you to get exempted from acquiring these ugly marks. Perhaps, you are one of those who are finding some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about pregnancy stretch marks.
Probably the most commonly asked issue is how you can avoid having stretch marks during pregnancy. But before that question is answered, you may want to ask first: what exactly causes these stretch marks? Studies say that 6 out of 10 pregnant women get stretch marks. This is brought about by genetics, which means developing it runs in the family. Next is rapid or too much weight gain during pregnancy. Ideally, women should acquire less or maximum 35 pounds for the full term through a slow and gradual manner. If not, then quick changes in weight would force the skin to keep up with the growth and result to tears in the skin, which are called “striae”. However, if a woman is bearing large babies or having multiple babies, she is more likely to have stretch marks.
Other causes include skin color wherein fair-skinned women show more development of marks as compared to dark-skinned women. Having dry skin is also vulnerable to pregnancy scratches because of its lack of elasticity. Knowing the causes of stretch marks will help answer the most asked question about pregnancy stretch marks – how to avoid it! But, you have to know that there are no proven ways to prevent this from happening. However, there are certain precautions that you can try so you won’t end up wallowing about what you could have done to avoid it.
First off, you have to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. One of the most popular and experts swear to be very effective in preventing belly marks is cocoa butter. Palmer’s brand of cocoa butter has specially created stretch marks cream and lotions that you can buy at any drugstore. Apply this cream every day after taking a shower on all spots that are prone to stretch marks like the belly, butt, thighs, breasts and hips. You will get better results if you apply the cream using a circular massage motion. It will not just keep the skin moisturized, but it can also relieve the itch and encourage cell reproduction. Most stretch mark creams contain other ingredients as well like collagen and elastin that make the skin more pliable.
A great way to avoid rapid weight gain and somehow prevent striaes from forming is for you to strictly follow a diet plan. Getting the right food and nutrients is important for you and your baby’s health. This will also make sure that you are gaining weight in a safe and gradual manner. If you follow this well, you will have lesser chances of getting belly scratches. In terms of creating a pregnancy meal plan, consult your practitioner or a pregnancy nutrition specialist. Your doctor may also recommend food supplements that will help you gain the right amount of vitamins and minerals that you cannot get alone from the food that you eat. These supplements can also benefit your skin especially Vitamins E, A and essential fatty acids.
There are also a lot of available stretch mark creams in the market today that claim to be effective in keeping the skin smooth and stretch mark-free. But, you might want to know if these creams contain ingredients that are safe for expectant moms. Some of these stretch mark removal creams contain Retin-A but in small amounts that may not be harmful for the baby. But, in any case, consult your physician first before using any of these products.
However, if all these precautions fail and you still end up with stretch marks, there are cosmetic treatments available like non-invasive laser treatments and retinoid creams. You have to remember though that there is no absolute way to fade marks completely. These cosmetic procedures are meant to lessen the appearance but not actually remove the pregnancy marks. They are also quite expensive and needs several sessions for you to get the best results.
Probably the most commonly asked issue is how you can avoid having stretch marks during pregnancy. But before that question is answered, you may want to ask first: what exactly causes these stretch marks? Studies say that 6 out of 10 pregnant women get stretch marks. This is brought about by genetics, which means developing it runs in the family. Next is rapid or too much weight gain during pregnancy. Ideally, women should acquire less or maximum 35 pounds for the full term through a slow and gradual manner. If not, then quick changes in weight would force the skin to keep up with the growth and result to tears in the skin, which are called “striae”. However, if a woman is bearing large babies or having multiple babies, she is more likely to have stretch marks.
Other causes include skin color wherein fair-skinned women show more development of marks as compared to dark-skinned women. Having dry skin is also vulnerable to pregnancy scratches because of its lack of elasticity. Knowing the causes of stretch marks will help answer the most asked question about pregnancy stretch marks – how to avoid it! But, you have to know that there are no proven ways to prevent this from happening. However, there are certain precautions that you can try so you won’t end up wallowing about what you could have done to avoid it.
First off, you have to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. One of the most popular and experts swear to be very effective in preventing belly marks is cocoa butter. Palmer’s brand of cocoa butter has specially created stretch marks cream and lotions that you can buy at any drugstore. Apply this cream every day after taking a shower on all spots that are prone to stretch marks like the belly, butt, thighs, breasts and hips. You will get better results if you apply the cream using a circular massage motion. It will not just keep the skin moisturized, but it can also relieve the itch and encourage cell reproduction. Most stretch mark creams contain other ingredients as well like collagen and elastin that make the skin more pliable.
A great way to avoid rapid weight gain and somehow prevent striaes from forming is for you to strictly follow a diet plan. Getting the right food and nutrients is important for you and your baby’s health. This will also make sure that you are gaining weight in a safe and gradual manner. If you follow this well, you will have lesser chances of getting belly scratches. In terms of creating a pregnancy meal plan, consult your practitioner or a pregnancy nutrition specialist. Your doctor may also recommend food supplements that will help you gain the right amount of vitamins and minerals that you cannot get alone from the food that you eat. These supplements can also benefit your skin especially Vitamins E, A and essential fatty acids.
There are also a lot of available stretch mark creams in the market today that claim to be effective in keeping the skin smooth and stretch mark-free. But, you might want to know if these creams contain ingredients that are safe for expectant moms. Some of these stretch mark removal creams contain Retin-A but in small amounts that may not be harmful for the baby. But, in any case, consult your physician first before using any of these products.
However, if all these precautions fail and you still end up with stretch marks, there are cosmetic treatments available like non-invasive laser treatments and retinoid creams. You have to remember though that there is no absolute way to fade marks completely. These cosmetic procedures are meant to lessen the appearance but not actually remove the pregnancy marks. They are also quite expensive and needs several sessions for you to get the best results.
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