Pregnancy Stretch Marks – How to Prevent Them

Although these pink or reddish lines usually appear on the abdomen region, stretch marks may also appear on the breasts, underarms, hips, buttocks, and thighs.

Causes of Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

As a pregnant woman’s belly expands, the possibility of stretch marks to appear becomes higher. Although the skin is naturally elastic, the rapid increase in weight and the growing fetus inside the stomach causes the skin to stretch out. This leads to tearing of the fibrous tissues in the middle layer skin. After giving birth, the sudden weight loss contributes to the appearance of stretch marks.

Depending on one’s skin elasticity, marks will greatly vary from one woman to another because genetics play a role when it comes to appearance of stretch marks.

Preventing Stretch Marks While Pregnant

If you want to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy, you have to ensure that you take care of your skin both inside and out. Following are some tips on how to evade stretch marks.

Eat healthy. Eating nutritious foods while pregnant is expected from you if you want to keep yourself strong and healthy. However, to take care of your skin during this important stage, you have to eat more fruits, milk, fish, and eggs, in addition to vitamin supplements such as vitamins, A, C, and D.

Drink lots of fluids. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 10 glasses of water every day. This helps in making your skin more elastic. In addition, water flushes out toxins from your body, thus, your skin becomes clearer and fairer.

Massage your skin. Increase your body’s blood circulation by massaging body parts that are prone to stretch marks formation such as the stomach, arms, and legs.

Moisturize. Cocoa butter is said to be effective against stretch marks formation and prevention. Rub your skin with cocoa butter at least twice daily. Other options include vitamin E oil, shea butter, wheat germ oil, and lanolin.

Maintain your ideal pregnancy weight. Too much weight gain is what causes pregnancy stretch marks. According to medical practitioners, gaining 30 lbs during the whole period is acceptable, but if your weight gain is more than that, then you become more prone to stretch marks. Although you have to eat well for the baby’s own nourishment, you have to ensure that you are eating healthy in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy weight gain. Likewise, it is advisable that you perform some pregnancy exercises to help you manage your weight as well as to help you have a faster and safer delivery.

Limit your sun exposure. The sun can damage your skin by robbing it of moisture. The same is true during cold weather conditions. Thus, if you have to stay under the sun for long periods, apply sunscreen after every three hours.

As always, prevention is the key in order to avoid or limit the appearance of stretch marks. If you see any red lines on your skin, have them checked by your doctor to avert additional skin irritation.