Causes, Prevention and Treatment of Stretch Marks during Pregnancy

Stretch Marks Prevention

Causes, Prevention and Treatment
of Stretch Marks during Pregnancy
In any woman's life, pregnancy is a time of joy and excitement as you await your beautiful baby's birth. But along with the thrill and anticipation of pregnancy comes a host of health changes and challenges-some of which can be overwhelming and unbearable at times. Stretch marks are one of those pregnancy side effects that nobody wants.

As your unborn baby grows, your body's skin tissue expands or stretches in the dermis (the elastic-like middle layer of your skin). This layer is composed of collagen-the tissue that supports your skin and helps it stretch-and it actually tears apart when stretched too quickly, hence you get pregnancy stretch marks.

This explanation for stretch marks is well accepted, but the medical community still does not understand why some pregnant women experience those dreaded purple-red stretch marks while others do not get them at all.

All About Stretch Marks

Stretch Mark Prevention

The most important thing you can do to prevent stretch marks is to maintain healthy skin. Listed below are some ways you can keep your skin looking its best and hopefully prevent stretch marks from occurring.

• Eat a variety of foods that promote healthy skin such as foods rich in zinc, Vitamins A, C, and D, as well as sufficient amounts of protein.

• Drink at least eight 8 oz. cups of water daily. You need to increase this amount if you also drink caffeinated beverages. Water helps keep you entire body healthy and helps keep you skin more elastic to help prevent stretch mark formation.

• An exercise program keeps your entire body healthy which, in turn, promotes healthy skin.

• Don't scratch the areas where you are likely to get stretch marks. This skin should be gently massaged with oils or creams if it feels itchy. Scratching pulls and stretches the outer and middle layers of skin and can contribute to more damage. Massaging is good for skin not only to prevent scratching, but it promotes blood circulation and helps stimulate new cell growth, both of which are important in preventing stretch marks.

• If you are pregnant, try to stay within the healthy weight gain limits of 25-35 pounds. More important than abiding by these numbers is to gain weight slowly over your pregnancy. Sudden spurts of growth can occur during pregnancy that can cause your weight to grow too quickly and increase your chances of stretch marks forming.

• Use a stretch mark cream or ointment more than once daily in the areas you are likely to develop stretch marks. The creams have ingredients which can help improve your skin's condition which lessens your chances of developing a stretch mark.

How To Fade Stretch Marks

Stretch Mark Surgery

How To Fade Stretch Marks

Is there anything you can do to fade your stretch marks?

Nobody likes stretch marks. Unfortunately, most of them are permanent. In a few years, they may fade into silver color that is hardly noticeable.

Cocoa butter is considered the best method to fade stretch marks. It is effective because it stimulates the production of collagen. It slows the process of developing stretch marks, and will reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

While cream with cocoa butter may not completely eliminate stretch marks, they may at least make the stretch marks fade to a barely visible scar.