Stretch marks are one of the biggest aesthetic problems associated with pregnancy.
They appear on the thighs, buttocks, belly; chest and eliminating them is almost impossible.
Find out why they appear; how to avoid them and how to treat them once they are installed.
Most of the stretch marks appear during puberty and pregnancy; periods during which major hormonal changes occur.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are tears in the elastic fibers of the dermis; the deepest layer of the skin: the skin gives way and the fibers fracture; taking the appearance of slight skin depression, similar to a scar; with Marks more or less accentuated.
The stretch marks go through two phases of evolution: first; they appear as pink streaks; irregular lines of pale red color and then with time; become more and more clear and smooth to the touch like white scars.
Not to mention eliminating stretch marks, in order to succeed in reducing them it is necessary to block their development from the first phase.
Knowing the causes that cause stretch marks can help prevent them from appearing.
Stretch Marks: Where Do They Come From?
The main causes of stretch marks during pregnancy are low skin elasticity, hormonal imbalances; and sudden weight changes.
1.Appearance Of Stretch Marks: Low Elasticity Of Fabrics:
A fabric that is not very elastic; without tonicity and rather dry tears more easily and is not prepared to face the changes in the body.
2.Appearance Of Stretch Marks: Hormonal Imbalances:
Hormonal imbalances are, without a doubt, one of the main causes of stretch marks.
This is why they tend to appear at puberty and during pregnancy; periods when women face veritable hormonal storms.
Because susceptibility to hormonal activity decreases with age; girls who develop stretch marks during puberty do not get more stretch marks during pregnancy; while 20-year-old women may have more stretch marks during pregnancy than others who have their first child over 35.
3.Appearance Of Stretch Marks: Sudden Variations In Weight:
A high-calorie diet, the consumption of certain medications and, in general, anything that can cause weight gain; make the skin more exposed to ruptures and tearing.
This is particularly the case with pregnancy; which involves a considerable increase in the volume of the belly and the breast; alterations that are not without consequences on the epidermis.
4.Appearance Of Stretch Marks: Genetic Predisposition:
It would seem that there is a hereditary data in the appearance of stretch marks since they would be inscribed in our genetic code; hence their transmission from mother to daughter.
Stretch Marks: Prevention And Treatment
1.Prevention Of Stretch Marks:
The best weapon to fight against stretch marks is prevention. The skin needs to be treated very carefully; in order to maintain its flexibility, even during pregnancy; when one is more prone to hormonal changes and weight gain.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks, Moisturize Your Skin Every Day!
Yes to specific creams that provide elasticity and moisturize. They must be applied regularly throughout the body; and especially in the areas most at risk; from the first months of pregnancy; even before the belly begins to swell; and even after delivery, during breastfeeding.
The most suitable cosmetic products are creams enriched with vegetable oils: sweet almond oil, jojoba, karité, avocado, wheat germ, and olive oil; rich in oleocanthal, a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps to restore the physiological conditions of the skin.
Cocoa butter also seems to be a fairly effective treatment; even for future mothers who gain a lot of weight.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks, Watch Your Weight!
As we have just said, Stretch marks are more easily formed if there is a sudden tension of the skin: during adolescence, pregnancy and during a large weight gain.
The greater the tension on the skin, the greater the risk of breaking the elastic fibers that make up the skin; especially in areas that increase the most volume during the 9 months of pregnancy, such as the belly, hips or chest.
Of course, the growth of the belly is natural and inevitable; but it is possible not to gain more kilos than necessary: during the 9 months of your pregnancy, you should not gain more than 8 to 12 kilos.
This is all the more important as we advance in age; an element that acts on the mechanical tension.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks: Long Live Vitamins!
There are no anti-stretch foods; but some can help preserve the youthfulness and elasticity of the skin; starting with foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, which are found in fruits and vegetables (kiwi, lettuce in salads, peppers, also in salads, orange, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, melon, pineapple and tomato), dried vegetables, vegetable oils and animal proteins.
According to a Turkish study; pregnant women with a high level of vitamin C are less exposed to the formation of stretch marks because this element strengthens the cells and thus the fibroblast.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks, Drink Plenty!
keeping your body well hydrated; you need to drink a lot of water, about two liters a day.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks, Move!
Light physical activity (with your gynecologist’s consent) will help you not only control your weight but also tone up your muscles; creating good support for your skin. You can, for example, practice swimming or stretching.
– To Avoid Stretch Marks, Stop Smoking!
Tobacco can increase the risk of stretch marks. To have skin toned and healthy, it is advisable to stop smoking before pregnancy and of course after the design.
2. Treat And Eliminate Stretch Marks:
If despite your prevention efforts, you have not managed to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy, you will need to continue applying specific postpartum creams to fight them and nourish the skin. More than eliminating them completely, the aim is above all to tone up the skin and stimulate cell renewal to alleviate the aesthetic problem. You can also inject hyaluronic acid and vitamins along the grooves, or use lasers, a recent technique that makes the skin softer, smoother and more compact.
Read Also:
- Bending Over During Pregnancy.
- Eggplant During Pregnancy: Benefits And Effects.
- Is it Safe to Use Deodorants During Pregnancy.
