Pregnancy Stretch Marks? What are the causes, prevention and treatment?

17 Jan Pregnancy Stretch Marks? What are the causes, prevention and treatment?

When it comes to having a baby, or becoming a parent, there are plenty of things that you may not realize will happen or might not know about. One of the things that you might not instantly think about while pregnant is stretch marks. These marks are harmless though you may find them uncomfortable or want them out of your skin, that is because these marks leave stripes and marks on your skin, however the thing to remember about stretch marks is that they can happen to anyone and they are much more common then you realize. But what are they, is there anything that you can do to prevent them and is there a treatment if they do happen to you?

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are silver or red lines that sneak across the body. They are caused by rapid weight gain, which is usually tied to having a baby and pregnancy. These stretch marks happen as your body grows faster and rapidly to accommodate the baby you are carrying while pregnant. This rapid growth means that the skin will start to break and this show up the tissue underneath the skin, which in the early stages will look red, however, over time, will reduce and become much silvery in their look.

Stretch marks usually occur on your lower abdomen and breasts, particularly if it is during pregnancy. However, they can also develop on your thighs, on your hips and even on your buttocks. While there are claims that stretch marks can be genetic it is commonly happening to every pregnant woman irrespective of whether your mother or sister had stretch marks or not.

Can you prevent stretch marks?

Despite claims by some that certain things can prevent stretch marks, there’s no way to prevent stretch marks. Worried about stretch marks? Want to make sure that your chances of developing them are much lower? There are a few things that you can do to try and prevent stretch marks from developing. Drinking plenty of water is one of the simplest ways as more water is going to make sure that your skin is hydrated and soft, this will help your skin to stretch, much easier than dry skin would.

It is also important that you eat well, which is important anyway when you are pregnant. You need to eat a varied diet, one that is packed full of fruit and vegetables, a diet that contains plenty of zinc and vitamin C or D, all of which can have some huge benefits for your skin.

Can you treat stretch marks?

Didn’t take the preventative steps against stretch marks? Or perhaps they got you by surprise? No matter the reason, if you have stretch marks then there are things that you can do to make sure that they appear less obvious. Whatever you choose to use please note that there are no creams or lotions or a balm for a new mommy to clear out these stretch marks, the truth is that there’s no special ointment or method to clear it.

Using a cream that contains Vitamin A is a great way to treat stretch marks as this will help to keep your skin healthy and reduce how obvious your stretch marks are.

It is also worthwhile making your own exfoliating product which will act as a homemade microdermabrasion and treat your skin. These are easy to make and if you use several times a week, then you should start to see results.

You can also buy products that are specifically designed to combat stretch marks. These will often have collagen in them or hyaluronic acid within them which will treat your skin and have it looking its best.

When it comes to stretch marks, you may worry that they look unappealing, but when you have had a baby and have become a parent, you will start to appreciate your body in a whole new way and feel much better in your own skin. After all, your body is pretty powerful and managed to grow a person within it. You really should cut it some slack. Indeed, stretch marks have been called different names mommy stripes, road maps, tattoos, tiger strips to mention a few and more and more mothers embrace and celebrate these stretch marks in social media even to the point of posting them for others to see.

About the Author

Rita Izu- is passionate about writing and supporting other women in her community to have a voice in their world. As a mother, a nurse and a home maker Rita believe that every woman has a talent which she needs to find and use to make her life and the life of her family fun and more interesting. She enjoys creating a warm, nurturing and loving home for her family.