One of the most dreaded side-effects of pregnancy are stretch marks. But not every woman needs to worry about these ugly scars. If you take action well in time, you never have to worry about them.
Pregnancy is the time a woman glows and her skin is at its best. Magical as pregnancy may be, it isn’t without troublesome side-effects. Excessive weight gain and skin discolouration are only a few of the top offenders. Another things that most women dread and will do anything to avoid is stretch marks. Sadly, almost 50 per cent of all pregnant women get stretch marks during their third trimester and more the skin on the abdomen stretches to accommodate the growing baby inside, the worse these marks get. You will notice that you don’t just get stretch marks on the belly, but also the breasts and the buttocks. So what can you do? We’ve put together this extensive guide that will make you understand stretch marks better and give you expert tips on how to avoid these.
Will You Get Stretch Marks?
Let’s start with some bad news. Stretch marks are genetic; if your mom or your older sister got these when she was pregnant, there are high chances you will too. Other factors such as how much weight you gain and how fast you gain it will make a difference here as well. Those who gain weight gradually are less prone to stretch marks, while those who gain 10 kg or more within their second trimester will have a lot more stretch marks. Another factor that plays an important role here is diet. A healthy diet with lots of water, vitamins, good proteins and zinc can improve the elasticity of the skin and reduce stretch marks. However, consuming too much caffeine while pregnant will make stretch marks worse.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are caused when the skin needs to stretch more and more to accommodate weight gain. Women who have gained a lot of weight in their adolescence also get these as the skin stretches too much too fast. The dermis tears, the collagen breaks apart and causes pinkish red scars that become white over a period of time. However, there is no need to panic. Since you are pregnant, it is but obvious your skin needs to stretch to accommodate the growing belly. We have put together a few tips that a pregnant woman should use during her pregnancy to reduce chances of stretch marks.
Tips To Avoid Stretch Marks
1# Massage Skin With The Right Creams
You need to start this well in advance. As soon as you find out you are pregnant, start hunting for creams that contain Vitamins E and A, and AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. However, don’t be fooled by smart TV commercials and invest in creams that promise to treat stretch marks but fail to deliver results. Do ample research and speak to your gynaecologist. Pick creams that boost collagen production in your body, as this will make your skin more elastic and able to stretch without causing scars.
2# Avoid Junk Food Eat
It isn’t just creams that will make your skin healthier and more elastic. Make sure your diet also helps prevent stretch marks by drinking lots of water and eating a balanced diet rich in Vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids. Also make sure you get enough zinc and silica, if not from food then from supplements.
3# Don’t Be A Glutton
Granted that you are going to put on weight because you are pregnant, but that is no excuse to eat for two. No matter what your others tell you, do not eat too much as the faster you gain weight, the more your skin stretches. Pregnant women do need extra calories, but they need these calories coming from the right sources. Ask your doctor about how much weight you should gain and make sure you follow her advice. For reference, here is a simple chart.
12 weeks – gain about 2 to 5 kg
12 to 28 weeks – gain about 1 kg every 2 weeks
28 to 40 weeks – gain about 1 to 2 kg every month
4# Use Specific Creams Post-Pregnancy
If you’ve developed ugly stretch marks even after trying all the above mentioned methods, there is still hope to remove them. Wait until after your body has healed and you have finished breastfeeding and then use prescription creams that have Vitamin A or Retin A.
In the end, sometimes women get stretch marks during pregnancy that can affect their level of confidence later in life. So if you feel these stretch marks are wreaking havoc in your life, go in for surgical laser treatments that will help fade away the marks. Since this is an expensive treatment and is best left as the last resort, we recommend you try a more holistic approach to prevent stretch marks rather than worrying too much once you have had the baby. (inspiration: healthviva.com, image: sify.com))
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