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Common during pregnancy, stretch marks can affect 50-90% of pregnant women. They also can target non-pregnant women (even men) such as body builders, athletes, adolescents undergoing quick growth spurts, in fact anyone who experiences periods of rapid growth or weight gain.
The majority of stretch marks appear on a woman’s stomach from about 6 months onward when her belly is rapidly growing to accommodate her growing baby and her skin is stretched to its limit. Some women may also get stretch marks buttocks, thighs, hips, upper arms, lower back or breasts. Stretch marks tend to be appear in areas that store the most fat and thus have the most capacity to stretch.
Many factors influence whether you will get stretch marks or not. Genetics play a major role in whether or not you will get stretch marks. So if your mother or sister got stretch marks during pregnancy you too are more likely to get them. Besides genetics, other influencescauses include: ethnicity/skin tone (fair-skinned women will get them more), nutritional history (a healthy diet helps skin to stretch better), skin condition (dry skin usually is less elastic than well nourished skin) and the amount of weight gained during pregnancy (and how quickly).
Improve the Stretch Mark Problem
Preventative procedures will help reduce the degree of pregnancy stretch marks you experience after birth. Gaining no more than the advised amount of weight and gaining it gradually may help reduce your chances of getting them. When you gain weight excessively or rapidly you are likely to make the problem worse and have more in the end.
Try to keep your skin well-moisturized beginning in the first trimester, this may help to prevent stretch marks. A nourishing lotion, oil or cream applied on a daily and nightly basis will moisturize your skin (and also reduce itching!). There are many products especially for stretch mark prevention that contain ingredients such as vitamin E, vitamin A, emu oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil and lanolin. Regular moisturizing definitely helps to keep your skin elastic, however has limited effectiveness in actually preventing the marks.
A healthy diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens is essential. This will help keep your developing baby healthy and your skin strong and supple. Foods high in vitamins C and E, zinc and silica will help skin stretch and then bounce back after the birth. By taking prenatal vitamins and drinking loads of water you are also helping your baby and your skin.
Unfortunately stretch marks are permanent and very don’t often disappear. It is fortunate howver that stretch marks tend to become considerably less noticeable over time naturally and eventually become a few shades lighter than your skin tone. There are also many creams available that will help fade stretch marks, that you may like to try.
