The minute you find out you are pregnant you know things are going to be changing, from your waist size to those little stretch marks that pop up. Stretch marks are exactly that, red or purple marks left in your skin because it has stretched. The most common areas for it to appear is the buttocks, thighs, stomach, breasts and even arms. 90 percent of all pregnant women will get them, whether they get a lot or a few depends on the body and how they are preventing them.
There are a ton of lotions out there that claim to help prevent stretch marks, such as scar serum, cocoa butter or Maderma. Make sure your skin is always moist, this helps in stretching the skin and not tearing it. There are new discoveries every day, ask your doctor what he/she recommends. Try them out yourself first and see if they work for you. This isn't something you just put on one time during your pregnancy, you'll have to make this a daily effort in order for it to work. That's where most women fail, they just stop doing it.
During your pregnancy try to eat healthy and stay in shape. This can help to keep off any access weight. The recommended weight gain for the average, 25-35 healthy pregnancy is 25-35 pounds. Make sure you drink plenty of water, staying hydrated helps keep the skin healthy. The moment your skin dries out you can begin getting stretch marks.
If you've had one or more children your chances of getting more stretch marks will increase. Your skin has already been stretched out and you are about to do it again. Large babies and multiple babies can increase your chances of getting stretch marks too. Begin using preventing creams and lotions with vitamins A and E in them, as soon as you find out your are pregnant and try to lessen your chances of getting them.
After the pregnancy if you have any stretch marks you may still have a few stretch marks, even after all the care you took. These do fade over time, so don't worry about the way you look. If they are unbearable to you and you've waited a while, you can choose to have a tummy tuck or laser removal. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to see what he/she has to tell you. You may discover that you can live with them after all.
Besides caring for your skin daily and eating right, there isn't much you can do to prevent these beautiful pregnancy marks, however this doesn't mean you don't have to try. Take comfort in knowing that half the woman you know that have been pregnant probably have a mark or two, they may even have a little road map. Think about it as you've just been initiated into the gang of motherhood. No woman should ever feel ashamed of her stretch marks, they may not be the prettiest thing in the world but they do represent one thing?your child. Remember that the next time you are getting disgusted by them.
What exactly are pregnancy stretch marks?
Stretch marks are defined in Dermatology as scar formation on the skin with a silvery white hue. When they first appear on the skin they may be reddish or purple in color but as time passes they gradually fade to a pale white color and the skin in that area is very soft to touch.
Why and where do they occur?
The human skin includes the outer epidermal layer, the inner dermis layer and the subcutaneous stratum. The dermis is the layer that helps the skin retain its shape and the pregnancy stretch marks appear on the dermis as a result of excessive stretching and sudden weight gain. Pregnancy stretch marks may occur on breasts, belly, thighs, upper arms anywhere where fat tends to accumulate.
Various stretch mark treatments are available for stretch marks removal like ointments, the most popular of which is cocoa butter. You may also use Vitamin E oil or other ointments. If the stretch marks are really severe and these treatments do not help, consult your health care specialist, as there are laser treatments, dermabrasion, tretenoin, isotretenoin, adepalin and many such methods are being discovered. It makes sense consulting your health care specialist before applying any lotions for pregnancy stretch marks, as it may be possible that some medications such as steroids or hormones may be causing the stretch marks.
Who is more prone to getting pregnancy stretch marks?
The more elastic your skin is the less prone you are to getting stretch marks
Sudden weight gain may cause stretch marks so eat healthy and cut down that extra fat.
Genetics plays an important part so if your mother got stretch marks it is likely that you would too.
If you are expecting multiples the chances of stretch marks is higher as the belly usually grows larger than other women
In case you developed stretch marks on your breast during puberty you are more likely to develop stretch marks
In case this is your second pregnancy and you had it the first time it is more likely you'll develop them again
If you drink lots of water and eat a nutritious diet you are more likely to avoid serious stretch marks
Pregnancy stretch marks should not be seen as such a big problem that it disturbs your peace of mind and happiness. Don't worry once your baby is born, after a year or so the marks tend to disappear or may appear as light lines. In case you would like to apply ointments like Tretinoin cream it is better to do it after delivery as it may affect your unborn baby. If you are breast-feeding, please consult your doctor before using stretch mark treatments because some treatments for pregnancy stretch marks may be harmful to the breast milk or probably affect the milk supply.
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