Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
More than 80% of pregnant women experience stretch marks during pregnancy. The marks appear on the thighs breasts bottom hips and tummy.
Most stretch marks are purple reddish or pinkish in color while others have brownish coloration. Most of the time the marks appear in the second part of the pregnancy when most of the weight gain occurs.
During pregnancy the hormone relaxin reduces the levels of collagen in the skin creating the perfect situation for the stretch marks to appear. Stretch marks during pregnancy cannot be reduced or limited due to the change of the collagen.
For some women the stretch marks are hereditary while other women get them due to the weight gain from pregnancy.
There are treatments to help the skin elasticity to reduce the potential stretch marks. The treatments include keeping the skin moisturized with cocoa butter aloe Vitamin E and other skin softeners. The key to avoiding the stretch marks is to keep the skins ability to stretch without thinning.
Avoid gaining too much weight. Even though weight gain is part of pregnancy gaining a large amount of weight can be hard on the skin and stretch it to the point of the scaring of the stretch marks. Gradually gain the weight and avoid the tearing of the skin.
Eat a diet rich in protein vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C helps to promote healthy skin. Avoid eating fatty high caloric meals or foods.
Eat more fruits and vegetables in place of the fattening foods leading to weight gain. Keep your body hydrated by drinking eight glasses of water a day. The skin needs the water to stretch properly.
Exercise in limited amounts such as walking and stretching exercises to help keep off any possible extra weight that may be gained. The exercise will also help with the type of delivery so this is a bonus to add to the time you are pregnant.
Stretch marks during pregnancy will fade with time. They will not completely disappear but they will become lighter into a silvery line compared to the reddish lines.
There are treatment surgeries that can be performed to remove the damaged skin or even medication such as Retin-A which will help to diminish the scars.
