Treating Pregnancy Stretch Marks

One of the things that women most dread about pregnancy is the possibility of scars developing as their skin stretches and tears to accommodate their new baby. For a lot of women, it is highly important to begin treating pregnancy stretch marks as soon as they notice them, which has led to an increase in women looking for treatments that are safe to use whilst pregnant.



During pregnancy, whether you will develop stretch marks or not can generally be determined by a few factors:


Genetics: if your mother or sister developed stretch marks during their pregnancies, it is likely you will too.


Multiples: if you are carrying more than one baby (twins, triplets, quadruplets, and so on).


Fluid: having larger than normal amounts of amniotic fluid has also been linked to pregnancy stretch mark development.


Size:carrying a larger than normal baby can also increase your chances of developing scars.

If you fit into any of the above categories, it is likely that you will want to find out some treatments that are suitable for pregnancy stretch marks.

Water

By drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, you are helping to keep your skin hydrated. This, in turn, helps your skin to stay strong and renew itself when it becomes damaged.

Food

By eating foods that are rich in Vitamin E (such as greens, almonds, spinach and even papaya), you will help your skin to stay firm and taut. This is because Vitamin E is an essential ingredient in collagen production and, the stronger the collagen in our bodies is, the less likely to develop pregnancy stretch marks.

Weight

If you can, try to avoid gaining too much weight or gaining a lot of weight in short bursts. By gaining the recommended amount of weight at a steady pace during pregnancy, you can help to prevent it from tearing.

Exercise

By completing around thirty minutes of mild to moderate exercise per day (such as yoga, walking or swimming), you will be promoting healthy circulation in your body. This also helps in promoting healthy skin.

Moisturizer

By applying a moisturizer or pregnancy stretch mark cream to the affected areas (commonly stomach, hips, breasts and thighs), you will help to keep your skin hydrated and ease some of the itching that scars develop.

Oils

Do not apply any oils to your skin during the first trimester of your pregnancy. In the second trimester and until birth, only stick to ‘safe’ essential oils (such as mandarin, lavender, sweet almond, jojoba, calendula, chamomile, neroli, sweet orange, grapeseed and wheatgerm) and only apply them on the odd occasion.