Stretch marks are not harmful. They don’t cause medical problems and there’s certainly no need to see your GP to seek treatment for them. Over time, your skin will shrink and the stretch marks will fade into light-colored scars. However, for most mums, vanity and the desire to have great-looking skin move them to make efforts to counter the appearance of stretch marks. If you are one of them, read on…

Your skin can’t help it

As you put on weight during your pregnancy, the tummy area will gradually stretch further and further, usually causing stretch marks to appear in the sixth or seventh month. In many cases, stretch marks can appear on the thighs, buttocks and on the breasts as they get bigger and heavier.

Although it might seem that every pregnant mum is affected, not everyone gets stretch marks. Doctors think some people get stretch marks because their bodies produce more of the hormone corticosteroid than normal. This hormone decreases the amount of collagen in the skin, and collagen is the protein which keeps our skin fibers stretchy. Most people’s skin need daily help, especially through careful moisturizing, to give it the best chance to survive the nine months as intact as it was. The marks start off as thin, parallel red lines in the dermis (the middle layer of skin). They happen when the skin is stretched over a short period of time, and as time goes on, the skin becomes thin and silvery and may appear scar-like.

Pamper your skin inside and out

Massage your skin everyday! Use a specialized moisturizer formulated for stretch marks for the best results and a massage glove to improve your blood circulation, which encourages new tissue to grow. It is also important to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins; especially vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and silica that help to keep the skin healthy.

Keeping your body hydrated will also help in your efforts to minimize stretch marks. A well-hydrated body will be able to distribute nutrients to your skin and keep it healthy.

Stretch marks treatment creams, lotions and oils

Choose the best stretch marks treatment for yourself and begin your efforts as early as possible, or as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. Soon, you will be in the habit of daily moisturizing. While no treatment product can promise to totally keep stretch marks away, there’s some evidence that frequent use from early on can help reduce the effects by keeping the skin supple, while the action of rubbing in the cream can encourage better circulation too.

Eat your vitamins

Vitamin A, C and E are great for your skin. While vitamin A helps in the repair of skin tissue, vitamin C helps in the production of collagen (an essential component to maintaining elasticity of the skin and regeneration of skin cells). Vitamin E helps keep the skin membranes intact. Also include foods that contain Omega 3 fatty acids into your diet – it will help keep your skin membrane healthy with a natural healthy glow. Foods like spinach, strawberries, nuts, seeds, carrots, sweet potato, mangoes, walnuts and eggs are rich in all these vitamins and are guaranteed to give you healthier skin.

Stay well- hydrated

Ideally, you should drink at least eight glasses of water in a day, but if you find drinking water too staid, you could substitute it with any caffeine-free drinks which will also help hydrate your body sufficiently. You can also include foods with high water content into your diet to stay hydrated and hence help control the formation of stretch marks. Include foods like water melons, strawberries, cucumbers etc into your diet to help your skin stretch easily, keeping stretch marks at bay.

Exercise regularly

Exercise improves circulation, which keeps the skin elastic and more able to stretch as it grows. This improved circulation also reduces the possibility of varicose veins and swollen ankles in pregnancy.

Exfoliate!

Exfoliation is a great way to remove dead skin from the top layers of the skin; allowing new cells to surface. Exfoliation also helps increase circulation in the area and this helps in preventing the formation of stretch marks. Try any one of the following:

Dry brushing

This is a technique where you can use a soft bristled body brush and brush your entire body to rid it of dry and dead skin. The ideal way to do this is to dry brush your skin from the legs towards the heart concentrating on areas that are more prone to stretch marks. After dry brushing immediately have a bath in warm water, and don’t forget to moisturize your skin after that. Also, remember to use a brush with soft bristles and avoid brushing over your breasts as the skin around them is usually very sensitive.

Use a loofah

Scrub your body while having a bath! Just soak or bathe in warm water (as it allows your pores to open and loosen dead skin) and then use a loofah or scrub made of natural fiber to remove dead and dry skin. After the bath remember to apply moisturizer all over yourself to help your skin slowly adapt to the strain of stretching.