What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are one of the banes of pregnancy, along with morning sickness, Constipation, and weird cravings! While most women experience stretch marks at some point during their pregnancies, that does not mean that they are popular or that anyone wants them.

When a woman’s stomach stretches during pregnancy, sometimes the stretch marks show up in the appearance of red or purplish streaks. What determines stretch marks? There are many factors, including how moisturized a woman’s skin is, how much weight she gains, and how fast she gains that weight.

How To Avoid Stretch Marks

There are a few ways that pregnant women can try to avoid stretch marks. First of all, try to pay attention to how much weight you gain, as well as how fast you gain that weight. This is one of the only things that can prevent stretch marks, not gaining too much weight, and gaining weight at a normal weight.

Most women gain between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds during their pregnancy. This is normal, but gaining much more weight than this can lead to more stretch marks. Try to follow your doctor’s guidance as to how much weight you should gain during each trimester of your pregnancy. Try to eat a well-balanced and healthy diet and avoid too much junk food or processed foods.

Magic Prevention For Stretch Marks?

So, is there really a magical prevention method for stretch marks? Not really, according to experts. A good idea is to keep your skin hydrated as much as possible during pregnancy, but even that is not a guarantee.

You can also make sure to eat a diet full of vitamins and minerals that are known to improve skin, such as foods containing antioxidants, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Also, make sure to stay hydrated as much as possible since water can help you to keep your skin moisturized and may in turn prevent stretch marks.

You might also want to learn more about the practice of “dry brushing” to reduce the appearance of stretch marks that you already have as well as a preventative measure to keep them from appearing in the future. Dry brushing uses a stiff, natural bristle brush to help exfoliate the skin.

 The Bottom Line

The fact of the matter is that many women hate their stretch marks, and there really isn’t much you can do about them. There are hundreds of dollars of different creams and lotions out there that can promise to prevent or take away your stretch marks, but there are no guarantees that they will work.

Also, make time for exercise even after your baby is born to keep yourself in good shape. While there is no real prevention for stretch marks, at least you will be able to keep your body in good shape. And remember that many stretch marks fade over time and can go away almost completely.