7 Effective Tips To Prevent and Fade Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
Stretch marks are a super common occurrence in pregnancy and they become especially noticeable in the third trimester. What can you do to prevent or treat stretch marks during pregnancy? This post outlines some effective tips.
Did you know, 90% of all pregnant ladies get stretch marks? Are you worried about how to prevent stretch marks during your pregnancy?
Whether or not you get stretch marks during pregnancy has to do with your genetics, but it is also about skin elasticity.
While we may not be able to do anything about genetics, there are definitely a few things you can do about your skin elasticity to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy or make them fade easily if they have already started appearing.
What are stretch marks and what causes them in pregnancy?
Stretch marks are long, thin lines that appear on the skin due to the skin suddenly stretching or shrinking. For instance, during pregnancy, as your baby grows, your skin will stretch in your midsection and possibly leave you with stretch marks.
Other areas where stretch marks are likely to appear include thighs and hips, breasts, arms, and buttocks.
Most people will start noticing stretch marks in the third trimester of pregnancy but for some, they may come earlier.
Stretch marks are neither painful nor harmful and it is possible that, given time, they may fade away on their own. However, sometimes they can be itchy. Stretch marks can also impact one’s self-esteem in some cases as they lead some women to become more self-conscious about their bodies.
Thus, while for some people their pregnancy stretch marks are badges of honor, which they wear proudly, for others, stretch marks are an inconvenience and may even take a toll on their mental health.
Whichever side of the divide you belong to, your feelings are valid mama.
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Products that can help you prevent or treat stretch marks
You don’t have to endure having stretch marks on your body helplessly. In addition to lifestyle adjustments, there are several great products in the market that can help you both prevent and treat stretch marks.
In the meantime, here is a quick list of top products that can help you prevent and treat stretchmarks and restore your flawless skin. I used the Palmer’s Cocoa butter stretch mark and pregnancy skin care kit for my second pregnancy and got minimal stretch marks. Feel free to click on the links or scroll further down the post to get more details on these products.
- Bio Oil
- Palmers Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Lotion
- Mustela Stretch Marks Cream for Pregnancy
- Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter
- Earth Mama Belly butter
- Glow Organics Belly Butter
Read on.
In addition to using amazing products, you can work on your skin from the inside out to prevent stretch marks and gain other wellness benefits in the process. Let’s see how.
Related: 11 Must-Have Pregnancy Items For Every Expecting Mom
7 Effective Ways To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
1. A Balanced diet
A nutritious and balanced diet is essential for the growth of your baby. What you eat has a direct effect on how your skin will look.
The right vitamins and nutrients in your diet will go a long way in boosting your skin’s health and helping you prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
Vitamin C is responsible for strong and elastic skin, which prevents your skin from breaking. Oranges, lemons, and spinach are some of the most common sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin B2 is found in meat and dairy products, and vitamin B3 is found in chicken breasts and liver. These are responsible for maintaining healthy skin.
Foods rich in zinc such as fish, lamb, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts, play a key role in reducing inflammation and skin damage.
You can also talk to your doctor about the best prenatal vitamins to take to help you supplement these nutrients in your body.
2. Drink Enough Water
Drinking an adequate amount of water cannot be over-emphasized. Experts recommend drinking eight to 12 glasses of water per day.
For some, this is easy, but for those of us who struggle with taking two liters of water per day; keeping a bottle of water with you at all times might help. This motivational bottle is an excellent choice to keep you sipping through the day.
Staying hydrated translates to having softer skin. Softer skin is less likely to break, is less tight, and is less itchy. Flawless skin is not the only benefit you get from taking water.
Other benefits of drinking water include;
- Lowering the risk of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
- Formation of amniotic fluid
- Building new tissues
- Helps with digestion
- Elimination of toxins
Remember not to substitute water with other beverages. For instance, caffeine, which is a mild diuretic can increase the risk of developing stretch marks. But if that craving kicks in and you cannot help it, drink more water.
3. Rays of sunshine
Vitamin D from the sun’s rays helps reduce stretch marks by rejuvenating the skin.
If yours is an autumn or winter pregnancy, worry not, you can take the following foods that are rich in vitamin D;
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cereals
While soaking in the sunshine, take caution that you do not expose your skin to excess sunlight. Darkened stretch marks and premature skin aging can be a result of direct sunlight.
If you are worried about UV rays damaging your skin, ensure you are wearing your sunscreen whenever you are enjoying the outdoors.
4. Regular exercise
While pregnant, a lot of the time you may feel like you do not have the energy to get out of bed and leave alone to do some exercise. However, exercises help with circulation and improve skin elasticity.
Collagen, which can be produced when you exercise is responsible for strong and elastic skin.
When stretching occurs slowly and progressively, the skin will not break – meaning no stretch marks.
Apart from preventing stretch marks, exercises will greatly improve your energy levels, the risk of developing varicose veins is reduced, and it just might be the answer to those swollen ankles!
Some of the exercises you can engage in during your pregnancy include; swimming, yoga, and walking.
Before engaging in any kind of exercise during pregnancy, consult with your healthcare practitioner for a go-ahead.
5. Weight control
Stretch marks are a result of your skin being pulled too quickly; rapid weight gain will cause this.
Although you will certainly have to gain weight during pregnancy, with the help of a medical practitioner, you can monitor and control the amount of weight and the rate at which you gain during your pregnancy journey.
It is possible to give your body and the baby, the right nutrients while keeping your pregnancy weight in check.
6. Gently massage the belly
Oil massages help to increase circulation, and break down scar tissues. Almond oil, vitamin E, coconut oil, and olive oil are some of the oils you can use to moisturize your skin.
These oils will keep your skin hydrated and supple. They work by providing a layering effect on the skin leaving it hydrated and protected.
To fully benefit from this, moisturize two to three times per day for up to 30 seconds. It is advisable to do this from as early as when you find out you are expectant and throughout your pregnancy.
Pay special attention to areas where you are more prone to developing stretch marks like the hips and lower tummy area.
7. Best creams and lotions to prevent and fade stretch marks during pregnancy
Stretch marks creams and lotions are also useful in both preventing and treating stretch marks during pregnancy. Utilizing these stretch mark products early can help you minimize the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy and even eliminate them completely.
When looking for stretch mark creams and lotions, look out for the following key ingredients; cocoa butter, Shea butter, vitamin E, vitamin A, aloe, and sunflower.
Creams and products containing the following products should be avoided since research has shown they are harmful to your unborn child or your nursing infant: retinol, parabens, formaldehyde, and phthalates.
Bearing in mind the Ingredients used, the scent, cost, and skin type, here are some of the top stretch mark creams and lotions to restore your flawless skin during pregnancy;
1. Bio-Oil
Bio-Oil is like the mother of stretchmark creams. Apart from preventing and clearing the appearance of stretch marks, it also reduces scarring, blemishes, and acne.
2. Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage oil
What stands out with this cream is that it is cost-effective since it can be used to moisturize the whole body. It is absorbed well; hence your skin is well hydrated.
3. Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream for Pregnancy
Plant-based ingredients make up 96% of this velvety cream. Using this cream will improve your skin elasticity hence preventing stretch marks.
4. Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter Stretchmarks Cream
99% of its ingredients are natural. This butter is best suited for sensitive skin. It is absorbed quickly, and nourishes stretched skin.
5. Earth Mama Belly Butter
The main ingredients used are aloe and Shea butter. This cream relieves itchy skin and does not stain clothes. The thing I love about this Earth Mama butter is that it uses organic herbs and oils to naturally increase the elasticity of your skin and hence prevent stretchmarks during pregnancy.
6. Glow Organics 100 % Organic Belly butter
If you have a sensitive nose, this is for you. The natural ingredients used, create a subtle scent. It also soothes itchy skin. It is a great butter for increasing skin elasticity to prevent stretchmarks during pregnancy while leaving your skin firm.
Bottom line
The right diet, staying hydrated, keeping your skin supple, exercising, and using high-quality stretch mark creams and lotions will go a long way in preventing and minimizing the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.
If you have existing stretch marks, hold your head up since these are a testimony of what your body had to endure to bring forth life.
How long it will take for the stretch mark creams and lotions to fade existing stretch marks varies from one person to another. With consistent use, stretch marks will eventually fade in six to twelve months. So, if it feels like the products are not working fast enough, don’t give up yet; it is just a matter of time before you see the results.
Hang in there, you are beautiful.
