How to Lessen the Risk of Pregnancy Stretch Marks

As your stomach swells to accommodate the life that is growing inside you, there is often a concern about the unsightly stretch marks that can and do web across the stretching skin of a woman’s abdomen, breast, hips, thighs and buttocks during pregnancy. Stretch marks, also called striae gravidarum, are a form of skin scarring that occurs in the dermis layer of the skin. It is due to a lack of elasticity in the skin, which then causes reddish purple streaking that will fade to noticeable white or silvery lines. Since weight gain is a contributing factor associated with stretch marks, it is difficult to truly eliminate the risk, but there are measures you can take to lessen the risk for stretch marks. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aloe vera
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Vitamin E

1. Gain weight gradually during your pregnancy. The range of weight gain for someone who is in their normal weight range is 25 to 35 pounds during a pregnancy. For someone who is already overweight, the weight gain range should be 15 to 25 pounds. Still, all weight gain should be gradual so that the skin can comfortably adjust as you grow.

2. Keep yourself adequately hydrated. Drinking water will help replenish your cells and body with the proper amount of hydration, which will also keep your skin supple and healthy.

3. Reduce empty calories from your diet. A diet that is full of unnecessary calories that are high in saturated fats will cause you to gain weight more rapidly and possibly contribute to more weight gain than needed.

4. Exercising will help your skin remain supple and retain a good amount of turgor, which will help your skin go back into shape after the pregnancy.

5. Smooth aloe vera on areas of skin that are known to give way to stretch marks. This can help regenerate healthy skin cells and minimize the appearance of scarring.

6. Applying grapefruit seed extract will help to restore damaged collagen and elastin that is found in skin.

7. Massage Vitamin E into the skin. Vitamin E helps repair damaged and scarring skin by contributing to the replenishing of healthy new skin cells.

Tips & Warnings

• Most remedies that are used to lessen the risk for stretch marks are not cures and full-proof. Stretch marks are hereditary, which means that if your mother had them chances are you will too. Also, naturally blonde and fare skinned women are more prone to getting stretch marks. However, the above steps are good ways to improve the overall health of your skin and that can minimize the risk and severity.

[kimberlyodneal]

on 3/3/2008 Thanks your article was helpful.