How to Prevent Stretch Marks

Though some doctors attribute stretch marks--at least in part--to heredity, there are a few things you can do to help ward off the unsightly marks, even if your mother and your grandmother were unlucky enough to have them. The key is keeping the skin moisturized so that it is prepared to stretch evenly, should it have to. The beginning of a pregnancy is a great time to start a simple regimen to keep stretch marks away, but keeping up a moisturizing routine just in case of a little weight gain is also advisable.

Things You'll Need

• Skin oil
• Skin-firming lotion
• Vitamin E oil

Instructions

1. Add vitamin E oil to your bath water. Just a couple of tablespoons will do wonders for your skin after the very first application. You will feel the difference as your skin will be smoother and more moisturized.

2. Apply a collagen-producing or skin-firming lotion to your skin, or the area of skin you’re concerned about stretching, twice daily. Slather it on generously.

3. Deep condition your skin with the same collagen-producing or skin-firming lotion at night. But after applying it, lie a warm, damp towel over the area to really help the skin absorb the benefits of the lotion.

4. Exfoliate your skin about once a week with a very gentle, fine-grained scrub. This helps slough off old layers of skin, revealing newer, regenerated skin.

5. Massage the skin with a skin oil about once a week. Work the moisturizing agents of the product deep into the skin’s layers aiding in its elasticity and ability to stretch evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose an aromatherapy skin oil for your weekly massages and make a spa experience out of your self-administered rub down.