Stretch Marks: Causes and Treatments

21.08.2020

During pregnancy I got a lot of questions about products that help me to cope with stretch marks. I didn’t tell anything about that before as I wanted to see the result myself. Now I’m ready to share my experience and products that have perfectly worked for me. But first of all, let’s find out what stretch marks are and what causes them.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are indented streaks in your skin that can be red, purple or silver. They mostly appear on the:

stomach
chest
hips
bottom
thighs

What causes stretch marks?

During pregnancy your hormones can soften the fibres of the skin and make it more prone to stretch marks. They can appear on your belly while your baby grows and your skin stretches. Your thighs and breasts also become bigger so these parts are also prone to stretch marks. The process of stretch marks appearing and forming is different for everyone. The may appear due to pregnancy, puberty, breast implant surgery, bodybuilding, having a personal or family history of stretch marks, using corticosteroid medication, etc. Keep in mind that they aren’t harmful and don’t cause any medical problems.

Tips to prevent stretch marks

1.Be active
It has been well said that movement is life. It helps not only be healthy but also manages your weight. Of course, it mustn’t be highly intensive training. No. Choose the activity that fits you most. It can be walking in the evening, something relaxing like yoga or even 30-minutes housecleaning, why not?

2.Eat a nutrient-rich diet
One of the reasons why stretch marks occur in certain areas is a lack of nutrients. So if you eat foods that boost your skin health, it might be very helpful. Try to include in your diet foods that are rich in vitamins C, D and E, zinc and protein.
Vitamin C actually is an important nutrient for collagen development. It is collagen that plays a vital role in keeping your skin elastic, strong and healthy. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and at the same time it helps prevent stretch marks. So don’t forget to eat more citrus fruits.

3.Drink more water
Water is very helpful if you want to keep your skin hydrated and soft. The softer your skin is, the less it is prone to develop stretch marks. Try not to drink too much caffeinated beverages as they may increase the risk of developing stretch marks.

4.Try to control your weight
It is very important to maintain a healthy weight. The most simple explanation why stretch marks appear is just due to very quick skin extending as you gain weight. If you manage to control body changes and weight gain itself, it’ll be much easier for you to cope with stretch marks.

5.Expose yourself to sun
Some studies show that maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D may also reduce the risk of stretch marks. And the best way is to expose yourself to the sun. The vitamin is also may be found in bread, cereal, and dairy products like milk or yogurt.

6.Treat fresh stretch marks as soon as they appear
If you are prone to stretch marks, you can’t totally prevent them. But you can minimize their appearance. If you have fresh stretch marks, you’d better make an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss your options.
He will help you determine the causes of your marks and suggest the most suitable treatment.
The main thing you need to remember is that you certainly mustn’t itch stretch marks. Just apply some cream or oil on them.

What did I do to prevent my skin from stretch marks?

During pregnancy I used one of my favorite products by Clarins that is Tonic Body Treatment Oil. In nine months I used just 2 units of it whereas I applied it on my belly, chest and hips twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. I also applied C+C Vitamin Body Cream by Natura Bisse and used my favorite Anti-Age Talasso-Scrub by Collistar. And of course, I cannot but mention the body cream that I have been using for several years already. That is Xemose Cerat Relipidant Anti-Irritations by Uriage.