It is natural for stretch marks to appear during pregnancy. These are usually caused either by a lack of elasticity of the skin, or because the necessary care is not taken to prevent them. Here I will explain what they are, why they appear during pregnancy and how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are characterised by lines or stripes that appear on the skin, similar in appearance to scars. They usually appear from the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy onwards.
Why do they appear during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, women undergo hormonal, immunological and vascular changes. These are noticeably manifested in the skin. Hormonal changes lead to dryness, facial blemishes, cellulite and irritation in certain areas of the body.
Stretch marks usually appear during pregnancy as a result of the breakdown of skin tissue fibres. This rupture, in turn, is due to excessive stretching of the skin and weight gain during pregnancy. However, the mother’s genetic predisposition is also an important factor, as it can determine the activity of the adrenal gland and thus make her more prone to stretch marks. Stretch marks are usually pink, pearly or white in colour.
Tips to prevent stretch marks
Some tips to keep in mind when it comes to preventing the appearance of stretch marks are:
- Implement routines, from the first months of pregnancy, that focus exclusively on moisturising the skin. It is advisable to moisturise the skin twice a day, thus ensuring that the skin retains its natural elasticity. In this way, the skin is prepared to resist the changes that may occur during pregnancy. It is even advisable to maintain the routine after the baby is born. The products that help to maintain good hydration are: creams, natural oils and water.
- One way to achieve this necessary hydration is with the use of creams containing vitamin A, D and E or anti-stretch mark creams, as they are composed of substances that help in the formation of elastic fibres and the production of collagen.
- Natural oils, in turn, also help to maintain a high level of skin hydration, conserve the body’s natural water and relieve skin tension. A way to keep the skin constantly hydrated is to carry a small bottle of cream or oil with you. One of the oils that helps the most in this respect is rosehip oil.
- The other form of hydration, and one that achieves results from within the body, rather than through the application of external products, is to drink copious amounts of water.
- Exercise, as sport is the best ally for a toned and healthy body, which will help prevent micro-tears on the skin. Another way to tone the skin and stimulate circulation is to carry out circular massages in the areas where stretch marks are most likely to appear, for example: chest, hips, thighs and stomach.
- Maintain a healthy diet. The health of both mother and baby may depend on the diet of the mother. Protein-rich nutrients, such as fish, meats rich in vitamin A, C and magnesium, will help maintain good muscle tone.
- Avoid treatments containing retinol-A, as this component is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Did you find our tips on how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy useful, did you already know them, do you know of any essential ones that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know all this and more in the comments.
