How To Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks
Pregnancy stretch marks or striae gravidarum affect between 50% and 90% of pregnant women. These skin disorders happen when their skin is stretched beyond its elasticity. When the skin is over stretched, tiny tears develop in the dermis which supports the skin. This also indicates the separation of collagen from the skin.
Stretch marks and pregnancy do have a relationship. Usually stomach is the first place where stretch marks develop. Other areas that are prone to stretch marks include breasts, buttocks, hips, and thigh. The occurrence of stretch marks depends on several factors such as:
Getting rid of stretch marks after pregnancy may require expensive procedure such as laser surgery. It is better that you avoid stretch marks during pregnancy by using lotions or creams that contain safe and natural ingredients such as cocoa butter. Women around the world have been using cocoa butter for hundreds of years. Originally, some women would cut cocoa beans and rub them on their stomachs to prevent striae gravidarum. You can do the same by massaging it on the areas that likely to develop stretch marks. Doctors in the United States recommend cocoa butter for scars and stretch marks as it is rich but not greasy.
You may heard of Retin A cream in prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy. Usually it is not recommended for mothers who are breastfeeding. Although many people have success with it in reducing their stretch marks but it will not get rid of stretch marks permanently.
Apart from using creams for pregnancy stretch marks, gaining the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy is the another good prevention. An ideal weight gain should be between 25 and 34 pounds. If your weight increase more than the recommended guideline, the chances of developing stretch marks increase.
Preventing pregnancy stretch marks before they become severe is the best strategy. Hopefully the above advice may help you. Additionally, you can consult your dermatologists to suggest some home products that are safe for you to use during pregnancy. If you already have these marks, then check with them on how to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy.