6 Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks during Pregnancy

Stretch marks aren’t the end of the world. Prevent Stretch Marks during Pregnancy by following these easy tips.

Most women get stretch marks during the seventh to ninth month of pregnancy. While many women take the ‘tiger stripes’ in their stride some are concerned about getting them and never getting rid of them. There are ways to prevent stretch marks during and post pregnancy but what’s important is to understand it’s a long process and requires regular effort. First, let us understand what are these Stretch Marks?

What are Stretch Marks?

• Stretch marks are tiny tears in the supporting layers of tissue under your skin. When your belly grows and skin is pulled tight to the limit during the last trimester these tears occur.
• Stretch marks have lots to do with genetics: Chances are, if your mother got them, there’s an increased chance that you’ll also develop stretch marks.
• Rapid pregnancy weight gain can also make you more likely to get stretch marks.

While you can’t completely avoid them, there are tried and tested tricks to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and postpartum.

Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Stay Hydrated

Water detoxifies your body and flushes toxins out of your skin. Well hydrated skin improves the elasticity of skin. Drinking around 3 litres of water during pregnancy helps to prevent stretch marks. You can also add fruits with high water content in your diet during pregnancy if you don’t find drinking plain water exciting. Eat watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers to keep yourself hydrated.

Improve Skin Elasticity

Our skin elasticity is at its best when we are young and we lose that elasticity as we age. Improving skin’s elasticity helps to prevent stretch marks. However, improving the elasticity of skin is depended as much on your food intake as on the products you use.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E works inside your skin like an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicles before they harm the skin cells. Foods like sunflower seeds, wheat germ, peanuts, almonds, are good dietary sources. Vitamin E supplements work equally good

Vitamin C – Vitamin C helps to produce collagen and elastin. Include foods like peppers, oranges or other citrus fruits to improve your Vitamin C intake.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D is vital for growth of new skin cells that hold moisture and improves skin’s elasticity. Foods like fish, cheese egg yolk are good dietary sources of Vitamin D.

Supplements – Include biotin, niacin or Vitamin E supplements in your diet

Massage with oil and firming lotions – Instead of investing in the expensive creams and oils sold as magic cure for stretch marks, invest in time to moisturize your skin. Daily moisturizing and massaging the belly will hydrate the skin keeping dryness and itchy skin at bay. Areas like your belly, lower back, thighs and legs undergo maximum stress during the third trimester of your pregnancy. Massage these areas with moisturizers which has cocoa butter or Vitamin E or shea butter or aloe vera to improve the elasticity. Moisturise the skin with generous amount of coconut oil and prevent stretch marks.

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Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Avoid using skin products that contain sulfates. Sulfate dries out the skin and reduces skin’s elasticity over time. Use cleansers and bodywash with natural oils that hydrate your skin.

 Exercise

Exercise helps to improve blood circulation which results in improved skin elasticity. Exercising during pregnancy will also help to maintain a good pregnancy weight.

Watch your Weight

Many women have a misconception that during pregnancy you need to eat more and put on weight. Eating for two doesn’t mean eating twice the amount. Watch your weight, a sudden increase in weight impacts the skin and its elasticity.

Eat Right

Skin is the largest organ in our body and the health of skin depends quite a lot on what goes inside the body than what we apply on it. A balanced meal during your pregnancy will not only help the growing baby with enough nutrients and vitamins but also improve the skin. Include foods rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and omega 3s to improve skin health and prevent stretch marks.

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