Pregnancy Stretch Marks
Understanding how stretch marks occur is the first step you need to take to find yourself an effective treatment. Pregnancy stretch marks are the scar-like lines that you may find running across your belly, thighs, breasts or upper arms after you gain weight during pregnancy. They are white, pink or red in color and often make many moms-to-be feel unattractive and not just quiet the same as before. But, pregnancy stretch marks can be treated. Continue to read on to find out why the skin stretches and how to go about safely treating stretch marks.
How Stretch Marks Happen
The skin is a delicate tissue composed of a thin outer layer and an inner layer of collagen. Collagen along with the protein keratin functions to strengthen the skin and increases the skin's elasticity. When collagen depletes with age it leads to wrinkles, but other factors like weight gain can also damage the skin's layer of collagen.
When a rapid weight gain occurs during pregnancy, the collagen layer breaks. In these breaks, fat accumulates and creates stretch marks on areas of the body that have grown with pregnancy. Area like the pregnant belly and thighs are often affected by pregnancy stretch marks. The breasts also expand with the release colostrums during the late stages of pregnancy to prepare for feeding the baby. Making them prone to stretch marks.
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
Pregnancy stretch marks can be treated by natural or medical treatments. You should pick a treatment that's safe for you and your baby. The effectiveness of any type of treatment will depend on the individual and their skin type. Typically the sooner you start treatment after noticing your stretch marks the better the results. Some treatment options available to remove stretch marks include:
- Moisturizers: When the skin loses its moisture it becomes easily prone to breakage. One of the easiest ways to reduce stretch marks is by replacing the lost nutrients in your skin to keep it healthy and firm. Using cocoa butter lotion is a one natural way you can help treat your pregnancy stretch marks.
- Massage: Nothing works better than a good massage to treat those stubborn stretch marks. By massaging affected areas you can promote new tissue to grow and make the skin look suppler.
- Diet: A diet rich in minerals and proteins can reduce pregnancy stretch marks. Try to munch on healthy fruit snack to avoid gaining unnecessary weight during pregnancy.
- Laser Therapy: Is one medical solution to the problem of pregnancy stretch marks. Although, laser therapy may not completely erase stretch marks, it can definitely help minimize the appearance of stretch marks. You may also want to look into microdermabrasion treatments.
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