Do You Really Want To Prevent Stretch Marks?
Most women are keenly aware of the ugly, discoloured scarring known as stretch marks. As a matter of fact, there is an entire beauty industry centred on the removal of these unsightly skin defects. But what about stretch mark prevention?
You may be wondering if it is just a myth or whether a person can really do something to prevent stretch marks from developing. Clinical studies tend to be inconclusive in this area, but a large number of women have learned through personal experience that certain preventive actions can help minimize the risk of getting stretch marks.
These actions are detailed below and should be seriously considered by any woman that wishes to take a proactive approach in the fight against stretch marks. But first, let’s take a look at the real cause of stretch marks.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
The surface of the skin is generally fairly elastic, but when it is stretched beyond its capacity, damage can result. It is usually during periods of rapid weight gain and subsequent loss that you are at the greatest risk of developing stretch marks.
– Pregnancy
– Weight training
– Rapid weight gain and loss
– Growth spurts in teens
During these periods of physiological change, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. It should be noted that collagen is an important protein, with an essential role in providing pliability and elasticity to your skin. As a result of this disruption, the skin loses some elasticity and when stretched beyond its limits, white or red scars may appear. These scars are what are traditionally known as stretch marks.
Will a Stretch Mark Prevention Program Really Help?
Obviously, if you had a choice, you would agree that it is preferable to prevent stretch marks from developing in the first place, rather than trying to treat them after the fact. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed method of preventing stretch marks, even though there are a number of products on the market that will make this claim. It is just not true.
The good news is that there are products that are proven effective in increasing the elasticity of the skin. It is believed that these natural creams and oils prevent stretch marks by attacking their root causes – loss of elasticity and sudden trauma through over-stretching. To increase the effectiveness of these products, it is recommended that they be used as part of an overall skin conditioning program.
So, to help give you a jump starts with your stretch mark prevention program, a number of helpful tips are provided below:
Tip #1
If you are thinking about getting pregnant, or are presently in the mother-to-be state, try starting an exercise program. Continue this regimen throughout your pregnancy and it should help in reducing a lot of the stretch marks that may have developed naturally during the process. An exercise program works by helping you to limit your weight gain and, therefore, limit the trauma and overstretching of your affected skin. Of course, before you start any exercise program, please check with your doctor.
Tip #2
Try using natural stretch mark products that inherently have the exceptional ability to increase the skin’s elasticity. Products made with cocoa butter and other natural ingredients are your best bet. Many women who have endured pregnancy swear to the effectiveness of this method.
Tip #3
To supplement stretch mark creams and oils, you should consider using a body brush to massage the affected areas where you want to prevent stretch marks from forming.
This is usually on the thighs, breasts, buttocks, and arms. This extra effort helps increase the circulation to the skin and helps the absorption of the cream into the affected area.
Tip #4
If you are on a diet, moderation is the ‘keyword’. A diet encouraging slow weight loss will minimize trauma to the skin and allow the skin to better adjust to the weight changes. This will help reduce the likelihood of stretch marks.
At the end of the day, there really is no single fail-safe method to prevent the formation of stretch marks. But a stretch mark prevention program, based on a combination of natural stretch mark products and the helpful tips provided above, should dramatically increase your odds of reducing or eliminating stretch mark development. Give it a try – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Over Counter Stretch Mark Prevention Cream
Once you stop using the cream the marks return. Some doctors offer laser treatments–Aramis Quantel–to reduce the appearance permanently.
By following a few of these natural treatments you can help avoid getting stretch marks on the skin especially when pregnant.
Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
Many women who are pregnant are often concerned that they will get very bad stretch marks on the body. Here are a few tips on how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy: It is important to always keep your skin moisturized and never let it become dry. Using a good moisturizer daily must be done to avoid getting this type of marks on the body. The most common parts of the body where best over the counter stretch mark removal cream stretch marks appear are the breasts and stomach. Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is also helpful in preventing stretch marks. Eat foods that contain Vitamin C, E and zinc. These types of Vitamins help the growth of elastin and collagen in the skin.
This is where pregnant people belong. Extreme stretching of the skin is caused by gaining a large amount of weight in a short period of time. Aside from pregnant women people affected are body builders and adolescents that have gone through rapid growth spurts.
Fast weight gain generally occurs amongst youngsters because they hit puberty or with bodybuilders once they more than train in mixture with dietary supplements. So how are you able to eliminate these scars? Nicely scars could be extremely difficult to get rid of simply because it’s this kind of a deep damage within the pores and skin tissue. Surgery and laser remedies are probably the quickest options even though it’s really expensive. Utilizing a great stretch mark elimination cream is really a extremely good solution however it does take time.
The Lux Laser is the only U. S. Food & Drug Administration-approved laser for treating stretch marks. The laser is handheld allowing a physician or aesthetician to target the get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy stretch marks.
It alters the physical properties of the membrane which affects the regulation of membrane proteins:
One should also include food rich in vitamin K in one’s diet.
In order to keep your skin healthy and pliable during pregnancy feed your skin good and keep your skin moisturized.
It is a fact that even boys and girls who have reached the stage of puberty will get stretch marks.
Exercise For Stretch Marks Prevention
As we all know, stretch marks are an inconvenience at best and emotionally crippling at worse. So, anything we can do to prevent them or at least minimize the severity, is well worth consideration. While they are not yet completely understood, stretch marks develop in the dermis due to a combination of fluctuating hormone levels and physical stress on the skin.
Hormone flux is known to hamper the fibroblast cells in the dermis from creating sufficient collagen and elastin to maintain smooth even skin, while pressures from rapid growth produce physical stress on certain areas of the body to produce stretch marks.
While we can’t do too much about hormone levels, especially during pregnancy, we can take steps to control pregnancy weight gain.
When pregnant, we want to gain weight, but we want to gain weight from the growth of our baby and minimize excess deposits of fat on the belly, hips, thighs, breasts, and butt. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to ensure gradual healthy weight gain.
There are a number of good exercise activities for pregnant women that are healthy, gentle, and even relaxing. Here is a list of some of our favourites.
1. Yoga
Yoga is an excellent form of exercise for stretch marks, and one that helps to relieve stress in addition to preventing weight gain.
There are numerous prenatal yoga classes around just for pregnant women. Not only is it good exercise, but it’s a good chance to get out and chat with other moms-to-be.
A word of caution: avoid the “hot” varieties of yoga unless you’re experienced. Overheating is easier to do when pregnant and could lead to heat exhaustion.
2. Tai Chi
Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art performed in slow deliberate motions, is another gentle form of exercise for pregnant women. Like yoga, it can be done with a group or alone. It keeps the body limber, reduces stress, and increases blood flow throughout the body.
3. Swimming
Swimming is another favourite for many pregnant women. There is obviously no impact and in the third trimester when most women really feel the uncomfortable weight of their baby belly, floating in a pool takes the pressure off and feels fantastic.
4. Strength Training
Strength training is a good low impact workout that tones and strengthens the muscles. It’s a good idea to start with light weights and higher repetitions. Avoid any straining with heavy weights and always use good technique – slow and deliberate movements.
5. Low Impact Aerobics
Anything that gets your heart rate elevated and gets you moving will only help your overall health and well-being. While pregnant, and especially if you are new to exercise, keep it low impact. There are a number of low impact aerobic classes at local recreation centres and gyms that cater to expecting moms.
As added motivation, if you sign up for a class, it’s easier to work into your schedule because you know when and where. As well, you’re more motivated to exercise since you’ve committed to attend the class.
6. Walking or Running
Walking is an underrated form of exercise. It’s great for blood flow, bones, joints, and the cardiovascular system. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and half an hour a day.
If you ran consistently before becoming pregnant, you should be able to continue running in the first and second trimesters. Consult with your physician about running in the third trimester or consider walking instead.
Tips For Starting A Pregnancy Exercise Program
Before starting any new exercise program when pregnant, be sure to consider the following:
1. Consult Your Physician
If you’re a regular exercise and there are no complications with your pregnancy, it should be all right for you to continue. If you’re just starting a program, check with your healthcare provider and let her know you intend to begin an exercise program.
2. Warm Up and Cool Down
Exercise is more strenuous when pregnant – your body is already busy growing a baby. Take 5 or 10 minutes for a good warm up and cool down. A warm up will prepare your heart rate and muscles, easing you into the workout. A cool down will ease your heart rate back down to normal and help avoid sore muscles the next day.
3. Keep It Gentle
Don’t overdo it and exercise to exhaustion. The goal is gentle movement to maintain good blood flow throughout the body. Listen to your body. If it hurts, you’re pushing too hard.
As well, avoid sports such as mountain biking, rollerblading, surfing, climbing, skiing, etc. Any sport where there is greater potential to fall at speed and sustain serious injury – especially in the second and third trimester when your centre of gravity is changing.
4. Eat Enough Calories
Exercise burns more calories, so it’s essential to take in extra. Again, it’s important to listen to your body and it’s never truer than when you are pregnant. If you’re constantly hungry and craving for certain foods, you probably need the calories. Your physician will help you monitor your weight as your pregnancy progresses.
5. Stay Hydrated – Drink Plenty of Water
Drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Dehydration can increase the chances of overheating (bad for you and baby) especially when your metabolism is already in overdrive. In addition to the regular eight to ten glasses of water per day, take in at least an extra glass or two before and after exercise.
How to Prevent Stretch Marks Caused by Weightlifting
There are many individuals who want to know how to prevent stretch marks caused by weightlifting. Stretch marks are preventable. Stretch marks are unappealing site to the skin. There are several causes that produce stretch marks in the skin and one of this is caused by weightlifting. Below are some of the methods that you can do on how to prevent stretch marks caused by weightlifting.
Water
Drink plenty of water every day especially during workouts. Water helps in lubricating your muscles, to avoid muscle strain. It also helps in the proper blood circulation by helping in attaining the right level of the blood viscosity. When blood circulation function well, it will make your skin glow and smooth.
Eat Healthy
Feed your body with nutrient dense foods. Avoid high caloric junk foods. Eat foods that are high in calcium, minerals and vitamins, especially those that contains vitamin A, E and C. These food groups are good for the maintenance of cellular of your skin and it helps in the elasticity of your skin.
Exercise Moderately
Much as you want to gain muscles, doing it rapidly without proper planning can caused your skin breakage, allowing the formation of stretch marks in some of your body parts. Stretch marks that are caused by weightlifting are more noticeable in the arms, chest, and waist, hips, back of the legs, thighs, and abdomen. When you do weightlifting exercises start with lighter weights and increase slowly the weight so that your system can adopt and adjust the changes of your muscles without putting your cellular skin at risk.
Moisturize Daily
Keep your skin moisturize. Look for lotions that contain cocoa butter. The cocoa butter is a great moisturizing agent. It can penetrate deeply the skin. It keeps your skin supple and pliable so the skin goes with the muscle movement. Apply moisturizer on your skin twice a day or as much as needed.
Exfoliate
Do skin exfoliation twice a week. Getting rid of your dry dead skin, gives way to the production of new skin cells. Though this process will not treat the stretch marks, it will lessen the appearance of the stretch marks making it less visible.
Do Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a skin exfoliation method that uses a microcrystal and suction device to get rid of dead skin cells, to allow the growth of new skin. The production of new skin makes the stretch marks fades away.
See A Dermatologist
If you have exhausted all your efforts and still not satisfied with the results, go and see a dermatologist. The dermatologist can prescribe to you the best way in preventing and curing your stretch marks. He may recommend a laser surgery to get rid of your stretch marks.
Preventing Stretch Marks the Natural Way
Most women have to deal with stretch marks at some point in their lives. No doubt it’s something that they all wish they could avoid. But there is some good news when it comes to preventing these streaky marks on your body, thanks to some simple natural stretch mark prevention steps.
The Roots of Stretch Marks
To get the most out of the available natural stretch mark prevention methods it is first of all necessary that you learn about what makes stretch marks occur. The fact is that stretch marks start to appear when tissue beneath your skin starts to expand more quickly than the growth of your skin. The resultant quick expansion starts to cause small tears in your skin and the scarring that ensues takes the form of stretch marks.
Consequently, before seeking out natural stretch mark prevention methods it’s important that you understand the workings of your body and then take the appropriate steps to prevent stretch marks from developing.
Young women, when entering puberty, are known to be at greater risk of developing stretch marks. Unfortunately, they are so young that thinking about taking natural stretch mark prevention measures won’t even have crossed their minds. It’s up to their mothers to understand the problem and suggest suitable treatment methods to remove the unattractive scars.
Pregnant women are also interested in finding out about effective natural stretch mark prevention solutions. Pregnancy can be a joyous occasion; however, it’s also a time when stretch marks are more likely to appear. For that reason pregnant women should be researching natural stretch mark prevention measures.
For them, and for every other woman, maintaining proper body weight is essential to stretch mark prevention. Conversely, when people lose weight they’re also prone to developing stretch marks. Therefore, you should identify the parts of the body where stretch marks are most likely to occur and then use natural means to stop them in their tracks.
Revitol stretch mark prevention cream is a natural cream that contains herbal remedies which will effectively prevent stretch marks from occurring, according to its manufacturers.
By not using preventative measures, you will increase your chances of developing these unsightly stretch marks. In the worst case scenario, you might have to undergo surgery to get rid of stretch marks – a costly treatment to be sure.
However, taking care of your skin will ensure that it remains healthy and supple, which will help to ensure that stretch marks don’t make their mark on your skin.
Stretch Mark Prevention And Healing
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter hydrates and replenishes dry skin. There are many qualities of cocoa butter available in store and it is important that you go with the best quality available. Follow the package directions or rub twice daily where the stretch marks are likely to appear. This is even more important during the middle and last trimesters of your pregnancy.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E hydrates the skin and gives it added elasticity. Both dietary vitamin E and cream containing vitamin E will help prevent the formation of stretch marks.
Vitamin E cream can be bought in health food stores. Dietary vitamin E can be taken in pill form or by eating vitamin E rich foods.
Weight Gain Control
Although weight gain is normal and important during pregnancy, you should not gain weight too quickly if you want to avoid stretch marks. Slow and steady weight gain is not only less likely to produce stretch marks, but is also healthier for you and your baby.
When the weight gain is too rapid, the skin does not have a chance to stretch naturally which results in stretch marks. In other words, stretch marks appear when the skin is pulled too tight too quickly. If you can moderate your diet and exercise a few times a week for 20 minutes, it will help control any stretch marks.
Enriched Drinks
There are many enriched pregnancy drinks available in health store. Calc Fluor 6X is a mix that contain many nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to hydrate your body.
Drink Lots Of Water
Water is the best option to keep you and your skin hydrated. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Avoid pop drinks as they do not hydrate your body nearly as well as plain water.
Copper
Copper is one of the essential ingredients needed for beautiful and firm skin. Copper is used in most skincare products as it is well known to enhance skin elasticity.
Copper will tone and fortify your skin. As a result of using copper, your skin will not stretch too fast making stretch marks less likely to appear on your skin.
Moisturizers
There are thousands of moisturizers available everywhere. Some will cost you only a few dollars, while others are very pricey. More expensive moisturizers are not always better than their cheaper counterparts. The most important thing is that you keep your skin hydrated at always. A hydrated skin is less likely to get bad stretch marks than dry skin.
Retin A Cream
Retin A is a protein that skin needs to build collagen in the skin. Supplementing your skin with Retin A will help build collagen in your skin. The more collagen you have, the more elasticity your skin has and so the less likely stretch marks will develop. Retin A Cream can prevent but also heal existing stretch marks. Retin A creams vary in prices and quality.
Coconot Oil
Coconut oil contains fatty acids, which have been found to help my skin ailments, not just stretch marks. Coconut oil can be purchased in health stores. Coconut oil is also an excellent source of healthy dietary saturated fats.
Vitamins
It can be difficult to eat a balanced diet every day. To make up for this, you can take a daily vitamin. The vitamins will help your skin from the inside out and keep the elastin and collagen at their best.
Water to Prevent Stretch Marks:
Nobody likes seeing stretch marks on their skin. This is why it is very important for them to look for a way they can get rid of these unsightly marks on their skin.
While there are many who make use of extreme measures to do this, there are those who opt for a safer and mellowed down option to get rid of these marks. If you have the money to spend for this, you can choose to go with a laser treatment that can get rid of your stretch marks.
However, you have to keep in mind that this will be very painful and you will have to pay a lot of money for this type of treatment. Sure enough, it can be a fast way you can get rid of stretch marks on your body.
Using Water to Prevent Stretch Marks
Water for Stretch Marks
Because there are several options available in the market, people often disregard the benefits of water. Often, people overlook plain water to help them with impurities in their body because there are now so many different products available. For this, many do not even know that using water to prevent stretch marks is possible. Whenever they start to learn about its possibility, they become shocked with the reality that they missed out on.
What’s so Good about Water?
As children, we have been taught of the importance of drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Even up to this day, this is still being considered as a valuable lesson that we need to continue doing no matter what age we are. This is because water is composed of all natural ingredients that can be found anywhere on the planet.
Aside from the fact that we need water to survive, our bodies are also mostly water. As such, it is necessary that you replenish the water that your body excretes through perspiration or any other method.
When you keep yourself hydrated, you will get to prevent the occurrence of stretch marks on your body. This is because stretch marks are usually formed from damaged elastin fibres. As a result, you need to give yourself the nourishment you need to make these fibres healthy once again.
Once you are properly hydrated, your skin is able to repair itself quickly and effectively. When this happens, your skin gets to retain its elasticity. This is how your skin will become soft and continuously moisturized.
What Happens if You are Dehydrated?
When you’re dehydrated, your skin also becomes dehydrated. As a result of this, it is easy for your skin to break apart. This is how you start getting stretch marks, scars and many other unsightly imperfections on your skin. If you do not want this, it is necessary that you keep yourself hydrated at all times.
Make sure that you drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day so you can prevent your skin from breaking apart. At the same time, you will get to nourish your body with the nutrients that can naturally be derived from water.