|
During pregnancy, Striae gravidarium, or stretch marks, is the worst thing that can go wrong for a lot of women. This is a common occurrence during pregnancy, with 50 to 90 percent of all expecting mothers being affected by some type of visible marks. It can emerge on the hips and thighs, breasts, and buttocks but is most commonly found on the lower stomach area. Striae gravidarium are caused by collagen being separated in the skin. In the latter months of gestation they can be a bright red or a deeper almost purplish hue. Striae gravidarium is not harmful but can often be itchy or dehydrated and certainly can be unattractive. They are caused when the epidermis is stretched and changed faster than the collagen fibers can handle it. Genetics, which for some is too bad, is the dominant component when it comes to being affected by stretch marks. There is a high chance you will be affected by them if your mother and aunts or siblings had them. Besides genes, other factors that cause stretch marks are nutrition, activity level, and lifestyles. Stretch marks can develop in obese people and body builders as well. With fast bodily changes, the skin does not have time enough to readjust to the fluctuations in weight. Developing muscle too fast results in striae gravidarium for weight lifters. Somebody can also get them from applying creams and solutions that contain steroids for an extended period of time. The fortunate news is that even though they may be darker in appearance at first, they will usually fade and become fainter and less noticeable after a little while. Even though stretch marks are mainly a hereditary problem, there are many things you can do to encourage maximum flexibility of the skin. Even during pregnancy women can routinely work out to maximize healthy skin. Low impact and less intensive aerobic exercises are adapted activities that women can perform that are good for mother and child also. Staying away from coffee and booze, limiting the use of caffeine and carbonated drinks, and eating as nutritiously as possible are all steps that women should take during pregnancy. Cigarettes should also be avoided by pregnant mothers. Women need to make their epidermis as flexible as possible to prevent and avoid stretch marks. Drinking plenty of water each day assures well hydrated skin that pulls more easily. 1000 mg of vitamin C per day is recommended to boost the immune system and maintain the skin at top health. Apply a sunscreen when going outdoors to prevent skin spots and worsening marks. It is also a good idea to keep the skin moist and supple by putting on a moisturizing cream. Taking part in anti-streesing activities such as yoga or cardiovascular exercise will prevent the skin from breaking down because of stress. Many products promise to make stretch marks dissipate and vanish by healing and preventing them from coming in the first place. While usually not proven to have any lasting effects, some may do a little good. There are many surgical procedures, but they can be time consuming and very expensive. For a lot of women the one way to minimize stretch marks is to get the aid of a dermatologist. This kind of surgical procedure is not advised until later because often the body will still have some growing or changing to do.
|