Beauty Articles

During gestation, Striae gravidarium, or stretch marks, is the worst thing that can go wrong for a lot of expectant mothers. This is a common event during pregnancy, with 50-90% of all expectant mothers being affected by some type of visible marks. It can develop on the hips and thighs, breasts, and butt but is most most often found on the lower stomach area. When collagen is seperated from the epidermis it develops stretch marks. They can be light in hue all the way to a dark red or even purplish color in the later months of gestation.

To avoid and counter striae gravidarium women need to attempt to make their epidermis as elastic as possible. Well hydrated skin stretches more easily so be sure to drink lots of water each day. 1000 mg of vitamin C per day is advised to fortify the immune system and keep the skin at maximum health. Use a sunscreen when going outdoors to prevent skin spots and worsening marks. It is also smart to keep the skin moist and supple by applying a moisturizer. Because too much stress can cause breakdowns in the immune system it is recommended to participate in some type of destressing activity such as yoga, aerobics, and meditation.

Stretch marks are not harmful but can often be itchy or dry and certainly can be unappealing. They are caused when the skin is expanded and changed faster than the collagen fibers can handle it. Unfortunately, the probability of being affected by stretch marks is mostly genetic. If your mom and aunts or siblings were affected by them, there is a high risk that you will be affected by them as well. Lifestyle, eating habits, and activity level are other factors that cause stretch marks besides genetics.

There are many things you can do to promote the pliancy of the epidermis even though it is mostly a hereditary disorder. Even during pregnancy women can regularly exercise to maximize healthy skin. Women will of course have to alter their exercise routine while they are expecting, but low impact and less intensive cardio exercising is good for both mother and baby. Staying away from coffee and alcohol, controlling consumption of caffeine and carbonated drinks, and eating as healthy as possible are all steps that ladies should take during the gestation period. Pregnant mothers should also avoid smoking during the whole gestation period.

Stretch marks can develop in obese people and weight lifters also. The epidermis does not have enough time to adapt to shifts in weight when the body changes rapidly. Gaining muscle too rapidly results in stretch marks for weight lifters. Someone can also get them from applying creams and solutions that have steroids for an extended amount of time. The good news is that they will usually recede and grow fainter in color after a period of time.

A number of products claim to make stretch marks disappear and vanish by recovering and preventing them from coming in the first place. While generally unproven to have any permanent effects, some of them may do a little good. There are many surgical procedures, but they can be time consuming and very costly. Often seeing a physician may be the only way to minimize stretch marks for some women. Often, because the body still has some growing or changing still to do, this type of surgical procedure is not advised until later.