Beauty Articles

For a number of women, the worst thing that can go wrong to them during pregnancy is Striae gravidarium, or stretch marks. This is a common event during pregnancy, with fifty to ninety percent of all expectant mothers getting some kind of visible marks. It can develop on the hips and thighs, breasts, and buttocks but is most commonly found on the lower abdomen. When collagen is torn apart from the epidermis it develops stretch marks. In the latter months of pregnancy they can be a dark red or a deeper nearly purplish hue.

Stretch marks can be dehydrated and irritated as well as unsightly even though they are not painful. They are caused when the epidermis is stretched and changed more quickly than the collagen fibers can sustain it. Unfortunately, the possibility of being affected by stretch marks is largely genetic. If your mom and aunts or sisters were affected by them, there is a high risk that you will be affected by them as well. Lifestyle, diet, and physical activity level are other components that cause stretch marks besides genetics.

While stretch marks are mostly a genetic problem, there are various things you can do to encourage maximum pliancy of the epidermis. Even during pregnancy women can regularly exercise to maximize healthy skin. Women will of course have to change their physical routine while they are expecting, but low impact and less intensive cardio exercising is good for both mother and child. Avoiding coffee and alcohol, controlling consumption of caffeine and carbonated beverages, and eating as nutritiously as possible are steps that women should take during pregnancy. Smoking should also be avoided by expectant women.

To avoid and counter striae gravidarium women need to attempt to make their skin as elastic as possible. Consuming plenty of water each day assures well hydrated skin that flexes more easily. To fortify the immune system and have skin at maximum health it is suggested to take 1000mg of vitamin C daily. Use a sunblocker when going outdoors to prevent spotting and worsening marks. Putting on a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and supple is also recommended. Taking part in anti-streesing activities such as stretching or aerobic exercise will keep the skin from breaking down because of stress.

Stretch marks can appear in obese people and body builders also. With fast bodily changes, the skin does not have enough time to readjust to the shifts in weight. Body builders will get them as a result of building muscle too rapidly. Someone can also get them from applying creams and solutions that contain steroids for an extended period of time. The fortunate news is that they will usually recede and grow lighter in color after a while.

There are a number of products available that claim to be able to prevent and heal stretch marks to make them fade and dissipate. These products may do a little good but are generally not proven to be good for any permanent effects. There are many surgical procedures, but they can be time consuming and very expensive. Often seeing a physician may be the only way to minimize striae gravidarium for some women. This kind of surgery is not suggested until later because often the body will still have some growing or alternating to do.