The Low Down On The Stretch Mark
Every woman, pregnant or not, is aware of stretch marks and how they can cause unsightly blemishes to her skin. Pregnant women, however, face the very real possibility of getting them as they move further into their pregnancy. Stretch marks occur when the collagen in the skin separates, and they occur in 50 to 90 percent of all pregnant women. They are not painful, but they can be tingly or itchy when they develop. Stretch marks aren’t just limited to the belly area; they can also be seen on thighs, arms, buttocks and breasts.
While most pregnant women are likely to get some stretch marks, the risk goes up if: you have a family history of stretch marks, you had them in a previous pregnancy, you rapidly gain weight and if you’re having multiple babies.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to lessen the prevalence of stretch marks if you’re pregnant. You may not be able to avoid them completely, but you can certainly prevent them from being severe.
1) Stay Hydrated
You are constantly being told to drink lots of water, and if you want to avoid severe stretch marks then you should do just that. The more hydrated your skin is the less likely the stretch marks will be serious.
2) Stay Moisturized
Keep the areas of your body that are prone to stretch marks well moisturized. There is a variety of products available that claim to prevent or cure stretch marks but these claims are unverified. Moisturized skin may prevent the severity of skin marks though there’s no proof that any moisturizer will totally prevent them.