Tips to Minimize Pregnancy Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are actually the trophies of motherhood. However many moms would be happier to have their tight, flat tummy back again.
Stretch marks occur after pregnancy because the skin around pregnant women’s bellies and hips gets stretched taut with a growing baby, only to loosen and contract when the baby is born. After birth, stretch marks can appear on a woman’s stomach or breasts.
Human skin is quite elastic, but when it is stretched so far, the effects of skin proteins may be hampered. One such protein is collagen, a major protein that gives skin its elastic qualities.
Some pregnant women rub skin creams on their bellies during pregnancy in hopes of helping the skin stay elastic. Doctors say this might not make a big difference but if it is soothing for an expectant mom to rub her belly then it might be worth it just for that reason.
Thankfully, stretch marks do not last forever. Young skin can produce collagen easily, so that stretch marks may fade, and might not be too noticeable after some time.
However, if you are planning to wear a skimpy bathing suit, or if you want to show off your taut belly, then you might want to consider hiding, if not totally eliminating stretch marks. This can be difficult, but it is not entirely impossible, especially if you are devoted to caring for your skin.
One tip involves evening-out your overall pigmentation so that stretch marks are camouflaged. Some people do this by going to the beach and getting some sun, while others go to a tanning salon and spend time on a tanning bed.
However, a better way might be to use tanning treatments that you can buy over the counter at your pharmacy, such as spray-on tans or lotions. Such lotions can keep you away from the potential dangers of overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Related to this tip of concealment is the use of body makeup. You may not be able to eliminate stretch marks completely, but you can keep them concealed while they’re healing.
Look for body makeup that not only matches your skin tone, but is water-resistant as well. This can be advantageous if you will be swimming during your day out in your bathing suit.
Another related tip is fashion. You do not need to wear a bikini on the beach. You can wear a fashionable one piece swimsuit which hides your tummy skin, and you can have fun while not having to worry about how you look.
A second tip on eliminating stretch marks involves preventing them from happening. Keep the skin in your hips and buttocks moisturized regularly by dabbing them with body cream containing essential oils. The oils can loosen your skin and add more moisture to it, and can even help to minimize stretch marks.
The third and last tip on minimizing stretch marks involves medical care and consultation with your dermatologist. There are many skin products and creams available that promise to help smooth stretch marks, but many of these are inefficient, if not altogether ineffective, and many of them are also expensive.
Truly minimizing stretch marks requires that you visit a dermatologist who can accurately gauge the state of your skin, and what you can do to smooth the stretch marks away.
There are many different treatments available for helping to clear up stretch marks. One of the latest high tech methods is laser treatment, which involves running the surface of the skin over with a beam of light at a certain frequency.
Another method is microdermabrasion, which uses minuscule instruments to soften and smooth the skin, and is also used to smooth out cellulite.
Whatever your situation may be regarding stretch marks, always talk to your physician about it.
