One of the most frequently asked questions from women is, how to get rid of stretch marks. Practically half of all pregnant women stand the chance of developing stretch marks during their pregnancy. Otherwise known by the technical name of Striae Gravidarum, stretch marks resemble streaks on the surface of the skin. The color may vary depending on the skins natural color.
Generally light skinned women will develop pale pink stretch marks, whereas most dark skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are fairly lighter than the surrounding natural skin color.
Women most commonly develop stretch marks on their stomach during pregnancy, although it is not uncommon for stretch marks to appear on the buttocks, lower back, breasts, hips and thighs. It has been noted that up to 90 percent of women will develop stretch marks on some part of their body as a result of pregnancy.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks will form when skin is stretched rapidly, as happens during pregnancy. Most women will develop stretch marks during the later stages of pregnancy, although some women may start to develop them as soon as their stomachs begin to grow.
Stretch marks are actually small tears that form in the skins supporting tissue, which then allows the skin to stretch without splitting. Stretch
marks represent the separation of collagen from the skin when tearing occurs. Stretch marks are not harmful to either mum or baby nor are they painful and they will usually usually fade over time, although they will not disappear altogether. Some women feel that stretch marks are unsightly or ugly, which in turn makes them embarrassed or ashamed of their bodies and makes them seek methods to get rid of them through the use of such things as anti stretch mark cream or stretch mark prevention remedies.
Who Gets Stretch Marks
Many women believe that the use of lotions and creams can help prevent stretch marks. However, the amount of stretch marks you get depends on the elasticity of your skin. The elasticity of your skin usually relates to your genetic make up, if your mother or other female relatives experienced bad stretch marks during pregnancy then there is good indication that you too will probably be more prone to stretch marks than other women.
You should bear in mind that the more weight you gain during your pregnancy the more likely you are to have stretch marks. Normally the skin is quite elasticated and is capable of stretching a fair bit, however for some women pregnancy can result in very drastic changes. It is these rapid fluctuations of weight and skin stretching which result in the appearance of stretch marks.
Women who are expecting twins, or more, are the most likely to get stretch marks, because their stomachs obviously are going to grow much larger than women with single pregnancies. Other women who are very likely to develop stretch marks include those who gain a lot of weight quickly during their pregnancy and women who are carrying big babies.
Here are some other factors that may contribute to your susceptibility to stretch marks:
* If you have developed stretch marks before, for example whilst growing up (like on your breasts during puberty) there is a strong likelihood of you getting stretch marks during pregnancy.
* If you have already experienced stretch marks during another pregnancy you will far more likely to get them again.
* If you are overweight or begin to gain more weight than is recommended you are more likely to get stretch marks.
* If you drink plenty of liquids and maintain a well balanced diet you are less likely to develop serious stretch marks.
Stretch Mark Prevention
Most pregnant women believe that stretch mark prevention can be achieved through the use of various creams and lotions. There are many products on the market today that are claimed to be stretch mark prevention solutions. Some types of anti stretch mark cream may help to moisturize your skin and keep it supple or reduce itching. They may also help reduce the appearance of stretch marks however it has not scientifically proven to be the case..
Some expectant mothers rely on cocoa butter or other similar products for preventing stretch marks. Whilst such products may have no great preventative value, they do give peace of mind through the fact of knowing that everything possible was done in their stretch mark prevention fight.
Probably the most effective way of stretch mark prevention is to try and minimize the main cause, which is sudden weight gain. Aside from using any anti stretch mark cream or moisturizer you should eat a healthy and well balanced diet to gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. Doctors recommendations are that most women should only gain between 25 and 35 pounds. Gaining much more than this can lead to you developing more stretch marks.
Removing Stretch Marks
Most women have concerns about stretch marks after they have their baby, luckily most stretch marks will fade over time. Generally most stretch marks are lighter and less noticeable after a period of twelve months. The skin texture will remain slightly different from the surrounding skin however, although it won't be overly obvious. Most women will see their stretch marks fading into faint lines that are barely noticeable.
Some women who have experienced severe stretch marks can suffer from low self esteem after pregnancy. Thankfully there are many different treatments now available for women that want to remove stretch marks or just to try and improve the appearance of their stretch marks.
For stretch marks that are particularly bad, it is recommended that you should seek advice from your doctor or a dermatologist. Some anti stretch mark cream, such as Tretinoin Cream, can help stretch mark prevention, although they cannot be made to disappear altogether. Such anti stretch mark creams should only be used with medical advice or after child birth however, because they can have detrimental effects on your unborn baby.
Most of the topical products available are designed to be used shortly after delivery. The longer the period of time that passes between the birth and use of an anti stretch mark cream, the less effective they become.
If you plan on breastfeeding, it is extremely important that you seek advice from your doctor before using any stretch mark prevention products or anti stretch mark creams. Some treatments may effect your milk supply and be passed onto your baby.
Most of the products available aimed at preventing stretch marks do nothing to help relieve the sagging skin that invariably accompanies childbirth. Some of the newer skin treatment methods, such as laser treatments however may help to improve the skins elasticity and so reduce stretch marks. Plastic surgery is also a consideration for some women after they are finished having children. A tummy tuck can help reduce some stretch marks and remove sagging skin.
