How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy

In 9 months, a woman's body changes a lot. Diet and exercise will help you regain your previous shape after childbirth, but you will most likely have to put up with stretch marks. But it's better to try to warn them.

1. What are stretch marks
2. The main causes of stretch marks
3. How stretch marks appear
4. How long does it take for stretch marks to appear?
5. Causes of stretch marks
6. Risk factors during pregnancy
7. Ways to Prevent Stretch Marks
8. Methods to combat stretch marks
9. Tools Overview

What are stretch marks

Yoga for pregnant women is the best prevention of stretch marks and preparation for childbirth. © Getty Images

To “patch” this gap in the connective tissue network and reliably stabilize the affected area of ​​​​the skin, the dermis quickly produces connective tissue. This is how stretch marks or stretch marks appear.

Touch your palms to your thighs or stomach. If you feel as if there are uneven paths or scar tissue under your fingers, these are stretch marks.

The main causes of stretch marks

Stretch marks, or, scientifically, stretch marks, appear as a result of internal micro-tears in the skin. They are classified as atrophic scars, which look like narrow, sunken, wavy lines. Hairs do not grow in these areas and pigment is not formed.

Stretch marks can appear due to weight gain and increased body size © iStock

If you touch your thighs or stomach with your palm, you will feel uneven tracks under your fingers. These are striae. They occur for various reasons, but during pregnancy they are usually caused by:

rapid weight gain;

a sharp increase in body volume (especially in the last month);

weakness of the abdominal muscles.

How stretch marks appear

Scientists say that stretch marks are a hereditary phenomenon. Look at your mom. If she has stretch marks, then most likely you cannot avoid this fate (unless, of course, you take the necessary actions in time). Common places for stretch marks to appear are the chest, abdomen and thighs.

Fresh stretch marks are usually red. They are most often located radially or parallel.

How long does it take for stretch marks to appear?

As a rule, the first hints of the appearance of stretch marks (one of the indicators is itching of the skin in the abdomen, thighs and chest) appear in the second trimester of pregnancy, when the abdomen and breasts begin to rapidly increase in size.

Therefore, long before this it is worth starting to fight them with the help of cosmetic care. We will talk about it below.

Causes of stretch marks

Stretch marks, as we have already found out, appear as a result of internal microtraumas of the skin due to overstretching. They occur for various reasons, but during pregnancy most often due to such reasons.

Weight gain

During pregnancy, women can gain weight from 3-6 to 30 kg. The norm is 1 kg for each month of pregnancy. But even with minimal weight gain, the skin experiences stress. And as the volume of the body increases, the skin stretches, which can lead to the appearance of stretch marks.

Hormonal imbalance

Waiting time for a baby is responsible in every sense. While the expectant mother is preparing for the birth of her child, serious changes are occurring in her body. All processes are aimed at creating the best conditions for the growth and development of the fetus. Metabolic processes accelerate, the rate of cell division increases. Often the body does not have time to adapt to rapidly changing changes.

Genetic predisposition

As we said above, scientists believe that a hereditary factor is often to blame for the appearance of stretch marks.

Insufficient skin hydration

Weakness of the abdominal muscles

Pregnancy is not a disease. Don't forget about fitness and sports. However, before you start exercising, consult your doctor.

Risk factors during pregnancy

Of course, no pregnant woman is immune from stretch marks. Still, there are factors that increase the risks.

Age of the expectant mother.

Ways to Prevent Stretch Marks

Today it is no longer a secret that during pregnancy women need not only to walk more and eat right, but also to take care of their bodies. Every month the belly grows, the skin stretches, itching appears in the stretched areas - all this requires certain actions.

If you overeat, make sure it's "healthy" food © iStock

Nutrition adjustments

During pregnancy, weight gain cannot be avoided. But it is important to ensure that it does not go beyond the norm. That is why a woman’s diet should be balanced. Include in your menu foods rich in vitamin E, protein, Omega-3, -6, -9 fatty acids, namely:

green lettuce leaves;

Cosmetics for prevention

From 2–3 months of pregnancy, prevent stretch marks daily. To help you:

cream with a dense texture;

The composition should contain essential oils, proteins, moisturizing and nutrients.

Every day after a shower, apply the product to the skin with light massaging movements, paying special attention to places where stretch marks may appear: thighs, buttocks, abdomen, chest. If you don’t have a special product on hand, use any moisturizing or nourishing body cream.

Cold and hot shower

A contrast shower helps keep your skin toned. © Getty Images

In general, a contrast shower is a useful procedure in every sense. Changing the water temperature strengthens skin cells, stimulates their work, gives the skin firmness and elasticity. A contrast shower combined with a light massage with a natural bristle brush will give excellent results. After showering, apply moisturizer or cosmetic oil to your skin.

One “but”: during pregnancy, doctors do not recommend sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, your contrast shower is a gentle alternation not of ice and hot water, but of cool and warm.

Light physical activity

Pregnancy is not a disease, but a wonderful condition, during which small physical activity is encouraged (check with your doctor about the absence of contraindications).

For most women, moderate physical activity during pregnancy is not contraindicated, but rather recommended. If you go to a fitness club, find out if there are groups for pregnant women.

Usually in such classes they practice yoga — it strengthens muscles and teaches you to breathe correctly, which will be useful during childbirth.

Doctors recommend for pregnant women aqua aerobics and swimming: during exercise, all muscle groups work, in addition, it is easier to move in water.

Don't forget about exercises to strengthen muscles abdomen, thighs, arms and chest. To stay in shape, it is enough to exercise 2-3 times a week.

If you can't go to the gym, go for a walk every day, and not slow, but quite vigorous (if there are no contraindications).

There are special yoga classes for pregnant women © IStock

Massage

Massage during pregnancy differs from usual:

pressing movements are excluded;

The stomach and chest are not massaged at all, only stroking is possible.

Make sure that the master knows massage techniques for pregnant women - then there is no reason to refuse.

Bandage for stretch marks during pregnancy

The bandage makes life much easier for expectant mothers and prevents the skin from overstretching. © Getty Images

The bandage in the form of a belt helps not only to maintain a rounded tummy, but also prevents the appearance of stretch marks. A prenatal bra with wide straps provides reliable support for enlarged breasts. It is better to consult your doctor regarding the need for use and size range.

“As soon as my belly began to grow, the skin on my sides became drier and itching appeared. Sometimes the skin becomes stretched as if it’s going to split at the seams.”

Methods to combat stretch marks

What to do if stretch marks have already appeared? We have collected some practical tips especially for you. Take note.

Prevention of sprain

Recipes at home

If there are no suitable ready-made products at hand, you can use olive oil. Pour a little oil into your palm, warm it in your hands and use it to gently stroke the problem areas.

Exercise against stretch marks

During pregnancy, it is very important to pay attention to breathing. Learn to breathe correctly. Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Moreover, try to breathe with your stomach. You will feel it. In this way, you will not only enrich your body with oxygen, but also strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Cosmetic procedures for stretch marks

During pregnancy, you can fight stretch marks only with cosmetics, but after giving birth, after 4-6 months, with the help of a cosmetologist (consult your doctor when you can start). To do this, it makes sense to resort to such procedures.

Laser therapy

Using a laser beam, the top layer of the epidermis is removed, resulting in a smoother skin texture. To achieve a visible effect, one procedure is not enough; you will need a course.

Mesotherapy

Injections of vitamin preparations are administered near or directly into the area of ​​stretch marks. The cocktail contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and B vitamins, as well as peptides that stimulate the work of fibroblasts, which are responsible for the synthesis of collagen and elastin. The course consists of 3–5 procedures, one every 10–14 days. Stretch marks fade and become less pronounced.

Microdermabrasion

Using a special crystal, problem areas of the skin are polished. Thanks to this controlled damage, cells receive an impulse for renewal and regeneration.

Almost all expectant mothers develop stretch marks during pregnancy. They have another name - striae. Neoplasms affect “problem” areas, which include the hips, buttocks, chest, and abdomen.

During pregnancy, women develop stretch marks as the skin begins to stretch and burst. The body tries to eliminate the deficiency with the help of connective tissue, so stripes appear that look like scars. They are pink or purple at first and then turn pale.

Over time, capillaries begin to die, and the tissue loses its elasticity and ages. Even on a tanned body, stretch marks remain white, because there is no pigment in the connective tissue. Let's take a closer look at the causes of the problem and decide what to use for stretch marks that appeared during pregnancy.

Causes of stretch marks

Stretch marks during pregnancy appear due to one or more reasons. These include.

1. Strong stretching of the skin.
2. Excess body weight. The faster a woman gains weight, the greater the chance that the skin simply will not be able to adapt to the increased volume.
3. Multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, large fetus. In these cases, the size of the abdomen is larger than usual when carrying a child.
4. The abdominal muscles are weak, so they support the uterus less well, and the abdomen becomes very stretched.
5. Smoking, which causes oxygen starvation of the skin, slows down the process of synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers.
6. The appearance of stretch marks during one of the trimesters of pregnancy in close relatives, which means a hereditary predisposition to this problem.
7. Hormonal (endocrine) disorders.
8. The appearance of stretch marks even before conception, for example, with sudden weight gain.

Usually unpleasant stripes appear on the stomach, because it grows the most. Also, during pregnancy, stretch marks may appear on the breasts, because during pregnancy and lactation their size increases greatly. In addition, neoplasms often affect the buttocks and thighs.

There are many photos posted on the Internet showing stretch marks that form during pregnancy. Therefore, you will definitely not confuse them with another disease.

Ways to prevent the problem

It won’t hurt to find out how you can prevent the appearance of unpleasant stretch marks in women during pregnancy, because they really spoil the appearance of the skin.

In order for your skin to remain elastic and youthful, you need to eat right.

1. The diet should include white meat dishes, which contain proteins and other substances that prevent collagen from being destroyed.
2. If you are thinking about how to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy, eat fatty fish - trout, salmon. They are a source of omega 3, 5, 9 acids, which allow the epidermis to maintain its elasticity.
3. There should always be greens, cabbage, and fresh vegetable salad on the table.
4. Buy more juices and fruits, because they contain vitamin C, which accelerates the process of collagen synthesis.
5. Limit your intake of sugar, which binds collagen fibers together. They become stiffer, and this negatively affects the elasticity of the epidermis.
6. Be sure to include fermented milk and dairy products in your menu, which provide the body with calcium.
7. Eat cereals that contain a lot of potassium.

Vitamin E and olive oil help maintain skin elasticity. They are prescribed from the first day of pregnancy. Vitamin E is considered an elixir of beauty and youth. It helps keep skin, nails, and hair healthy.

Be sure to consult a qualified dermatologist who can tell you how you can prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.

Application of effective means

The question of how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy must be approached especially carefully, because while carrying a child, the mother’s body requires care.

Olive oil is one of the best remedies for getting rid of stretch marks. Many girls prefer it because this oil for stretch marks formed during pregnancy is the most affordable and natural.

Olive oil is one of the best helpers

The product is sold in any supermarket and copes well with the appearance of stretch marks in the buttocks, thighs, abdomen and mammary glands. Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark place. It is recommended to use it even before the first scars appear, so that stretch marks during pregnancy are less noticeable.

The product allows you to keep your skin beautiful and young even after childbirth. Olive oil can be combined with other medicinal drugs. The oil acts as follows.

1. Helps cells recover and renew.
2. Promotes collagen production.

However, you need to understand that for maximum effect you must follow two important rules.

1. Firstly, buy first cold-pressed oil, since this manufacturing technology allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the product.
2. Secondly, the oil should not just be spread on the skin, but rubbed in with massaging movements.

So, it's simple. You need to pour a small amount of oil into a cup or saucer, heat it to 30 degrees and apply to clean skin of the abdomen, thighs and chest, then begin to rub it in for a few minutes. The product should be absorbed into the skin as much as possible. Excess oil should be removed with a cotton napkin.

The maximum effect of the procedure is achieved if it is carried out immediately after taking a warm shower. Massages are provided every day in the morning and evening.

There are many reviews on the Internet about how you can prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Girls always write about how oil can clog pores. To prevent this from happening, before each procedure you need to thoroughly wash your body with soap or other detergent.

Also, during pregnancy, baby cream, which is a preventative against stretch marks, will not harm. It allows you to make the skin softer and moisturize it. The effect of baby cream is aimed at:

1. maintaining skin elasticity;
2. giving it elasticity.

The effect of using the cream will increase if you add mumiyo. The product will help reduce stretch marks that are already on the skin. It will reduce their depth and relief, making the color less intense.

This stretch mark cream can be used not only during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding. The epidermis will be enriched with minerals and vitamins of natural origin.

It is very difficult to immediately choose the best remedies for severe stretch marks that formed during pregnancy. There are many cosmetic products sold that help cope with the problem. You can choose something in the middle or more expensive price category.

During pregnancy, folk remedies for stretch marks work well. For example, you can make a homemade scrub that is as effective as modern drugs. Required:

1. 0.5 cups vegetable oil;
2. 1 cup of sugar;
3. 1 glass of salt.

You need to massage problem areas with a scrub. The results will appear within a month of regular use.

1. Mix sugar and salt.
2. Pour in vegetable oil.
3. Mix.

Also, stretch marks during pregnancy can be removed using a homemade cream, which is very easy to prepare. Required:

1. lemon zest;
2. a couple of spoons of sour cream;
3. 10-15 drops of olive oil.

The cream should be rubbed onto the skin every day after taking a shower. The procedure can be carried out throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Many girls believe that homemade creams are the best way to treat stretch marks during pregnancy.

1. Mix sour cream with butter.
2. Add lemon zest.

You can find many reviews online about the use of various remedies for stretch marks that affected the skin during pregnancy.

I was treated for stretch marks that appeared for a very long time. At first I tried to get rid of them with home remedies, then I spared no expense and bought an expensive Vichy cream. The effect did not come immediately. I was just beginning to despair when my husband complimented me, saying that my skin had become much better. It turned out that the cream really works.

I was treated for unpleasant growths on the skin only with folk remedies. Every day after a shower I massaged my skin with a scrub of sugar and oil. It was not possible to completely get rid of them. But they have become less noticeable and no longer stand out on the skin so much.

I was treated for stretch marks during the entire period of bearing my son and daughter. Because of the twins, the belly became simply huge, and the purple stripes on it were frightening. I decided not to experiment and buy a proven product, Sanosan Cream. A bit expensive, of course. I saw the result in about six months.

about the author: Borovikova Olga

gynecologist, ultrasound doctor, geneticist

Graduated from the Kuban State Medical University, internship in the specialty "Genetics".

Almost all nulliparous people probably know what stretch marks are and what they look like. After all, the appearance of stretch marks is one of the most unpleasant pregnancy companions for a woman. But the worst thing is that, unlike others, they do not disappear immediately after childbirth. Therefore, along with painful toxicosis and severe swelling, the appearance of stretch marks is something that newly pregnant women fear almost more than anything else.

In fact, stretch marks are not a fatal disease, and there is no need to be so panicky about them. But it is true that they do not disappear on their own without a trace. And in order to prevent their appearance or at least reduce their appearance, you need to know a little more about stretch marks than your experienced friends tell you.

What are stretch marks?

Experts call stretch marks stretch marks. But, despite the simple and seemingly accurate popular definition, stretch marks are tears, and not just stretches. Due to the loss of elasticity and firmness by the skin, it becomes thin and easily tears under tension, which is what happens during fetal growth. Of course, the epidermis is not completely torn, but only its inner layer. And he recovers very quickly. However, scars after ruptures still remain, which we see in the form of stretch marks.

In the initial stages of recovery, the connective tissue is permeated with capillaries, so the stretch marks have a lilac, pink or violet color. But gradually they become discolored and, unfortunately, remain just that way forever - white pearlescent scars that cannot even be tanned under the sun (after all, there is no melanin pigment there).

Why do stretch marks occur?

Ideally, our skin is similar in its properties to rubber: it is elastic, elastic, can stretch and easily return to its previous state. But for a number of reasons, these functions can be impaired - the skin becomes thinner and very easily tears from the inside. This is how stretch marks appear.

The occurrence of stretch marks in women is directly related to pregnancy. The uterus gradually enlarges, the fetus grows rapidly, and the skin does not always keep up with them. In addition, from the very beginning, colossal changes begin to occur in the body of the expectant mother, which is simply necessary to create conditions for bearing and giving birth to a healthy child. All these processes are “guided” by hormones. It is the change in the level of the hormones estrogen and progesterone that directly leads to the appearance of stretch marks. Because with high levels of these hormones, the release of collagen (responsible for skin density) and elastin (necessary for its easy stretching) decreases. The skin loses its ability to easily stretch and return to its previous state without damage. And this process, unfortunately, cannot be regulated.

The most important reason for the appearance of stretch marks is heredity. If your mother and grandmother had stretch marks, you are almost guaranteed to have them too. And in this sense, it doesn’t matter how big your belly is. Sometimes, a woman’s small belly leaves very noticeable marks, while another woman’s huge belly leaves none. This is the trick.

However, besides genetics, there are a number of other factors that contribute to the appearance of stretch marks and their increase in number. This is the quality of nutrition of a pregnant woman, the supply of vitamins, motor mode, and the rate of weight gain. The appearance of stretch marks is influenced by smoking during pregnancy, the woman’s age (young skin is more elastic), weakness of the abdominal muscles, and metabolic disorders (diabetes or obesity, for example).

In addition, do not forget that stretch marks appear not only during pregnancy, but also in the first time after childbirth. We are talking about the breast: milk comes in very quickly to provide nutrition to the baby. The skin of the breast may not keep up with its rapidly increasing volumes, and connective tissue ruptures occur.

However, many of these factors can be controlled, which can significantly reduce the risk of unwanted streaks on the skin.

How to prevent stretch marks from appearing?

If your friend who gave birth boasts of the absence of stretch marks, this is not at all because she applied the most expensive cream at the stage of planning her pregnancy. She was just lucky: she had naturally elastic skin. So it will be very wrong on your part to pin your hopes on cosmetics alone: ​​you may miss the moment. But you can’t sit idly by waiting for stretch marks to appear either. If your skin is genetically predisposed to this, you just need to try to slow down the unwanted processes. Like, in principle, any pregnant woman. But in case of predisposition, efforts need to be tripled.