During pregnancy, women experience many different fears related to the health and development of the unborn child. A common cause of anxiety is changes in appearance and loss of attractiveness. In women, hormonal levels and the nature of the functioning of internal organs change, which leads to the appearance of skin rashes and symptoms of malaise. Sometimes the skin is not ready for the rapid growth of the abdomen, which is manifested by the appearance of stretch marks. The cause of the pathology is also a lack of necessary substances that affect the production of collagen and elastin. In this connection, the natural answer to the question is how to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy.
Video tips for combating stretch marks ↑
Striae that have already appeared can be removed only with the help of a specialist, but this is not a reason to give up and be inactive. Using home methods, you can improve the condition of your skin, and stretch marks on your stomach will become less noticeable. Popular wisdom says that it is easier to prevent a problem altogether than to fight it later.
Stretch marks appear suddenly, and no one is immune from them. But it is easier to prevent their occurrence than to try to get rid of them
The appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy ↑
It just so happens that such a wonderful condition as pregnancy is often overshadowed by the appearance of stretch marks. Here are some tips you can follow to try to avoid this fate.
- Be sure to lubricate your skin with moisturizer daily. The fact is that during pregnancy she often suffers from excessive dryness. Regularly lubricating the areas most prone to stretch marks will help you prevent them from appearing.
- Wearing a properly selected bandage will relieve excess stress from the abdominal area and prevent excessive stretching of the skin and, consequently, the appearance of stretch marks.
- Particular attention should be paid to nutrition during this period. Excessive consumption of sweets and starchy foods has never been good for the skin, but food rich in proteins and vitamins can preserve the beauty and youth of your skin for a long time.
- Massage is an excellent procedure for preventing stretch marks on the abdomen. During pregnancy, it is better to do it yourself using a special brush with stiff bristles.
- Try to lead an active lifestyle and, if there are no special contraindications, do gymnastics for pregnant women.
Let's say right away: following these recommendations is not a 100% guarantee against the appearance of stretch marks. Unfortunately, there are too many reasons why they occur, and most often it is a genetic predisposition. Both the size of the fetus and the weight you gained during pregnancy matter. But we can say with confidence that such procedures will help the skin not to lose elasticity ahead of time, which means that if stretch marks appear, they will be much smaller and not so noticeable in the future.
The period of pregnancy can be “pleasant” with the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen. Daily moisturizing of the skin will help avoid this problem.
Prenatal bandage for pregnant women
A prenatal bandage is a good way to prevent stretch marks. It helps support the stomach, relieves stress from the back, and prevents the abdominal muscles from becoming too stretched. When wearing a bandage, the skin remains at rest and there is no additional impact on it.
Doctors recommend wearing a bandage starting from 6-7 months of pregnancy. If you have a large fetus and a large belly, or this is not your first pregnancy, you can put on a bandage earlier. Before purchasing a bandage, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Under no circumstances should the bandage put pressure on the abdomen; its main function is support. If you feel any discomfort, then choose a different model or size.
Let's start the fight against striae ↑
Let’s assume that stretch marks have appeared and are now causing discomfort to their owner. If the question “how to get rid of stretch marks on the stomach” haunts you, then the first thing you need to remember is that the success of the fight will depend on the regularity and consistency of the procedures performed.
This is important to know!
Striae or stretch marks are pale pink veins on the skin. Depending on the depth of location, there are thin white stripes on the skin, almost invisible, in the form of pale pink scars or large scars that are initially burgundy-blue and subsequently lighten.
It will take a long time for skin with stretch marks to recover. If you start the fight right away, when stretch marks are still at the stage of appearance and have a pink tint, then the chances that in the future the stretch marks will be invisible are much greater. When the color changes to silvery white, getting rid of them will be problematic. But don’t despair, in this form they are no longer so noticeable to others.
This is what stretch marks look like that appear during pregnancy due to excessive stretching of the skin.
Signs
Most often, stretch marks damage areas of the chest and abdomen. These zones are most modified and enlarged during gestation.
In the later stages, they can form on the buttocks and thighs. Appearance on the calves is rare, mainly after significant swelling.
They are divided into several types. The main ones are single and multiple.
What will be the answer to the question: what do stretch marks look like during pregnancy? Initially they look like stripes no more than 5 mm wide, the length ranges from 7-15 cm.
With rapid weight gain, vertical striae appear. A horizontal position indicates a hormonal imbalance.
During the period when stretch marks appear during pregnancy, they have a purple-red color. After which they become burgundy in color, at the end of their cycle they leave white, translucent marks.
The hue changes are controlled by a network of blood vessels.
Changing eating habits ↑
First, face the truth and answer honestly: are you eating right? If the answer is no, then you need to reconsider your diet and adjust it to get rid of stretch marks. At first glance, there is no visible connection between food and stretch marks, but poor nutrition does not have the best effect on the condition of the skin. When changes are not expected on your desk, then do not expect them on your appearance.
A properly designed diet is very important when taking preventive measures against stretch marks.
To maintain skin tone, a balanced diet is necessary. Your diet must include fruits and vegetables (preferably raw or stewed), fish and seafood, lean meat and herbs. Do not forget that for elasticity the skin needs moisture, and it must come from within the body. The consumption of sugary carbonated drinks must be stopped. Now clean water should be your constant companion.
Consumer Reviews
Anna P. about La-Cri cleansing gel (irecommend.ru)
“I buy La-Cri gel for my daughter for daily hygiene. The gel is very gentle, smells nice, and what is most important for me is that it soothes irritated skin and prevents dryness and itching. The child’s skin is very sensitive against the background of atopic dermatitis (constant rashes, itching and, as a result, scratching until it bleeds and sores), having tried many products from the most expensive to the cheapest, I chose La-Cri gel for my daughter. The best option at an affordable price. After bathing, the skin is soft and smooth, as if covered with a thin protective film, the rashes fade, and the itching becomes less. By the way, the composition contains many natural ingredients, which is good news. And the packaging with a dispenser is very convenient and economical.”
Marikha about La-Cri cleansing gel (nashiotzyvy.com)
“When I was looking for a product to cleanse my face, I looked at the safe composition and the manufacturer’s promises. In the end, I settled on the La-Cri facial cleansing gel. The bottle itself is white, with a volume of 200 ml, which is a lot; it lasted me 4 months of daily use. A convenient dispenser allows you to use the product economically, which is very important. It states right on the bottle that it does not contain fragrances or dyes. There is a number 0+ there. This means that it can be used by both children and adults. I liked its effect. Gently cleanses the skin, softens it, protects it from the harmful effects of nature, especially from the sun in summer. You can use it not only to wash your face, but also your hands and the whole body. It's enough for my face alone. If I'm not mistaken, it also contains walnut extract, which has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. And licorice extract is anti-allergic, so you don’t have to worry about itching because of it; on the contrary, it eliminates it. A great product that gently cleanses all the dirt from your face.”
Sources:
- Smirnova G.I. Managing the course of the disease: atopic dermatitis in children, Russian pediatric journal, 2014 https://cyberleninka.ru/article/v/upravlenie-techeniem-bolezni-atopicheskiy-dermatit-u-detey
- A.N. Pampura, A.A. Chuslyaeva, Modern approaches to the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children https://cyberleninka.ru/article/v/sovremennye-podhody-k-terapii-atopicheskogo-dermatita-u-detey
- Skin diseases of newborns and infants. Guide for doctors / Gorlanov I. A., Leina L. M., Milyavskaya I. R., Zaslavsky D. V. St. Petersburg: Folio. 2021.-208 p.
Getting rid of stretch marks on the stomach at home ↑
As soon as stretch marks begin to appear, there is no need to hesitate - start fighting them! And you can do this at home.
- Regularly moisturize your skin with oils.
Vegetable oils have been used by women for various cosmetic procedures since ancient times. Since then, scientists have made many discoveries, and cosmetology has come a long way. But even now, olive or almond oil is used to get rid of stretch marks, with which excellent results are achieved.
Apply pregnancy cream or oil to your skin daily
You should definitely have the following oils in your arsenal: orange, lemon, wheat germ, rosemary. And then stretch marks simply won’t have any chance! To get results, make it a rule to rub the oil into problem areas of the skin daily.
- Wraps and massage
Massage improves the metabolic processes occurring in the skin by increasing blood circulation. With its help, you can not only get rid of stretch marks, but also perfectly tone your body and say goodbye to cellulite.
In order to enhance the effect of the massage, it is recommended to do a wrap procedure immediately after it. Apply a cream containing collagen to your stomach and carefully wrap the problem area with cling film. To prolong the warming effect, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie there for half an hour. After several sessions, you will see for yourself that the stretch marks have faded and become less noticeable.
When performing self-massage, alternate rubbing with light pinching
Clinical researches
Conducted clinical studies prove the high effectiveness, safety and tolerability of products for daily skin care for children and adults. The products are also suitable for children with mild and moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during the period of remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients. As a result of therapy, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.
Based on the results of the clinical study, the placement of information on the packages “Recommended by the St. Petersburg branch of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia” was agreed upon.
Folk remedies for stretch marks ↑
All traditional medicine recipes are usually convenient in that the raw materials for their production are always available to us and do not require large expenses.
- Scrub
Easy to make at home from salt, coffee or sugar. You can mix the components with each other, and in order for the scrub to be easily applied to the skin, add any vegetable oil or sour cream. Twice a week, while taking a shower, the resulting mixture is thoroughly rubbed into problem areas and then washed off using a contrast shower. The whole procedure should not be too long - 10 minutes is enough.
A scrub prepared at home will not only help make stretch marks less noticeable, but also reduce the appearance of cellulite.
- Ice cubes
A very effective procedure. You need to freeze salt water (the salt concentration should be high) and wipe the stretch marks with salt ice twice a day. Salt speeds up metabolic processes, and ice promotes blood flow. Together, this will help the skin recover faster.
- Mumiyo
It has proven itself to be excellent in the fight against stretch marks. You need to dissolve a gram of mumiyo in a tablespoon of water and mix it with 80g of any baby cream. Store the mixture in the refrigerator and apply twice daily.
Shilajit cream is easy to prepare at home
Prevention
Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy includes several points.
- Healthy eating. The intake of necessary substances contributes to proper digestion and saturation of the body with healthy fats and amino acids.
- Compliance with the drinking regime is necessary to constantly maintain skin tone.
- A contrast shower significantly increases elasticity.
- The use of special bandage underwear resists sagging of the dermis and maintains its condition.
Cosmetic scrubs, massage of problem areas and daily physical activity will be excellent prevention.
The appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy brings negative emotions and worries about a spoiled appearance. Don't worry about this. An integrated approach will help not only remove existing stretch marks, but also prevent the appearance of new ones.
