Most women will have stretch marks somewhere on their body during pregnancy. Stretch marks or striae gravidarum are thick, linear bands that occur on the abdomen, lower body and thighs, arms, and breasts. When they first appear, they usually look like angry streaks that are red, purple, or pink in color. Stretch marks usually appear in the last few months when women experience a sudden abdominal stretch and changes in hormone levels that can affect the elasticity and strength of the skin.
It is not surprising that the main site of stretch marks is the abdomen and breasts, as both are areas that undergo expansion. There are other specific indicators to be more likely to have stretch marks. These are;
• younger maternal age during pregnancy
•family history of stretch marks, non-white race
• excessive weight gain during pregnancy
•higher maternal body weight, with a larger baby
Prevention and management of stretch marks
Most women may have a genetic predisposition to stretch marks and this is something we can do little about, however there are ways to help the skin in order to limit their severity. Good nutrition, exercise and the use of a good moisturizer can help treat stretch marks and even prevent them.
Excessive weight gain
Since excessive weight gain appears to be a contributing factor in the development of stretch marks, it is important for women to maintain a healthy and appropriate weight during pregnancy. The NHS suggests that women should gain between 8 and 14kg during pregnancy depending on whether they are overweight or underweight at the start of pregnancy. There are also additional benefits to not gaining weight during diabetes, which would include the development of gestational problems. diabetes and preeclampsia, both high risk factors for pregnancy.
Nutrition and Exercise
Exercising regularly and making sure you eat the right foods during pregnancy can help you gain weight gradually and appropriately for the benefit of you and the health of your growing child.
Natural products for skin care
One way to control or prevent stretch mark scarring is to use a product designed specifically for that purpose, which aims to smooth and tone the skin, as well as restore lost vital moisture. There are some lovely ingredients that are used to reduce scars, moisturize and firm and tone the skin. These include rosehip oil, shea butter, olive oil, and frankincense.
rosehip
Rosehip seed oil is high in essential fatty acids, linoleic fatty acid and linolenic acid, also known as vitamin F. Rosheip oil is excellent for cell regeneration, essential to help the body prevent and heal diseases. stretch marks.
shea butter
Shea butter comes from the processing and extraction of the oil from the nut of the karite tree. It is a rich, grainy butter that has excellent moisturizing properties and has been used for centuries by African peoples for cooking and skin care. It’s also good for people who suffer from dry, irritable skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, helping to protect and aid in healing.
olive oil
Olive oil contains squalane, an emollient that closely resembles human sebum; Oleocanthal- a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent; Phenols, which are also anti-inflammatory and blood thinning, and Chlorophyll, which is thought to help heal the skin. All this helping to regenerate and make the skin shine.
Incense
Found in East Africa, the Middle East (Oman, Yemen), and India, frankincense oil comes from the gum of the tree. The oil is high in boswellic acid, a substance that has shown anti-inflammatory activity. There is reliable evidence that boswellic acid, when introduced into beauty products, can improve skin texture and elasticity.
When applied topically, these creams can have a great benefit in keeping the skin supple, hydrated, and helping to tone the skin.