Hate Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are the purplish or reddish lines that appear on the abdomen, thighs, breasts, or arms of a person who had undergone a recent growth spurt or weight gain, such as adolescents, pregnant women, bodybuilders, or athletes. But they aren’t the only ones affected because most people in the world today suffer from this dermatological event. Is there a way on how to prevent stretch marks?

First, you need to know that there are quite several factors of the fact that some people get stretch marks, while a select few don’t;

Heredity – There are just some people whose skins are predisposed, just as their ancestors before them. Check if your mother has stretch marks, because if she has, you probably will have them too.

Skin type – The skin’s elasticity is affected by its hydration. If the skin is dry, then it is more likely to be brittle, thus having lesser elasticity, which means that stretch marks are more prone for those with dry skin.

Weight – Again, stretch marks are very much connected to weight, and the rapid gaining and losing of it. Sometimes, we grow or gain weight so much, so quick, that it becomes too much for the skin to bear, thus the breakage which we see as stretch marks.

Stretch marks do not negatively affect people physically, but it sure does affect them emotionally. Self- image is vital because it affects our confidence.

So, can anything be done to really prevent the formation of stretch marks? Well, if it’s hereditary, then no, there’s nothing that can be done to prevent them. But there are ways to really reduce the formation and appearance of stretch marks. If the personal reasons for your stretch marks are the other two, then there may be some ways to prevent them. So here are a few advices and tips on how to prevent stretch marks from happening:

Hydrate your skin. Rub the “problem areas” of your body, such as the stomach, abdomen, thighs, arms, and shoulders, with lotions or creams containing Vitamin E, cocoa butter, or sweet almond oil. These ingredients are safe for use for pregnant women, yet there are some creams and lotions that they must avoid because it might affect the baby, such as products containing Retin-A.

An even safer method to hydrate the skin is by drinking water, lots and lots of it. Remember our early health lessons in elementary that tell us to drink 8 glasses of water a day? Well, there was a reason why the teachers tells us that, and that is because we need to keep our bodies properly and sufficiently hydrated.

Eat healthy. A healthy, diverse, and balanced diet can do wonders for your weight, and remember that weight is one of the leading factors in the formation of stretch marks. Besides, when you eat right, you also nourish the skin by giving it the right vitamins and nutrition. Other than that, pregnant women and adolescents who are expected to gain weight or experience rapid growth spurt, allow their skin to be stretched at a steady rate, without sudden spurts or jolts, if they eat right and healthily.

Exercise. Proper exercise is fantastic, not only for the skin, but also for the body, it also helps in keeping your weight down, which may lead to unwanted stretch marks.

Don’t scratch your problem areas. Sometimes, stretch marks can become itchy, it you must try to avoid scratching because it pulls and hurts the outer skin even further. What you can do is to massage the affected areas with a wash cloth with water or moisturizing cream to lessen the itchiness. So one advice on how to prevent stretch marks is by not damaging the skin further by scratching.

Again, I must stress that stretch marks, unless treated surgically, are here to stay. But with these tips on how to prevent stretch marks, then they will appear to be less conspicuous, and you won’t have to worry too much about them anymore.