Pregnant women dread those pregnancy stretch marks. The good news is that there are four simple steps that you can take to help to prevent them from happening to you.
Step 1 -- Understand what stretch marks are
Rapid weight gain of any kind puts you at a higher risk for stretch marks, because when skin is stretched, it becomes weaker. This can cause damage to collagen and proteins in your skin which then causes blood vessels to dilate causing red or purple colored early stretch marks. By trying not to gain weight too quickly during pregnancy, you can reduce your risk of skin damage.
Step 2 -- Drink lots of water.
Water will help to hydrate your skin and keep it elastic. Dry skin is damaged much more quickly than hydrated skin and more prone to stretch marks. (Remember that caffeinated drinks also cause dehydration, so these do not count toward your liquid intake!)
Step 3 -- Eat a Healthy Balanced Diet.
Nutrient-rich foods help to keep your skin in good condition. Lean meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables all contain very important nutrients that help your baby grow and help your skin stay healthy too!
Step 4 -- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Invest in some over-the-counter products like cocoa butter and Trilastin! They can decrease your chances of getting stretch marks by improving your skin's health. They work to keep your skin elastic and moisturized. They can even work to prevent a great deal of skin damage before it ever happens.
By taking these four steps towards stretch mark prevention, you have a very good chance of avoiding the dreaded pregnancy stretch marks.
