“Can you avoid stretch marks during pregnancy?What month of pregnancy do stretch marks appear?What is best to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?”
Stretch marks are most commonly seen in women during pregnancy. Stretch marks are expected to appear in 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women before delivery. Stretch marks may be exacerbated by hormones during pregnancy, according to some doctors. Hormones may cause the skin to retain more water, causing it to relax and rip more easily when stretched. In a recent study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 78 percent of participants said they utilised a stretch mark prevention product. A third of the women said they had tried two or more products, with Bio-Oil being the most popular. Despite this, 58.5 percent of women who used the oil got stretch marks.
The best strategy for pregnant women to avoid stretch marks is to gain weight slowly and steadily during their pregnancy. You can work with your healthcare professional to develop a diet and activity plan that will help you avoid gaining too much weight while also providing the nourishment you and your baby require. If you have stretch marks during pregnancy, you’ll be relieved to know that they will vanish over time. The red or pink colour will fade to a faint silver or white colour with time.
Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to avoid stretch marks. Stretch marks appear when the skin pulls apart rapidly as a result of rapid weight gain. Working to prevent rapid changes in your body may be your best option. To help you manage your weight, eat a nutritious diet and exercise often.
Stay hydrated
Keeping your skin hydrated and smooth can be as simple as drinking enough water. Stretch marks are less likely to appear on soft skin than on dry skin. Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, may increase your chances of getting stretch marks. If you consume coffee, make sure you’re getting enough water, herbal tea, and other caffeine-free beverages to balance out your fluid intake.
Nutrient-rich diet
Stretch marks can also appear if you are deficient in certain nutrients. Eating foods that promote skin health may be beneficial. Make sure your diet contains items that are high in:
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Zinc
Protein
Vitamin E
Choosing unprocessed foods in diverse colours is one approach to ensure you obtain a variety of nutrients.
Vitamin C
Collagen helps to maintain the strength and elasticity of your skin. It aids in the reduction of wrinkles, but it may also aid in the prevention of stretch marks. Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen. Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are particularly high in vitamin C.
Vitamin D
A study discovered a link between low vitamin D levels and the occurrence of stretch marks. More research is needed, but the findings imply that maintaining appropriate vitamin D levels can help prevent stretch marks. Sun exposure is the most convenient way to obtain vitamin D. Vitamin D is typically found in bread, cereal, and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral for skin health. It aids in the healing of wounds and helps to reduce inflammation. Although there is little evidence of a link between zinc and stretch marks to date, eating zinc-rich foods like nuts and fish may help keep your skin healthy.
Treat new stretch marks as they appear
If you can’t completely avoid stretch marks on your skin, you may attempt to reduce their appearance so they’re less obvious over time. If you have new stretch marks, make an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist to explore your options. The doctor can advise you on the best treatment options for new stretch marks.
What month of pregnancy do stretch marks appear?
Stretch marks form later in pregnancy as the skin expands to accommodate the expanding baby and uterus as a result of weight increase. Some women will see them as early as the second trimester, while others may not until the latter weeks of the third trimester. Some women are lucky enough to get none at all.
Stretch marks on the stomach (and elsewhere) are most likely to appear between 6 and 7 months pregnant, around the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the third trimester. They do, however, sometimes appear sooner.
Stretch marks on lighter-skinned women tend to be pinkish, whilst stretch marks on darker-skinned women tend to be lighter than the surrounding skin. Their growth pattern is divided into three stages.
Stage 1: The first stretch marks will be pink in colour and itchy. The skin around the stretch marks may also appear “flattened” and “thin.”
Stage 2: The stretch marks will gradually grow in length and width, turning a reddish or purple tint.
Stage 3: The stretch marks lose their reddish/pink colour as they mature. They will fade and turn pale white or silver in the months following pregnancy. They may also appear depressed and have an uneven shape or length.
What is best to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?
As it comes to preventing or minimising stretch marks, hydration is your best friend because moisturised skin is less likely to break when it stretches. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and sleeping with a humidifier will help your skin stay supple (Engleman). Moisturizing the areas at risk of stretch marks, including the stomach, breast, and legs, on a regular basis would also help. Using multiple products to produce a layering effect on the prone regions.
Tips for preventing or minimising stretch marks include the following:
As soon as you find out you’re expecting, start moisturising.
If stretch marks have already appeared, address them right once to prevent them from darkening and expanding.
A few drops of oil or a few pumps of cream will enough.
Moisturize your stomach, breast, legs, and any other part of your body that you know expands when you acquire weight. Apply the cream straight to any stretch marks that have already appeared.
For around 30 seconds, gently massage the cream into your skin with your fingers in a circular manner.
Repeat two or three times each day for the duration of your pregnancy and the three months following your delivery.
Stretch marks arise when the skin is stretched apart quickly, thus not gaining weight quickly is probably the best method to avoid them. There are many different viewpoints on how much weight gain is healthy during pregnancy. Although you should not eat for two, you will boost your calorie intake. It is undoubtedly feasible to strike a balance between how much more to eat and not overdoing it.
Consult your doctor about what is ideal for you, as total weight gain varies from person to person. For most people, this amount will be between 25 and 35 pounds. However, depending on whether you are overweight or underweight before to pregnancy, your optimal weight gain number may change.
It is preferable to choose a natural product that contains Shea butter when seeking for a solution to minimise stretch marks after pregnancy. You can ensure that your skin receives the optimum nourishment and moisturization by using shea butter for stretch marks. Stretch marks can be reduced even more by using a stretch marks oil in combination with body butter. Ingredients like Sea Buckthorn oil, Rosehip oil, Jojoba oil, Almond oil, Wheatgerm oil, and Amond oil are known to boost skin hydration, improve skin elasticity, prevent skin damage, and stimulate collagen formation, all of which assist to diminish the appearance of stretch marks.
Sources:
https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-prevent-or-reduce-stretch-marks-in-pregnancy-5186839
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/stretch-marks/
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/stretch-marks.aspx
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/ask-a-midwife/what-can-i-do-about-stretch-marks
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-concerns/prevent-pregnancy-stretchmarks/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/amp/article/stretch-marks