Dealing with Stretch Marks

Something I know I was really worried about during my pregnancy was getting stretch marks.  I was in my mid 20’s and worked really hard to keep a decent “bikini body” so I wasn’t crazy about the idea of getting stretch marks that would leave it permanently scarred.  Let me back up and give you the full overview on what I am talking about.

Our skin is pretty stretchy.  It can take quite a bit and responds very well when our bodies change and grow.  Unless that growth is very quick.  Any time there is a period of rapid weight gain or loss or skin is in jeopardy of getting stretch marks.  The commonly afflicted include body builders, teenagers and of course pregnant women.

When our bodies grow too fast and our skin can’t keep up, the dermis will actually tear.  This leaves purplish grooves that are medically called striae.  They can be a little itchy, but they are perfectly harmless.  Except if you are like me you thing they look horrible and want to avoid getting them at all costs.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that definitely applies when dealing with stretch marks.  That is absolutely true when dealing with stretch marks.  As they are actually scars they are next to impossible to get rid of once you get them so it is far better to not get them to begin with.

Your best shot at preventing stretch marks lies in a combination of gaining weight as slowly as possible and keep your skin ultra moisturized.

You only have so much control over the rate at which you gain weight when you are pregnant.  Your baby is going to grow how it is going to grow.  But there is a lot you can do to manage the additional weight you gain beyond that.  For example give plenty of attention to your diet and be sure that you are eating healthy and minimizing any junk.  Also, be sure to keep up with your exercise program.

The other trick is to keep your skin as moisturized as possible so that it can endure the tremendous strain that the new growth is going to be placing on it.

If you do get stretch marks, and it is entirely possible that you still will get some.  Your best bet is to consider one of the popular stretch mark creams like Trilastin.  This particular product as received plenty of positive reviews and was even featured on the Tyra Banks Show.

Beyond those tips there is really nothing else you can do.  Stretch marks are a part of pregnancy and a part of life.  They are a souvenir of the time you spent carrying your wonderful new baby in your belly and you should embrace them as such.  They are not they end of the world and after you have taken the steps that are within your control, you’ll will just have to let go and let nature take its course.