How to prevent the appearance of stretch marks related to pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a period synonymous with great upheavals for the body of the future mother. Some of thesechangesare very beneficial and appreciated, such as a pretty complexion or beautiful hair, but others much less.
These are for example, these unsightlystretch marksthat often appear from the beginning of pregnancy. Where do they come from, and how can stretch marks be avoided?
What are the origins of the appearance of stretch marks?
The appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy results from a rupture of thedeep fibers of the dermis, the thickest layer of skin located just under the epidermis. These fibers break and the dermis thins, causing the appearance of a characteristic hollow streak, more or less thick, red or pink color. It will eventually whiten and become more discreet over time, but without ever really disappearing.
In pregnant women, this rupture occurs under the action of two factors, the first of which is the rapidweight gainrelated to the development of the fetus, resulting in many tensions and constraints on the skin. The second culprit is called cortisol.
It is a hormone that regulates the elastic properties of the skin and the renewal of collagen composing the dermis. It is produced in smaller quantities during pregnancy, and the maintenance of skin fibers is less effective. Cells that rupture arenot or are poorly reconstructed, and stretch marks appear.
Carefully monitor the most stressed areas
Most of the time,stretch marksappear on the areas that experience the most tension: the belly, hips, breasts, and if weight gain is not sufficiently controlled, they can also reach the thin skin of the inner thighs or lower back.
Every day and very quickly, the chest gains volume, the belly rounds and the hips thicken. Special monitoring of these areas is therefore necessary toprevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.
Can stretch marks really be prevented during pregnancy?
Once stretch marks have settled, it is almost impossible to make them disappear, which is why it is important to worry about themfrom the beginning of pregnancy, and at least until the 4th month of pregnancy, or at the end of breastfeeding.
The first thing you need to do to avoid stretch marks is to make sure you properly cover all your skin’s needs. Composed of 70% water, it is naturally necessary todrinkenough to hydrate itfrom the inside, especially during pregnancy. If your body runs out of water, it will naturally use its reserves, especially those contained in the skin (it can contain up to 40% of the body’s total reserves). It dries out andloses its elasticity.
Providing your cells with the nutrients essential for their functioning also requires a balanced diet. It must allow a sufficient intake of vitamins A, B3 and C that maintain the production of collagen. Vitamin B1, zinc and unsaturated fatty acids (the famous omega-3-6-9) helpmaintain its flexibility. Varying foods and consuming them in appropriate quantities will also limit weight gain, and thusreduce tension on the skin.
Stimulate your skin to help it defend itself
Finally, there are a large number of care products, oils or moisturizing creams, specific to stretch mark problems and adapted to pregnant women. It is nevertheless necessary to apply them every day, ideally morning and evening, to all areas at risk. This requires prolonged massages, or even using the movement of palpating and rolling.
Indeed, recent studies (1) tend to confirm the effectiveness of the mechanical action of the hands (or of a massage device) on the resistance and suppleness of the skin. The massage stimulates the fibres, activates the production of collagen and elastin and boosts micro-circulation. The skin retains its dynamism and offers more resistance to breakage.
To protect your skin and prevent stretch marks, you can use adapted solutions such asstretch mark productsfromCellublue.
Oil, scrub, cream, everything is there to repair the fabrics and soothe the tightness. These are mainly natural products compatible with pregnant and lactating women.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.