How skin stretch marks occur and how to avoid them and
thus expensive stretch mark treatment
Pregnant but afraid of over-stretching yourself?
Preventing Stretch Marks - An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A
Pound Of Cure by :
Low Jeremy
Stretch marks are never a pretty sight. They may cause insecurities
among those that have them – especially women. Unfortunately, unlike
other types of scars and skin imperfections, stretch marks are pretty
hard to get rid of. Given this, it certainly follows that stretch marks
are better avoided than treated. And in this case, the old adage
certainly applies: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Stretch marks are formed when the skin around an area is stretched
beyond its elasticity. This then causes the skin to produce collagen on
the stretched skin to cope. When the area then returns to its normal
size, the stretched skin plus collagen form a purplish scar like
formation that look pretty much like a keloid.
This condition is common among mothers since their skin around the hips,
tummy and thighs suddenly expand during pregnancy. Since the skin cannot
cope with the stretching that then takes place, stretch marks form.
However, stretch marks are not exclusive to mothers, they also occur in
people that suddenly gain weight, and people with dry skin or skin that
is not elastic.
Here are a few ways to prevent stretch marks from forming and some
commonly available treatments to combat this skin condition.
- Moisturizers.
For people with dry skin moisturizers are a
must to avoid stretch marks. If the skin lacks elasticity, the body is
more likely to produce extra collagen and form the stretch mark. Shea
butter has been proven to be a great intensive moisturizing treatment.
You could also help moisturize your skin by refraining from wiping
yourself vigorously with a towel after a shower. What you should do is
gently pat your skin dry in the bath. Better yet, you could pat
yourself slightly and let the moisture seep into your skin and
evaporate naturally. You could also spray on moisturizing oil while
you are glistening moist in the bath.
- Diet
. A proper diet makes the body healthy. That includes
the skin as well. While you may not really notice it, the secret to
glowing, supple, elastic skin is proper diet and hydration. Make sure
you take a good amount of water everyday to keep yourself from being
dehydrated. If you are dehydrated, then your skin suffers as well.
Also avoid diuretics and other substances that could harm your skin.
Coffee and caffeinated drinks are some of the greatest offenders
against skin health – so are tea, smoking, and other substances that
cause dehydration and poor blood oxygen levels.
Gorge on vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamins A, C, and E,
which are powerful antioxidants that can help reverse the effects of
free-radicals on your skin. Moreover, such vitamins help keep smooth
and healthy skin and reduce the chance that stretch marks could
appear.
- Exercise and Massage
. Exercise helps promote better
circulation and overall skin health. More blood means better nutrition
for the skin. And better nutrition for the skin is healthier, suppler
skin that is less likely to develop stretch marks. Massage also helps
keep the skin supple; coupled with massage oils, could increase the
elasticity of the skin.
Conclusion
While maintaining healthy skin certainly improves your chances against
developing stretch marks, it pays to remember that this skin condition
is also affected by many factors such as genetics, some ailments, and
environmental factors. But with healthier skin, you can at least reduce
the incidence of stretch marks dramatically. About the author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its
entirety with all links included. For more information on stretch marks
prevention, please visit
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