Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman's body. While it's easy to see some of these changes as part of the beautiful process of life, one change that most women agree is not so beautiful is the development of stretch marks. Commercial creams and lotions make big promises but carry high price tags. Plus, many women wonder what ingredients are safe to use during pregnancy. There are several home remedies you can try that are less expensive, safe and all-natural alternatives.
Drink 8 to 10 Glasses of Water Daily
Stretch marks are tears in the middle, underlying layer of the skin, or dermis. The marks become visible when the outer layer of skin, or epidermis, becomes thinner and flatter during pregnancy and shows the tears in the dermis.
One of the best ways to prevent stretch marks is to stay adequately hydrated throughout your pregnancy and the postpartum period. Be sure to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water daily to decrease the breakdown in your skin's elasticity.
Diet of Variety
Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is not only beneficial for the health of you and your baby, but also helps prevent stretch marks. Certain nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and silica help the body produce the proteins it needs to keep skin supple.
Foods that are rich in vitamins K and C are leafy greens, tomatoes, liver and dairy products. Many nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E and zinc. Include a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and consume sources of lean, high-quality protein such as beans, fish and chicken.
Regular Exercise
Many pregnant women underestimate the role exercise plays in their overall health and well-being during pregnancy. One of the many benefits of regular exercise is your skin's health, as well. Exercise promotes circulation and cell renewal to every organ of your body during pregnancy, including your skin, making the development of stretch marks less likely. Exercise will help keep weight gain at a gradual pace and reduce the likelihood of stretch marks.
Slough Away Dead Skin
Exfoliation is vital to the skin's renewal process in general, but is even more important to stretching skin in pregnancy. Every time you shower or bathe, use an exfoliating cloth, glove or loofah with moisturizing soap and gently scrub those areas prone to stretch marks. You can also try body scrubs or make your own using a sugar base. Salt scrubs tend to dry the skin, making the problem worse.
Cook Up Your Own Oils
The advantage of using oils to treat or prevent and treat stretch marks is their fast-absorbing qualities. Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, four capsules of Vitamin E and two capsules of vitamin A. Empty the contents of each vitamin capsule by cutting a slit in each and squeezing the liquid out into a blender with the other ingredients. Throw the empty capsules away. Use a blender to combine all the ingredients.
You can add other beneficial ingredients such as lavender, chamomile or avocado oil to enhance your oil. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge and massage into problem areas twice daily. Focus on the abdomen, hips and breasts during pregnancy. If you're breast-feeding postpartum, avoid getting oil on the nipple area.
Homemade Stretch Mark Creams
Store-bought stretch mark creams can get expensive in a hurry. You can make a concoction of your own using some basic ingredients common in the pricier drugstore brands. You can trust that all of the ingredients will be all natural and safe to use during pregnancy.
You may be pleased with results from using a stick of pure cocoa butter, available at most health food stores. Or you can create a mixture of cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, vitamin E, elastin cream and apricot seed oil.
Make a large batch and store in an airtight container. Apply at least twice a day, in the morning and at bedtime. Again, avoid the nipple area while breast-feeding.
