The Cleveland Clinic characterizes stretch marks as a form of scarring. As a person gains weight, the skin is forced to compensate by expanding in size. After a certain point, the elasticity of the skin can weaken, resulting in the pink-to-reddish streaking associated with stretch marks. There are certain home remedies that can help prevent stretch marks, and while there's no way to guarantee that the methods will prevent stretch marks, they do decrease the likelihood.
Weight Management
One of the most effective ways to prevent stretch marks is weight management. Even women who are pregnant can reduce their chances of developing stretch marks by minimizing weight gain over and beyond what is necessary. Since excess weight can cause the skin to pull, and thereby weaken elastic fibers within the dermis, you can often prevent stretch marks by maintaining a healthy diet coupled with daily exercise, advises the Mayo Clinic.
A healthy diet includes one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean cuts of meat, seafood, poultry and low-fat dairy. Exercise can include almost any activity that causes physical exertion. Thirty minutes of moderately intense exercises, such as swimming, biking, walking and competitive sports, can help to minimize weight gain.
Diet
There's also the potential to help prevent stretch marks with dietary changes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients responsible for good skin health can lower your chances of developing stretch marks. Look for foods high in vitamins A, C and D, as well as zinc and protein. These nutrients are found in carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, oranges, grapefruit, milk, eggs, fish and many nuts or seeds.
Water
The Cleveland Clinic also recommends drinking plenty of water to help combat against stretch marks. Proper hydration can keep the skin soft and supple, which can prevent the formation of stretch marks. In addition to water intake, you should also monitor the amount of caffeine you drink each day. Caffeine can actually contribute to the formation of stretch marks, so the clinic suggests matching your coffee, tea or soda intake with equal amounts of water.
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