Every trimester in pregnancy brings new surprises. As the baby keeps growing inside mommy's belly, many changes will start to show up. Some of them might come in the shape of streak-like marks on the skin. The diagnosis: pregnancy stretch marks.
The new "tiger stripes" on the expecting mom's body are nothing to worry about. While not all women get them, they're a fairly common pregnancy milestone. Some moms wear them proudly as some sort of badge of honour. However, it's OK not to like these maternity souvenirs and want to get rid of them — Your body, your choice.
Stretch marks can happen at any period in life when putting on weight or during growth spurts. They're not exclusive to motherhood and pregnancy. Still, the quick size changes in an expecting mother's body make the skin more susceptible to this kind of breakage. Hormonal changes are also to blame here.
Depending on the new mom's skin tone, pregnancy stretch marks can appear in different shades of brown, red, pink, or purple. They commonly surface on the tummy area as the skin expands to fit an ever-growing bump. Other common body parts for pregnancy stretch marks are:
Stretch marks are basically scars. They happen when the dermis — the middle layer of skin — tears as a result of expanding really fast in a short period of time. The lack of collagen to repair these tears causes them to become permanent marks in the long run.
Contrary to popular belief, skin elasticity has little to do with a woman's predisposition to develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Genetics is the main culprit when it comes to weaker fibres in the skin. Up to 90% of women will develop stretch marks during their last pregnancy trimester.
Stretch marks will often appear overnight without any warning. However, keep an eye out for:
Keep in mind that while stretch marks can be an aesthetic nuisance for some women, they pose no harm. Although they're unlikely to go away, some simple treatments can help expecting mothers prevent them and fade them out.
When it comes to pregnancy stretch marks, prevention is key. It's very hard — if not impossible — to get rid of stretch marks once they've formed on your skin. While there's no infallible technique to stop them from showing up, you can try massaging your skin with a rich moisturiser.
Keeping your skin hydrated is the cornerstone to having it looking its best. Besides, every expecting mom could use a little "me time" to relax and connect with the baby. Get yourself a lush stretch mark and scar cream, and massage your belly — and other stretch mark prone areas — after you shower. Make sure to apply it on damp skin for better results.
Getting stretch marks is just a natural sign that life's growing inside of you. However, it's understandable if you want to keep your skin looking as healthy as it can be. If the thought of developing stretch marks bothers you, visit BellyBands and grab our all-natural stretch mark and scar cream today!
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