How to Treat Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
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Stretch marks are completely normal. If you’re pregnant, there’s a strong chance you’ll develop them along the way, with 8 out of 10 women reporting stretch marks during pregnancy. But that doesn’t mean you have to put up with them! If you are wondering how to get rid of stretch marks, we are here to help!
What Are Stretch Marks?
Knowing how to get rid of stretch marks begins with understanding what they are. Stretch marks are streak-like lines that can appear pink, white, red, purple, or brown, depending on your skin tone and condition. These marks can appear anywhere on the abdomen, breasts, hips, and many other places on the body. They are not painful or harmful and are particularly common in the last trimester of pregnancy. While some stretch marks may fade over time, there is a high likelihood that they will never disappear entirely without treatment. There are variations in how stretch marks may look, ranging from thin streaks to widespread stretch marks.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks occur when the skin is – you guessed it – stretched. Affected by various factors, anyone can get stretch marks, but it is particularly common amongst pregnant people. Factors like being young, rapid growth, a family history of stretch marks, or rapidly gaining or losing weight all increase the likelihood of getting stretch marks at some point. The hormone cortisol level in your body may also impact the appearance of stretch marks, as this weakens the fibres in the skin, making it more susceptible to visible markings.
Fortunately, knowing these common causes will help you find the right treatment for stretch marks to get rid of them much faster.
When Do Stretch Marks Start to Appear in Pregnancy?
Forewarned is forearmed in the treatment for stretch marks.
Pregnancy is one of the most significant changes in a woman’s body. As your baby grows and takes up more space (so greedy), you’ll probably start to notice those dreaded little lines across your tummy. Straight away, you will likely wonder how to remove or at least reduce these stretch marks before they worsen.
You're certainly not alone if you see some tiger stripes pop up. Did you know that stretch marks develop in nine out of 10 pregnancies? As the skin around the ever-growing belly is pulled and pushed to its limit, the collagen and elastin in the skin stretch and snap.
So, how do you deal with this sudden change? When you see red streaks all over your skin, you can consider investing in treatment for stretch marks with products such as belly creams for pregnancy, a stretch mark cream or a new skincare routine for your body to keep them at bay.
Where Do You Get Stretch Marks in Pregnancy
Finding the proper treatment for stretch marks depends on where exactly they appear.
Across your belly, breasts, and lower hips, as the baby grows and your skin thins, you might start to experience your skin itching and becoming more uncomfortable. That’s right: along with everything else your body is going through (swollen feet, a touch of hair loss, all the good stuff), your growing stretch marks might make your skin itch.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll probably experience a fair bit of itching and potentially some skin irritation during this time. Pregnancy is no joke!
With this discomfort, you are probably desperate to know how to get rid of stretch marks faster!
As you gain more weight during your second trimester, you might start noticing the lines look redder and more prevalent. Before you have a complete meltdown, stay calm. These new stretch marks look worse when they’re new. To reduce the appearance of stretch marks, the best body cream for pregnancy stretch marks will soothe and moisturise your skin to keep it elastic.
What Works Best to Reduce or Remove Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
Many women ask us how to get rid of stretch marks during pregnancy. Now, let’s be real: even the best stretch mark cream isn’t going to eradicate your newly acquired marks completely. A pregnancy stretch mark cream or stretch mark oil WILL help keep your skin soft, hydrated, and healthy, making it one of the best ways to prevent, reduce or remove stretch marks during pregnancy; however, as we said before, it’s no guarantee. Still, this treatment for stretch marks will give you a welcome helping hand to remove stretch marks quicker.
The best cream for itchy stretch marks contains a blend of Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, and other nourishing, plant-based oils. Rosemary and Mint help keep the skin firm, and Hazelnut Oil nourishes and softens the skin. A good stretch mark prevention cream will help with the itching and keep you feeling your best.
Know How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks with the Best Treatment & Products
Whether you want to know how to prevent or get rid of stretch marks or discover the best stretch marks treatment after pregnancy, we’ve got all the best pregnancy-safe products for you to keep up with your body and skin changes.
Check out the video below as Dr Michelle Rodrigues takes us through everything we need to know about pregnancy skincare.
How to Prevent & Reduce Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
What better way to get rid of stretch marks than by making sure you reduce the risk of them ever appearing?
If you want to know how to prevent pregnancy stretch marks, you’re already ahead of the game by being aware that they can occur. Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with stretch marks; however, there is also nothing wrong with wanting to reduce their appearance.
The key to staying stretch mark-free is to take action to prevent their formation in the first place. Hydrated skin has greater elasticity than dry skin, so it will expand more easily without showing stretch marks. Some people naturally have more elastic skin than others. A great way to minimise stretch marks is to keep skin hydrated, so it has more natural stretch.
Moisturising is a must-have for your pregnancy skincare routine, and that means from head to toe! We recommend applying body creams, lotions, and oils daily if you want to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
We always recommend that you consult with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are unsure about any products or ingredients when you experiment with how to get rid of stretch marks.
Reduce Stretch Marks with Body Oil
Body oil is a great way to reduce stretch marks by making the skin more pliable. Applying it regularly can help create a natural lipid barrier contributing to the skin’s ability to retain moisture. After all, elasticity and hydration are essential to stretch marks treatment, and there are a variety of body oils to choose from when looking to remove them for good!
Our Top Body Oil Recommendations for How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks:
Reduce Stretch Marks with Body Cream
Body creams are a great way to boost hydration and add moisture to the skin. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, these creams can ensure the skin is kept well-hydrated and more elastic so that it is resistant to the effects of stretching or shrinking, which may cause stretch marks.
If you have naturally dry skin, we recommend a rich, emollient cream or lotion to soothe and protect skin while imparting a long-lasting moisture boost.
Our Top Pregnancy Cream Recommendations for How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks:
● Clarins Stretch Mark Minimiser
We recommend staying hydrated with plenty of water if you want natural ways to avoid, reduce or remove stretch marks during pregnancy. Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamin C and zinc can also prevent stretch marks from forming.
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
Knowing how to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy is important if you want to minimise their appearance or even make them disappear altogether. Stretch marks will naturally fade over time, but with some of us, they stay for life. However, don’t worry: you can speed up the fading process using the right products.
We recommend using gentle exfoliators, which work to slough away dead skin cells and accelerate skin cell renewal—perfect for diminishing stretch marks.
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks with The Best Exfoliators After Pregnancy:
We also recommend nourishing lotions and creams to hydrate the skin and improve elasticity for brighter and clearer skin.
The Best Lotions for Stretch Marks After Pregnancy:
We always recommend that you consult with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are unsure about any products or ingredients.
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