Can You Really Prevent Stretch Marks?

By William Wilson
www.stretchmarkmagic.com

Most women are keenly aware of the ugly, discolored scarring known as stretch marks. As a matter of fact, there is an entire beauty industry centered around the removal of these unsightly skin defects. But what about stretch mark prevention?

You may be wondering if it is just a myth or whether a person can really do something to prevent stretch marks from developing. Clinical studies tend to be inconclusive in this area, but a large number of women have learned through personal experience that certain preventive actions can help minimize the risk of getting stretch marks.

These actions are detailed below and should be seriously considered by any woman that wishes to take a proactive approach in the fight against stretch marks. But first, let’s take a look at the real cause of stretch marks.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

The surface of the skin is generally fairly elastic, but when it is stretched beyond its capacity, damage can result. It is usually during periods of rapid weight gain and subsequent loss that you are at the greatest risk of developing stretch marks.

Prime examples of this weight change cycle can be identified during:

- Pregnancy
- Weight training
- Rapid weight gain and loss
- Growth spurts in teens

During these periods of physiological change, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. It should be noted that collagen is an important protein, with an essential role in providing pliability and elasticity to your skin. As a result of this disruption, the skin loses some elasticity and when stretched beyond its limits, white or red scars may appear. These scars are what are traditionally known as stretch marks.

Will a Stretch Mark Prevention Program Really Help?

Obviously, if you had a choice, you would agree that it is preferable to prevent stretch marks from developing in the first place, rather than trying to treat them after the fact. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed method of preventing stretch marks, even though there are a number of products on the market that will make this claim. It is just not true.

The good news is that there are products that are proven effective in increasing the elasticity of the skin. It is believed that these natural creams and oils prevent stretch marks by attacking their root causes – loss of elasticity and sudden trauma through overstretching. To increase the effectiveness of these products, it is recommended that they be used as part of an overall skin conditioning program.

Stretch Mark Prevention Tips

As Ben Franklin so aptly put; ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!’ And no truer words have been spoken regarding an approach to stretch marks and their treatment. So, to help give you a jump start with your stretch mark prevention program, a number of helpful tips are provided below:

Tip#1

If you are thinking about getting pregnant, or are presently in the mother-to-be state, try starting an exercise program. Continue this regimen throughout your pregnancy and it should help in reducing a lot of the stretch marks that may have developed naturally during the process. An exercise program works by helping you to limit your weight gain and, therefore, limit the trauma and overstretching of your affected skin. Of course, before you start any exercise program, please check with your doctor.

Tip #2

Try using natural stretch mark products that inherently have the exceptional ability to increase the skin’s elasticity. Products made with cocoa butter and other natural ingredients are your best bet. Many women who have endured pregnancy swear to the effectiveness of this method.

Tip #3

To supplement stretch mark creams and oils, you should consider using a body brush to massage the affected areas where you want to prevent stretch marks from forming. This is usually on the thighs, breasts, buttocks, and arms. This extra effort helps increase the circulation to the skin and helps the absorption of the cream into the affected area.

Tip #4

If you are on a diet, moderation is the ‘keyword’. A diet encouraging slow weight loss will minimize trauma to the skin and allow the skin to better adjust to the weight changes. This will help reduce the likelihood of stretch marks.

At the end of the day, there really is no single fail-safe method to prevent the formation of stretch marks. But a stretch mark prevention program, based on a combination of natural stretch mark products and the helpful tips provided above, should dramatically increase your odds of reducing or eliminating stretch mark development. Give it a try - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Diet And Those Stretch Marks

By J Hunter
http://www.health2usite.com/stretch/

It's essential to have a well balanced diet for the skin to retain its quality. For a well Balanced diet you will need adequate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, lipids, minerals etc. The most important of these for you skin is proteins and vitamins such as A, C, E, K and Zinc.

Proteins: The Main sources of protein come from meat, fish, egg, soybeans nuts etc.

Proteins are the essential constituents of body cells. Basically proteins are made of amino acids which, by a process called protein synthesis, combine together and form different structural proteins of the body. For the purpose of tissue repair, proteins like collagen and elastin have to be synthesized in the skin. Any conditions which hamper protein synthesis and tissue repair predispose stretch marks and delay wound healing.

Vitamins: Among vitamins the most important are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and vitamin K.

Vitamin A: The main Sources of vitamin A are Carrots, Vegetables, Rice, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Apricot, Spinach, Mango etc.

Vitamin A helps to promote skin growth and tissue repair. It can prevent scaling and drying of skin. Collagen production is greatly influenced by this vitamin. All these functions help to prevent stretch marks.

Vitamin C: The main Sources of vitamin c are Citrus fruits, Guava, Papaya, Strawberries etc.

Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen; in other words, it is a must for the process of wound healing and tissue repair. The integrity of blood vessels is also influenced by vitamin C.

Vitamin E: The main sources of vitamin E are Almonds, Vegetable oils, Seeds, Sunflower, Oats, Peaches, Avocado etc.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the skin. Its main role is the maintenance of normal body metabolism, healing and tissue repair.

Vitamin K: The main sources of Vitamin K are Green leafy vegetables, Cabbage, Liver, Milk products etc.

Vitamin K is essential for blood coagulation and for proper bone growth, formation and repair. Vitamin K helps the body transport calcium. In the intestines Vitamin K helps in turning glucose to glycogen which is then stored in the liver.

Zinc: The main sources of zinc are nuts, bananas, raisins, legumes and fish.

Zinc is very essential for the formation of collagen that prevents stretch marks.

As well as all of the above it is also important maintain the water balance of the body. It is highly recommended to have between 8 to 10 glasses each and every day. Water is needed as low amounts of water in the body leads to dehydration as well as dry skin. When the skin becomes dry it is prone to stretch marks.

Almost all nutrients are essential for a healthy skin.

Among nutrients, proteins vitamins and zinc are more important as far as tissue repair is concerned.

A balanced diet according to certain factors like age, occupation, general health, any diseases like diabetes etc should be considered to maintain all functions of the body in a normal way which all helps in retaining the skins quality which reduces the risk of stretch marks.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

By Emma Drosy
www.getputon.com

Although stretch marks are not harmful for us but these fine lines or scars are not desirable by any one among us and we all want to know how to get rid of stretch mark. Stretch mark not only changes our appearance and look but sometimes these cause decrease in our confidence level also. Sometimes this stretch mark will appear on your body where your skin is stretched or over stretched and most likely to appear in the abdomen, breasts, thighs and buttocks. Sometimes these stretch marks may be due to heredity also. Women may get these stretch marks during pregnancy, however men can also get stretch marks especially if men are obese or body builders. Many people take steroid containing skin cream, these people can also get stretch marks.

If you want to know how to get rid of these stretch marks, you can try various home remedies and a few simple options are as mentioned below.

You can get rid of your stretch marks, if you massage vitamin E oil in the stretch mark area especially after having bath. The massage if continued for a long duration can fade the stretch mark up to some extent. You should eat the food that is rich in Vitamins especially in A, E and Vitamin C. You can take vitamin supplements after consultation with your doctor. Pregnant women should consult their dietician before taking any food or vitamin supplement. You should try to identify the stretch mark in early stages when these stretch marks are in pink or brown color and should opt some options immediately.

The other remedy to get rid of stretch marks include intake of zinc rich food, however you should consult your dietician or health care professionals before taking such food Essential fatty acids are necessarily required for our body and we should consume these oils adequately.

If you are pregnant women you are more likely to get stretch mark. You should ensure to use a proper moisturizer on your stomach regularly during pregnancy. It is better to visit your dermatologist before applying the moisturizer.

So these are some of the simple tips to know how to get rid of stretch marks and if still unable to get rid of these marks, you should consult your dermatologist.

Good Luck with those Stretch marks!!

Stretch Marks and Pregnancy

By Jeanette Pollock
www.skincare-101.com

If you have ever had a child, or know somebody who has, you know that stretch marks are often times a big problem following birth. These can be very unsightly, and to some women very bothersome. But the good thing about stretch marks is that there are ways to prevent them during pregnancy. Listed below are two of the most popular ways to prevent stretch marks during and after pregnancy.

1. By getting on an exercise regimen before becoming pregnant and continuing this throughout pregnancy you may be able to prevent a lot of the stretch marks that you would normally see. This works because when your body is in top notch shape, you will be less likely to gain weight that is unnecessary. And since added weight causes stretch marks, if you can avoid it you can also avoid these marks.

Remember, before you start any workout program during pregnancy you will want to clear it with your doctor. They will be able to tell you which exercises to perform, as well as some that should be avoided.

2. Cocoa butter is also a great way to prevent stretch marks. The funny thing about this option is that there is no proof that it works, but there are thousands of women that swear by it. It is at least worth a shot, right?

Overall, stretch marks can be a problem in women after pregnancy. If you want to try to avoid this problem follow the two options listed above.

How Do You Get Rid of Stretch Marks

By Riri Shandra
www.betterhealthstyle.com

How do you get rid of stretch marks? Stretch marks are one the most problem in women body, they can be a frustrating problem for people who have them. So understanding what stretch marks are can help you to get rid of them.

Stretch marks are called striae in dermatology. They are a form of scarring on the skin with a silvery white hue. Stretch marks are caused by overstretching of the skin, which changes in the elastic supportive tissue that lies just beneath the skin and disrupts the normal production of collagen, causing a scar.

Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body also women and men can get stretch marks. They are most likely to appear in places where fat is stored, or that have a tendency to stretch. Most common areas of the bodies including the abdomen area, thighs, breasts, upper arms, underarms, hips, and buttocks or lower back.

Stretch marks are often the result of stretching the skin in pregnancy, obesity, bodybuilding, puberty, and intense physical activity. They often start as pink, reddish, purple, or dark brown, then later become fade than the surrounding skin depending on your skin color, although they never totally disappear, they do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.

How do you get rid of stretch marks? Here are some tips to get rid of stretch marks:

- The sustained stretching on the abdomen as a result of pregnancy usually means stretch marks may appear during the sixth or seventh month. If you are pregnant and concerned with stretch mark consult to your doctor that you want to begin preventative treatment before your stomach starts growing. Often, your doctor can recommend creams.

- Using oils or creams in high-risk areas may help prevent your skin become firmer and more supple, more flexibility and reduce the appearance of some surface stretch marks. The sooner they are treated, the more success that treatment will be.

- Drink plenty of water, so this will maintain you healthy skin and keeps your skin soft.

- Avoid or decrease your intake of caffeinated drink such as coffee, tea or soda because it can increase your risk of stretch marks.

- A healthy diet rich in vitamins A, C, D, E, high in zinc, foods that contain essential fatty acids and protein will also help in preventing stretch marks. Add in your foods or take supplements in addition to your diet.

- Laser treatments can help restore the skin's elasticity and also change the pigmentation so the stretch marks better match the rest of your skin. Off course the price is very expensive too, into the thousands of dollars when there is a large treatment area.

The best thing you should do is always try to prevent stretch marks before they happen to you, because if stretch marks have damaged to the deep fibers of the skin is difficult and sometimes impossible to repair.