Pregnancy-Caused Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are one of the things on our bodies that we treat like a disease. The minute we catch a glimpse of one in the mirror, other problems start to seem so small. In a society that is so obsessive over looks and body image, a stretch mark could lead to immediate depression. We are women who have developed the worry gene - constantly evaluating ourselves and how we look. But once we become pregnant and more stretch marks start to show up, panic starts to flood in.

During pregnancy, it is highly likely that most women will encounter a few stretch marks. Also known as Striae Gravidarum, these marks look like large streaks across the skin. Stretch marks are actually stretches in the skin, and result in the tearing of tissue. When it begins to stretch, the collagen found in our skin separates. This is what causes the streaking look. While most women encounter these marks around the stomach, others will see them on their hips, buttocks, or breasts. Unfortunately, no one seems safe from getting these frustrations. It all depends on the elasticity of the skin and how many you have in the first place. If a woman gains a lot of weight very quickly, it is also more likely that they will have more stretch marks than someone else who gains the weight gradually.

The easiest way to prevent stretch marks is to regularly use lotions and creams with cocoa butter. It will keep your skin tight and glowing. However, no evidence has shown that these special creams have helped people in any way. Either way, these lotions are great for pregnant women to use. It is essential to keep the skin soft. Massaging the belly is not only great for the baby, but the mother also gets relaxed.

While some stretch marks fade with time (usually after twelve months), many are left as a souvenir from a pregnancy. This frustrates women and some take desperate measures to get them removed. If your self esteem is harmed and you feel that it needs to be taken care of, consulting a doctor is the best bet. Using creams like Tretinoin will lessen the marks, but sometimes plastic surgery is necessary if women want them fully removed. Some women also end up getting tummy tucks to hide marks and extra skin from the pregnancy.

Stretch marks should be seen as a reminder of how beautiful life is. Most of them resulted from the birth of a child, and therefore it should not be looked upon as something bad. Although many do feel that they are bothersome and ugly, there are those who appreciate them and tend to ignore the negativity surrounding the marks. However, it is entirely normal to want to remove them. Women are constantly judging their bodies and the imperfections that are upon them. Hopefully as time goes on they can overlook these marks and see the result that came from them - amazing children!

Articles

[Anaemia]
[Baby Showers]
[Diet]
[Exercise]
[Sex]
[Smoking & Alcohol]
[Stretch Marks]
[Symptoms]
[Teen Prenancy]
[Traveling]