The Best Ways To Prevent Or Remove Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are unsightly lines on the skin; they can be caused by a number of reasons, the primary one of course being pregnancy. Other reasons include a sudden growth spurt in children and teenagers. Stress, weight gain and loss and some people also get stretch marks from hereditary factors.

Stretch marks typically appear on the stomach, arms, thighs and buttocks but are also known to appear in some other areas.

Your skin is made up of three layers. The Epidermis, the outer visible layer. The Dermis the middle part of your skin and finally the Subcutaneous the deepest part that contains the fats and connective tissues. What happens when we have a sudden growth increase for whatever reason, is the middle layer – The Dermis is not stretchy enough to cope with the changes. It pulls itself to breaking point and the collagen is weakened and stops producing in that area. The subsequent scarring is then pushed through to the top layers of the skin, so they are visible to you. At first they are quite red and can be very sore. Over time they scar properly and turn silver, white colour.

Stretch marks do not cause any major issues but for many people the do cause confidence issues. Especially if you have just had a major weight loss or are returning to the beach after bearing a child.

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There are many preventative and removal creams and lotions available on the market, Do some research to find the best stretch mark removal cream for you.

So now you know what Stretch marks are, and how we get them, what can be done to prevent them? Your first option is to eat a diet made to help your skin. I am sure you are already eating healthy but it might be time to add in some nourishment for your skin. The foods listed below will all help. Some of them have antioxidants that protect the skin. Some have vitamins E and A which protect and repair the skin, and the remaining ones include Omega three which help keep the cells healthy.

• Spinach

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Avocados

• Broccoli

• Mango

• Carrot

• Squash

• Red Peppers

• Fish

• Eggs

• Oysters

Moisture is also your friend, drink your daily allowance of water every day. You may be surprised at how few people actually do. Eight glasses of water should be all the body requires. If in doubt speak to a medical professional. If you find water boring, you can try fruit teas etc. As long as they do not have caffeine as this prevents hydration. You can also take on a fair amount of water through your food, cucumbers, for example, contain lots of fluids.

Exercise while you are at high risk of getting stretch marks. If you are on a diet, you will probably find great advantage anyway from exercise but it also helps to keep the skin elastic thus reducing the risk of stretch marks. Pregnant ladies should have a chat with their midwife to see which exercises are most appropriate.Good luck and stay confident!