Day By Day Pregnancy

Ways of Preventing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Pregnant women are the targets of numerous scams and miraculous stretch mark skin care creams are the most popular. Although a little Vitamin E can be good for the skin, to expect that it will make all stretch marks vanish overnight is not sensible. No matter what is applied, the skin will in all likelihood display scars of drastic stretching that happens over a short period. The degree of successful healing is dependent upon an individuals age, skin tone, heredity and diet.

The general cause of stretch marks is the stretching of the skin, an increase in cortisone production that weakens the skin’s elasticity and the disruption of collagen production. Most commonly, pregnancy or other weight gain causes the appearance of stretch marks. However, other folks may get these scars as well. These include body builders, growing teenagers, those taking Corticosteroids or those with a genetic disorder, such as Cushing’s syndrome, Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. People may be predisposed to these unsightly marks if they have dry skin, have poor water intake, eat excess fatty foods, exercise too little or too much, take steroids, smoke or drink.

There is a good deal of debate about the best stretch mark removal treatment options ,because they are all said to be only partially effectual. Topical stretch mark creams such as Tretinoin cream (Renova, Retin A) are the least invasive treatments and can assist with new stretching caused by pregnancy. These creams rebuild collagen to cut down the appearance of stretch marks. Fractional Photothermolysis and Pulsed Dye Laser Therapy are two treatments for new marks that stimulate collagen and elastin growth using wavelengths of light. Microdermabrasion is a procedure that is effectual on older marks that you might have had for sometime. It works by buffing the skin surface with crystals. This polishing process removes the upper layer of skin cells so as to encourage new and more elastic skin growth. Excimer laser is another procedure designed for older white marks. It is said to encourage production of melanin so as to reduce scar appearance.

Presently, there is no guaranteed way of preventing stretch marks during pregnancy and there are no miraculous remedies either. Although there are several products marketed toward the reduction of stretch marks, there is no scientific evidence that suggest they really work. Maintaining general health is the best thing a person can do to keep an attractive look, by exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, drinking eight glasses of water each day and using a moisturizer cream on dry skin. Over time, these marks usually fade a little on their own.