A woman’s body is subjected to an incredible amount of strain during pregnancy. Because of this, the resistance of the skin on the stomach, breasts, thighs and buttocks diminishes and its structure changes. In order to prevent and treat unsightly stretch marks, a pregnancy stretch mark prevention cream containing active ingredients can help.
What Are Stretch Marks?
As signs of skin fatigue, stretch marks look like purple lines or zebra stripes that eventually become pink, then white. The skin stretches under the effects of hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and stretch marks can appear on the buttocks, stomach, thighs and even the breasts. Gaining weight causes the skin in these areas to stretch to the point that it exceeds the limits of its elasticity, thus tearing the deep collagen fibres.
When Should You Deal With It?
It is important to apply a stretch mark prevention cream at least twice daily from the beginning of the pregnancy, when you begin to gain weight, in order to prevent the skin from losing elasticity and to increase its resistance to this strain. The cream can be applied for about 10 minutes in the morning and at night on the stretch mark risk areas described above.
Stretch Mark Prevention Cream – Active Ingredients
- Creams containing active ingredients like vitamin A, vitamin E or even silicon stimulate production of the skin’s elastic fibres. These also have emollient, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, and will be able to prevent the emergence of unsightly marks and diminish the appearance of recent stretch marks.
- Naturally moisturizing oils like sweet almond oil, monoi oil or even argan oil are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids and can moisturize your skin each day to make it more elastic and to reduce the appearance of most stretch marks. All three are abundant in vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties that help cell renewal and are effective against stretch marks. Apply these creams in a circular motion.
- Creams containing AHAs, which are completely natural organic acids, are found in many kinds of fruit such as oranges, lemons, apples or grapes as well as in other foods like fermented milk, honey and sugar cane. In cosmetic creams, these acids are powerful exfoliates that help remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and smooth the skin, which helps renew the cells and generate new collagen production.
- Creams containing marine active ingredients are derived from plants beneficial to our skin, which grow on the edge or at the bottom of the sea. Many of them improve cell cohesion on the skin’s surface and promote cell renewal to make it more toned and firm. Seawater also has skin remodelling and toning properties and can therefore prevent or help to eliminate stretch marks.
Before buying a stretch mark prevention cream, you should see your doctor to get personalized information about what ingredients to avoid during your pregnancy, based on your medical situation.
