Pregnancy is a time of exciting changes: your body is morphing into that of a mother, and you are growing a tiny human inside! These physical transformations are beautiful, but they don’t come without their downsides. Among the most common side effects of pregnancy is the appearance of stretch marks. Many women develop stretch marks during pregnancy because of rapid growth in their abdomen and breasts. These red or purple streaks appear when the skin can no longer adapt to the rapid changes going on underneath. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to help prevent stretch marks or minimize the appearance if they do appear.
What are the Causes of Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
Stretch marks are a result of collagen breakdown, which is the process your body uses to grow new tissue. When your body is growing quickly, collagen is broken down at a faster rate than it can be produced. This means that your skin doesn’t have enough collagen to stretch around your growing belly and breasts, causing it to break down. Stretch marks are more common in women than men because women naturally have less collagen in their skin. While stretch marks during pregnancy are more common because the skin during pregnancy is expanding. However, the bodies of women during pregnancy produce extra collagen as the body is getting geared up to grow a human, but it still breaks down quickly due to the rapid growth.
How can you Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
You can reduce the risk of stretch marks during pregnancy by eating foods that contain collagen. Foods rich in collagen include milk, yogurt, cheese, fish, and eggs. These foods are digested into amino acids, which your body uses to produce collagen. Some experts also recommend using a stretch mark cream while pregnant, like Bio-Oil. Although it doesn’t prevent stretch marks, it can be used to help minimize their appearance. You can also prevent stretch marks during this crucial time of your life by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Exercising during pregnancy can help your body prepare for the extra weight, and healthy eating can provide the nutrients your growing baby needs.
Tips to Minimize the Appearance of Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
If you do develop stretch marks during pregnancy, here are a few tips to help minimize their appearance:
- Avoid picking at or rubbing your stretch marks – The last thing you want to do is irritate your skin even further. This can cause the marks to become redder and more noticeable.
- Moisturize – Applying a thick moisturizer to your stretch marks can help minimize their appearance as it can make the skin healthier and make the marks less noticeable.
- Get a massage – Massaging your skin regularly can help it stay flexible and healthy as it expands.
- Use a natural oil for stretch mark prevention – Coconut oil is excellent natural oil that can prevent stretch marks appearance while keeping your skin nourished and moisturized.
Can you Treat Stretch Marks During pregnancy?
Stretch marks are inevitable when your body expands during pregnancy. While there are non-invasive treatments available for stretch marks – it is strictly advisable to treat the stretch marks once you are no longer pregnant and your hormones are back to regular. At AKARA, we have a Mommy Makeover Program especially designed for new moms. Not only do we help you lose the post-pregnancy baby weight, but we also use advanced laser therapy for painless and safe stretch mark removal. Our program is mindful of the changes that the body goes through during pregnancy and childbirth, and we also focus on core strengthening and building stamina and immunity in the new mother’s body. It is vital to not compromise on your health while trying to shed weight after pregnancy, therefore, we also give customized diet plans to keep the energy and health of the body as well. Let us have a look at the gold-standard stretch-mark treatment for stretch marks after pregnancy.
Fraxel Laser for Post-Pregnancy Stretch Marks
Fraxel is an advanced laser therapy that is considered to be the gold-standard treatment for stretch marks. It is non-invasive, painless, and one of the most effective treatments for not just stretch marks, but for other scars, marks, and flaws on the skin. Fraxel laser works wonderfully on stubborn stretch marks as the laser creates microscopic wounds that stimulate new collagen. It acts like a skin resurfacing treatment without any discomfort, pain, or invasiveness. Fraxel laser therapy is also very effective for treating spider veins, varicose veins, and leg veins. It can be used on both legs and arms, as well as the hands if varicose veins are present. Although Fraxel is a trusted treatment that has no risks associated with it, our AKARA health experts do NOT recommend the treatment while the client is still pregnant. This is because the light heat may impact the baby inside your womb, and it is a risk not worth taking. It is best to wait until you are no longer pregnant to get the stretch marks developed during pregnancy treated.
Worried About Stretch Marks During Pregnancy? Visit AKARA Today!
During pregnancy, it’s important to remember that your body is changing rapidly and that’s normal. Stretch marks are a common side effect of pregnancy and are harmless. You can help prevent them by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and keeping hydrated. If you do develop stretch marks, there are treatments available for you that you can try after giving birth. AKARA is a state-of-the-art clinic for weight loss, and we perform mindful treatments that are non-invasive, FDA-approved, safe, and done under doctor supervision. Two of AKARA clinics are located in Delhi in Mehrauli and Khan Market, while one of the AKARA clinics is in Ludhiana. If you are worried about your stretch marks due to pregnancy or any other reason or if you wish to take a line of treatment to manage your weight, visit AKARA today.
Due to the weight gain and then weight loss during pregnancy, you may end up having saggy skin. Other treatments like Exilis Elite by AAYNA is mindfully designed to promote collagen and skin elasticity without any invasive technique.
You can call us at these numbers:
Mehrauli: +91 704 229 7304
Khan Market: +91 987 039 6667
Ludhiana: +91 857 500 6060
