Stretch marks are believed to be partly due to heredity. This means that when your parents or grandparents have stretch marks you have a greater chance of getting them too. Stretch marks can be ugly and pronounced that you cannot help but be conscious about them. You may even develop some degree of insecurity because of these stretch marks. But take heart. All is not lost. Most stretch marks fade in due time. There are also ways by which you can prevent stretch marks from occurring in your body.
The following are ways to prevent or lessen the severity of stretch marks.
Eat a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet can help prevent stretch marks. A balanced diet can make your skin healthy thus lessening the occurrence of stretch marks. Remember that stretch marks appear because a part of your skin had been damaged. Experts recommend nuts, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, beans and lentils tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables. A healthy skin can act as a security in preventing stretch marks to happen. But when they do appear they are not as severe as in the case of unhealthy skin.
Hydrate yourself by drinking enough water every day
Drinking enough water keeps your body well hydrated. This in turn will make your skin soft and moist. Stretch marks can occur readily when your skin is dry because it can easily be damaged or cracked. Stretch marks occur when the dermis is broken revealing veins and vessels underneath. A soft and moist skin is pliant so it can take any stress put into it.
Watch your weight
Stretch marks occur when you rapidly gain or lose weight. When you lose or gain weight rapidly your uppermost layer of skin cannot cope up with the rapid increase in your volume. This stress will ultimately lead to the appearance of stretch marks. If you intend to lose or gain some weight do it slowly.
This advice should be heeded when you are pregnant. During your pregnancy, you are more prone to develop stretch marks due to your increasing body volume. Eat wisely so that you will not gain much weight during your delicate situation. Do moderate exercises such as walking in order to keep your weight in reasonable levels.
Moisturize your skin daily and give it a massage
Apply lotions or moisturizers that have collagen as one of their ingredients. Keeping your skin moist will prevent breakage of your skin layer which will result to stretch marks. Moisturizers with aloe vera and cocoa butter are also recommended. In fact it is highly recommended that pregnant women rub their belly with cocoa butter every night before going to sleep.
Massaging your skin will improve blood circulation. Improved blood circulation will provide the necessary nutrients needed by your skin for proper growth and function.
Lift light weights when you are working out
Lifting weights can cause stretch marks. Stretch marks can be prevented from occurring when you lift light weights. Lifting heavy weights will increase your bulk muscle mass which can result to stretch marks. More so, aim for more repetitions as this will increase your lean muscle mass which does not make you increase your weight rapidly. When you do not rapidly gain weight, then you will not have stretch marks.
Combine lifting weights with cardiovascular exercises. These exercises burn up your calories which when not used up are stored as fats in your body. Compliment your workouts by eating a balanced diet in order to avoid storing up excess calories.
