The Best Ways to Prevent Stretch Marks
July 29, 2009 3:10 am skin careMost individuals who have stretch marks are self conscious about them, particularly in the early stages when the scars have a red or purple appearance. Some folks are more inclined to acquire them than others. The good news is there is much you can do when it comes to stretch mark prevention.
Stretch marks appear when the body expands too fast and the skin can’t keep up. Adolescent girls often develop stretch marks on their hips and thighs. They could also crop up if you build muscle size through weight lifting, if you gain a considerable amount of weight quickly or if you are pregnant. Stretch marks are the outcome of the intermediate layer of skin, called the dermis, pulling apart as the collagen breaks. The scars become visible on the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis.
Watch your weight: It’s well known that rapid weight gain is among the causes of stretch marks. Therefore it should be obvious that the most effective means by which to prevent them is to not gain weight suddenly. If you’re a weight lifter aim to increase your muscle mass gradually. If you are a female who would like to prevent stretch marks in the course of pregnancy aim to ensure you increase weight slowly. Additionally, you should keep your weight increase at the prescribed rate, which is typically in the range of 25 to 35 pounds. If you’re not a weight lifter and you’re not expecting a baby, just try to maintain a healthy body mass index between 20 to 25 if you wish to keep stretch marks from appearing.
Food and micronutrients: Individuals who consume a healthy and balanced diet are more liable to maintain a normal body mass index and are hence less inclined to stretch marks. Moreover, various nutritional elements are beneficial for the skin.In order to prevent stretch marks, you will need to consume a diet rich in zinc, silica, fatty acids and vitamins A, C and E. If you do not obtain these nutrients from your diet you might want to consider using vitamin and mineral supplements.
Keep your skin moisturized: The collagen within the dermis is more prone to rupture and stretch marks if the skin is dried out. Therefore if you want to prevent stretch marks it helps to take care that your skin has an adequate amount of water. You can help keep your skin moist by ensuring that you drink the suggested eight glasses of water each day. You may also want to try a top quality skin care oil, lotion or cream. Products which include cocoa butter or vitamins A and E are considered to be very useful for this purpose.
