Maternity is a wonderful gift and it opens up a whole world of beautiful experiences. Additionally, one of the many badges that maternity honours you with is the stretch mark, a major skin concern for mothers. So, what can you do to prevent or get rid of it? Does the best stretch mark prevention during pregnancy even exist?
“I am looking for the pregnancy glow, but these lightening shaped marks are making their debut instead”, she exclaims! Stretch marks are a part of motherhood. They are brown, pink or tan streaks that appear on the skin mainly across the thighs, belly, breasts or hips.
Why do Stretch Marks Occur?
Stretch marks occur when the middle layer of skin tears due to excess and rapid growth of your body. As the skin stretches beyond its comfort level, the collagen (that forms your connective tissue) production gets affected, thereby tearing a layer of your skin.
Most pregnant women, about 90% of them are prone to getting stretch marks. Having said that, you can find helpful tips to prevent these marks; tips that serve as the best stretch mark prevention during pregnancy.
Best Stretch Mark Prevention During Pregnancy
As much as it brings happiness in your lives, pregnancy also poses a variety of concerns with the passing days. Stretch marks are inevitable signs of maternity, raising major skin concerns in a lot of mothers.
If you wish to minimise your stretch marks or prevent them from appearing, you can consider trying the following tips for best stretch mark prevention during pregnancy:
Weight Control
Rapid weight gain can lead to rapid stretching of the skin, resulting in those annoying stretch marks. It is advised to work on gaining weight steadily and maintaining it as much as possible. Some pregnancy-friendly exercises and a healthy diet to follow through every phase of pregnancy will do the trick.
Hydration
Consume at least 2 litres of water every day to ensure that your skin is well hydrated because dry skin is more susceptible to developing marks. If you’re a caffeine lover, reduce your daily dose of caffeine and replenish your body with enough healthy fluids to balance it out and nourish your skin.
Moisturising
Rubbing your skin with a good moisturiser or oil helps prevent dryness and itching, thereby lowering the chances of stretch mark formations.
Look for moisturisers with jojoba oil and shea butter. These ingredients are known to help improve skin moisture and increase skin elasticity. High-quality stretchmark creams are often formulated with these ingredients.
One such product is Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream, formulated with shea butter, which works as a natural antioxidant to soothe and moisturize the skin, and jojoba oil, which has natural anti-inflammatory properties that nourish and help restore the elasticity of your skin.
ALSO READ: Top Stretch Mark Creams in Singapore to Improve Skin During Pregnancy
Photo: iStock
Nutrient-Rich Foods
Pregnancy means eating your favourite food items and enjoying your daily cheat day, right? Well, as pampering as it sounds, it is very important to follow a healthy and nutrient-rich diet during pregnancy. Plenty of foods rich in zinc, vitamin A, D, E and C as well as protein are essential for boosting skin health.
Dermatologist
My friend asked, “What’s that mark on your belly”? I replied, “Ah, nothing.” My annoyance from answering such questions is just showing. When you just start noticing fresh marks on your skin, it is best to see a dermatologist for treating the scars as they appear. Your skin doctor can suggest ways to minimise and treat them at the starting stage.
Dr. Engelman suggests treating your skin with silicone gel formulation (it nourishes the skin and promotes even skin tone) twice a day, which is a proven solution for stretch marks. Your dermatologist will always help you with proven ways for best stretch mark prevention during pregnancy.
Good Belly Support
According to Dr. Engelman, wearing belly-supportive clothing can greatly help in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy. Go for comfortable, well-fitting shapewear or tights to support your growing skin as well as to avoid pain arising in your lower back.
No Steroids
Anabolic steroids and steroid creams weaken the collagen and make your skin more susceptible to stretch marks. It is best to consult your doctor for safer alternatives or complete avoidance of such steroids.
Photo: iStock
Mama’s Choice: The Latest Innovation In Stretch Mark Treatment
To help mums deal with their stretch marks without exposing themselves to using products containing parabens, Mama’s Choice created stretch mark cream products that are paraben-free, alcohol-free, and free of phthalates.
Aside from promoting safe product quality, Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Treatment Series also meets halal standards. Not only that, Mama’s Choice is also created and tested right here in Singapore.
Apart from being free of parabens and toxins, Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream is enriched with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, shea butter, olive oil and jojoba oil and Lipobelle Soyaglycone — a natural ingredient proven to make skin tighter and moisturised — making Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream one of the best options for stretch mark prevention during pregnancy. Meanwhile, Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Serum is infused with an innovative ingredient called Alpha Bisabolol, which helps disguise stretch marks and regenerate the growth of skin cells.
This power duo is natural, safe, and effective. In addition, they’re 2x more effective in fading stretch marks. Plus, it’s the most bang-for-buck stretch mark cream in the market.
Ready to try Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream? It’s available on Shopee and Lazada.
ALSO READ:
Top Stretch Mark Creams in Singapore to Improve Skin During Pregnancy
9 Natural Remedies for Pregnancy Stretch Marks Using Things Found In Your Kitchen
Minimise Stretch Marks in 7 Simple Steps