It's common to get stretch marks during pregnancy, usually on the abdomen, thighs and breasts, but also in other areas. There is no treatment proven to prevent stretch marks. Stretch marks won't disappear, but they will fade over time. If stretch marks bother you, some treatments may help.
What can be done to prevent stretch marks? One's best defense against stretch marks is to ensure that the skin maintains its maximum elasticity throughout pregnancy. This is achieved by keeping skin well-hydrated and supple at all times.
However, anything that keeps your skin moisturized and healthy is good for you and will prevent stretch marks from developing in the first place, so don't give up on daily moisturizing.
Bio-Oil® Skincare Oil is clinically proven to improve the appearance of stretch marks. 95% of subjects saw a significant result after only 2 weeks of use. 100% of subjects showed an improvement after 8 weeks of use.
“Moisturizing the skin during pregnancy helps the skin deal with this stressful transition.” And keeping skin moisturized may promote skin elasticity (although, again, genetics play a role), which might help minimize your odds of getting stretch marks.
Hydration is your skin's best friend if you want to try to prevent or keep stretch marks to a minimum because moistured skin is less likely to break when it stretches. Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and using a humidifier while you sleep can help your skin stay supple, advises Dr. Engelman.
Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil
Kim Kardashian and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Duchess Kate) are both fans of Bio-Oil for keeping skin soft and stretch mark-free during pregnancy. According to the Bio-Oil website, this product has won 349 skincare awards and has become the No.
Having a personal or family history of stretch marks. Being pregnant, especially if you're young. Rapid growth in adolescence. Rapidly gaining or losing weight.
They are common in pregnancy, affecting around 8 out of 10 pregnant women. They usually appear on your tummy, or sometimes on your upper thighs and breasts, as your pregnancy progresses and your bump starts to grow. When stretch marks appear will be different from woman to woman.
Research shows nine out of 10 women develop stretch marks during pregnancy—usually in the sixth or seventh month, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.
While stretch marks generally become visible during the later trimesters of pregnancy (around the sixth or seventh month), some women will start to see them forming as soon as their bellies start growing.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
Concerning the level of vitamin A in Bio-Oil Skincare Oil, it is low enough to render it harmless to the unborn child. By including vitamin A at a low level, Bio-Oil Skincare Oil provides pregnant women with the benefits of vitamin A without any safety risk.
Bio‑Oil® provides a comprehensive skincare solution for use throughout pregnancy, and has been used safely by pregnant women for over 20 years to help improve the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
While 90 percent of women experience stretch marks at some point in their lives—and some men do too—it's still understandable how the remaining 10 percent and most men seem to avoid such a common occurrence.
Family history — Genetics often play a role in whether you get stretch marks. If your mom or sister has them, for example, there is a greater likelihood you will as well. Weight gain — Any rapid increase or loss of weight can stretch your skin and result in stretch marks.
The most common one is that stretch marks are ugly, or we should feel ashamed for having them. Stretch marks are a completely normal part of life and the natural human response to growth. It's estimated that 80% of people (or more) have stretch marks—so if you've got them, you're not alone.
They vary with different skin tones and types. Nolan says Asian skin seems particularly prone to stretch marks, and dark skin must be treated more gently, or the pigment can darken even more in those areas, making the marks more pronounced.
It made SUCH a difference," Kardashian wrote. "The Coolbeam lasers are the best for removing scars, stretch marks and skin imperfections. They treat stretch marks by resurfacing the top layer of skin, which increases collagen regeneration. The best part is that there's very little pain and downtime!"
“[Bio-Oil] just makes my skin glow, and it has so many benefits,” Kim wrote in a recent post. “If you have a scar or stretch marks, you just massage the oil onto the area two times a day.” It's also said to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone, and helps the skin retain moisture.
Like Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian also recommends using Bio-Oil to avoid developing stretch marks during pregnancy. Beyond preventing stretch marks, Kardashian also notes that she uses Bio-Oil on her face to avoid getting wrinkles around her eyes.
To help moisturize and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, massage both belly oil and belly balm in a circular motion onto your pregnant belly, hips and breast at least twice a day and after you shower, to be readily absorbed into the skin.