Removing Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

By Ellie Anna

  • Overview

    Pregnancy is very hard on a woman's body. For 9 months, the body has to take in enough nutrients to feed a healthy baby that is constantly growing and developing inside the womb. The woman's abdomen stretches and expands to contain the fetus, causing grooves and scars in the skin. These scars, known as stretch marks, are one of the most frequent problems new mothers face. Reducing stretch marks can be a difficult process, but not an impossible one.
    Removing Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
    Removing Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

    • Step 1

      Hydrate your skin throughout pregnancy. It is vital that you drink plenty of water and use a good quality moisturizer during pregnancy to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Many women still get them even with good hydration, but the more elasticity your skin has, the less marks you will have.

    • Step 2

      Exfoliate your skin often. A body scrub with large exfoliating grains, such as a walnut shell or almond scrub, works very well for removing dear, dry skin and allowing new, supple skin to show through.

    • Step 3

      Apply a heavy moisturizer every morning and before bedtime. Vitamin E oils, cocoa butter and shay butter is extremely hydrating and will help reintroduce more moisture into the skin.

    • Step 4

      Visit a dermatologist if the exfoliating and moisturizers do not reduce the stretch marks. Chemical peels and laser treatments can tighten up the scar tissue and reduce the pigment of severe stretch marks, greatly reducing their visibility.

    • Step 5

      Consult a plastic surgeon as a last resort. A surgeon can cut away the affected skin and pull the remaining skin tight, eliminating the sagging often associated with stretch marks. Post-surgical skin hydration is essential to reduce surgical scarring and help prevent future stretch marks from developing.
    • Skill: Moderate
    • Ingredients:
    • Moisturizer
    • Exfoliate
    • Tip: Apply moisturizer as often as possible. The more frequently your skin can absorb the moisture, the more elasticity it will retain.
    • Warning:
    • Don't buy into any expensive gimmicks advertised to erase stretch marks. They are often overpriced and offer the same ingredients as cheaper skin crèmes.

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