Stretch marks can appear anywhere on your body and, though not considered a health risk, can seriously affect both your appearance and your self-confidence; they are unattractive and yet common, unwanted and yet obsessed about. As you read this, you fall into one of two categories: either you already have stretch marks and need a way to avoid getting more; or, you’re as yet untouched by this plight upon women’s beauty and need to stay that way. Either way, you’re starting in the same place, with prevention of stretch marks. So how do you do it?
You don’t need to give your skin any reason to tear; avoid rapid changes in weight, if you can help it. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water and don’t forget to get plenty of exercise. You don’t have to be a pro athlete or anything, and you definitely shouldn’t embark on any crazy diet fad (that could actually hurt your skin), but you should stay relatively fit. And if you need motivation to get going on that treadmill, remember that areas which contain large pockets of fat are going to be the first ones which show signs of tearing (think areas like your breasts, abdomen and thighs).
When your skin is stressed internally, it is more prone to stretch marks; so, don’t make it fight a two-sided war! Keep the exterior layer of your skin healthy by eliminating dirt, scrubbing away dead skin cells (this will also help out if you’ve got pre-existing marks), and moisturize with vitamin-rich lotions. It may help to look for stretch mark removal creams that are specifically formulated to help prevent the occurrence of stretch marks, as they already contain the best ingredients to ward of the big ugly streaks.
Some things you just can’t do on your own; for some people, this includes preventing stretch marks. Pay attention to your general well-being, and if you feel sort of off, consult a doctor. Any conditions which cause a hormonal unbalance could easily lead to you developing stretch marks, even if you’ve been sleek and slim your entire life. You may need medical care to help bring your hormones back down (or up) to normal levels.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that once a body has been scarred by stretch marks (no matter how those stretch marks got there in the first place), it is forever scarred. Despite the multitude of lotions, creams, sprays and exercises which aim to eliminate the presence of stretch marks, there is only one true way to un-blemish the skin, through a surgical process that cuts away the damaged skin (and may well leave you with new scars). It is easy by far to focus on the other alternative: preventing the stretch marks, before they happen.