Tips for Preventing Stretch Marks

The skin itself has many safeguards and processes in place to hydrate and renew itself and often can fix its own problems - if we don't interfere with those processes or irritate the skin on our own.

Very often we're so harsh and rough with our skin that it just cannot renew and repair itself. We ignore what it needs and apply harsh chemicals thinking we're fixing problems. To prevent stretch marks, consider the following:

Be gentle with the skin.

Exfoliating the skin and the body is a good idea but very often we go overboard and become very angry with our skin - which makes the skin look very angry as well.

Any exfoliating agent should be applied gently and typically in circular motions rather than rubbing it up and down the skin. Go in the direction in which hair grows on the legs so that hair follicles are not irritated. Blot the skin dry afterward rather than drag a rough towel over it.

When you're gentle with the skin it is more likely to be able to repair itself and this means being able to avoid stretch marks. Here are some additional tips for being gentle with your skin:

Protect it from harsh elements and weather. In the wintertime, be sure to bundle up and cover exposed areas. Don't forget your sunscreen on sunny days even if you're not sunbathing. Wear a hat or use something as shade.

Be mindful of drying agents such as chlorine and even certain types of soap. If your skin feels dry it probably is. Make sure you moisturize and hydrate often especially after swimming or bathing.

Remember that many people have sensitive skin and allergies to certain fabrics or agents used in soaps and detergents. If some fabrics feel harsh against your skin, switch to natural fibers like cotton for your clothes. Use a hypoallergenic laundry soap or one meant for babies as these are gentler on the skin as well.

Stretch before exercising.

The skin will naturally stretch and return to its original shape on its own. When a person exercises this is probably the most stretching it ever does.

Many people who exercise neglect to stretch before they hit the treadmill or aerobics room floor. But stretching accomplishes many things that are necessary for a good workout, and to protect your skin.

When you stretch you flex those big muscles of the legs and abdomen and start blood flowing to all areas of the body. The heart begins to beat faster and the blood and oxygen begins to be delivered to all areas of the body including the skin. This means that it may very well be more flexible and more readily available to stretch over those muscles and bones as the body exercises.

Preparing the body for exercise means preparing the skin as well. Getting blood and oxygen to the skin before stretching it can help to keep it from being stretched unnaturally and can cut down on stretch marks.

Talk to your doctor.

If you're concerned about stretch marks during pregnancy, don't hesitate to bring this up with your doctor. You will not be the first pregnant woman to have this concern! So don't be embarrassed or self-conscious about this question.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe something that will keep stretch marks to a minimum if you do begin to suffer from them. Addressing them when they first begin to show can be key to keeping them to a minimum.

When you're pregnant you may need to be careful of what you take internally and what procedures you go through but many topical ointments and creams can still be safe during pregnancy.