Stretch mark : Causes and managing it

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Being pregnant is one of life’s miracles. We ladies get to experience this wonderful journey while the guys can just watch in envy :P

However, what is not to envy is the appearance of stretch marks in some women during pregnancy. While some mothers take it as a blessing; treating stretch marks as a token to cherish her pregnancy, I would do all I can to prevent it.

What causes stretch marks?

Imagine your skin as an elastic band. If your body undergoes a spurt of growth faster on the inside than the outside, the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis (middle layer) tear.  Once there is any breakdown or loss of elastin and collagen fibres or excessive stretching in the skin, the mark will show through the epidermis, leaving a permanent scar on the body.

Statistics suggest that stretch marks occur to 75% to 90% of pregnant mothers.

It is recommended for pregnant mothers to apply:

– cocoa butter that helps soothe the skin and retain its natural moisture.

– Vitamin E; a natural antioxidant, works with the body’s own cells to protect it from the harsh elements that cause rough, dry skin.

– Collagen and Elastin; improve skin elasticity and overall tone, suppleness and appearance of the skin

Now you know why I don’t want those to be part of my pregnancy journey? It is important to take the necessary precaution to prevent stretch marks.

My mother used baby oil on her tummy when she was pregnant and emerged stretch mark free. My eldest sister did the same with baby oil and she too escaped those dreaded stretch marks. I used baby oil when I first got pregnant too only to find tiny bumps and red dots on my tummy to my horror! Darling rushed me to the gynae and was advised to stop applying baby oil and try those anti-stretch marks cream instead.

We went to the pharmacy (being first time pregnant and having no knowledge of which brand works best!) and ended up buying several brands of stretch marks massage lotions.

I applied stretch mark lotion (in a circular motion to encourage blood circulation) on my tummy, breast and thigh each time after bathing and those ‘rashes’ on my skin were gone almost immediately. I don’t even get the itchiness anymore. By the way, if you feel itchy that is because your skin is stretching and if you don’t care for it well, it will break causing those dreaded stretch marks.

That is how I too emerged out of my first pregnancy stretch mark free.

Why this sudden reminisce of my pregnancy? Because I watched ‘What to Expect When You are Expecting’ the other day at Cathay Platinum Movie Suites (Cathay Cineplex, eCurve) during an educational gathering with Palmer’s in conjunction with Mother’s Day. Watching that movie reminds me of what I went through while I was carrying Ethan; it was all good and most importantly, no stretch marks! :D

Yeah, you guessed it. I used Palmer’s Cocoa Butter formula products because they contain the unique blend of those 3 important ingredients mentioned above. Psst.. I tell you a little secret…

I bet this fella is using it too:

Otherwise how can you explain it expanding like that, back to original size, then expanding again and back to original again with the skin still looking like nothing ever happened ? ^_^