Pregnancy and then motherhood are some of the most beautiful yet challenging phases of a woman’s life. While the joy of carrying a life in the womb is a bliss in itself, it does wreak havoc on a woman’s body. Most important marks left after a delivery are stretch marks.
However, it is important to understand that pregnancy is not the onlycause of stretch marks. Fluctuations in weight – effects of a weight loss regimen or sudden weight gain – are also responsible for stretch marks on the body. Also, stretch marks are found not only on the abdomen, but also on the thighs, upper arms, buttocks, and breasts.
Stretch marks occur when the outer layer of the skin is stretched and contracted and its flexibility is challenged. With the stretching of the skin, the collagen weakens and damages. This damaged skin first looks pink or red, but with a passage of time, it becomes silver and this is called a stretch mark. The more flexible and supple the skin, lesser are the chances of getting stretch marks.
Prevention is better than cure goes the adage. Therefore, first, we will look at some tips to avoid stretch marks.
Avoiding stretch marks:
- Whether you are pregnant or on a weight loss regimen or neither, it is always important to keep your body hydrated and supple. Drink ample amounts of water to retain the moisture within the body. This also helps to avoid stretch marks if you are living in an area that might cause your skin to turn dry.
- If you are performing actions that challenge the authenticity of the skin, such as pregnancy or a weight loss regimen, then keep your skin supple by rubbing lotions or oils on your body regularly. It keeps the skin elastic enough giving room for skin to stretch or contract as per need. You can also rub Desi ghee or clarified butter on your abdomen to avoid stretch marks.
- Increasing your Zinc and Vitamin C intake also helps the skin retain its elasticity. Zinc can be found in food items like chicken, lamb, beef, eggs, nuts, legumes and whole grains. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, guavas, bell peppers, turnips and broccoli.
- Gelatin is a great source of collagen and a major contributor towards preventing stretch marks. For gelatin, prepare bone broth and consume it every morning, you can also use it in gravies and sauces. You also can use a vegetarian gelatin in the form of a powder to make sweets and jellies.
Maybe you didn’t know that there were ways to prevent stretch marks and you have ended up with a nice spider web of them on your body. Fret not, there are ways to remove them from your body, such as:
- Castor oil: To remove stretch marks using castor oil, apply a thick layer of castor oil on the body and wrap the area with plastic wrap. Place a heating bag on the area for 20 minutes. Repeat this process daily or as many times in a week as you can for a month for best results.
- Aloe Vera: No skin treatment is complete without the presence of Aloe Vera. To treat stretch marks, you can either rub some pure Aloe Vera gel or enhance its properties by adding Vitamin E and Vitamin A capsules.
- Egg whites:Egg whites are particularly rich in amino acids and proteins. To use egg whites for treating stretch marks, whip an egg white gently and apply it on the required area once clean. Once dry, rinse with cold water and then apply oil to keep it moisturized.
- Lemon juice: Apart from its bleaching properties, lemon juice is also useful in eradicating stretch marks. You can apply lemon juice in its pure form or mix with cucumber juice.
