How to prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks, Sagging Breasts and Cellulite

When the body goes through rapid growth in bulk or size the skin has to cope with this change and goes through a gradual increase in its surface area. However, when this bulk of the body is lost equally fast or faster than one gained it the skin does not find sufficient time to cope with this change and remains behind as stretch marks or sagging skin.

What Causes Stretch Marks

The stretching of the skin itself shall not leave marks because the skin is naturally flexible. However, when the stretch creates pressure on the outer layer of the skin called the dermis, it can often break it apart to the middle layers. While the outer layers heal up, the middle layers remain mostly devoid of matter leaving the lines along which pressure is felt empty. This results in scars that are termed as stretch marks.

How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks

Pregnancy stretch marks are associated with the skin getting dry around the regions of the abdomen that directly deal with the pressure of a bulging stomach. As the skin gets dry it starts to itch and this irritation causes tears to appear on the skin. Hence, the best cure for stretch marks is the use of moisturizers. This is a preventive measure more than it is a cure and women who have kept their skin moisturized through pregnancy have been left with fewer and lighter marks.

The approved methods of treatment to get rid of stretch marks are as follows:

• Laser Surgery – The basic concept used behind laser treatment is that the skin is drilled into using lasers along the stretch line and left as it is so as to stimulate the skin to develop collagen, a filling agent, along the lines covering it up eventually with time. These holes are microscopic and do not hurt.
• Dermabrasion – This method relies on the use of freezing agents to dry the stretch marks and then using an abrasive substance it is scrapped off so as to stimulate new cells to grow along the marks.
• Chemical Peels – In this procedure, the skin is treated with chemical treatments that leave the skin with room for new cells to develop that are healthier than the ones they just replaced.
• Tummy Tuck – The only 100% proven method to get rid of marks permanently. For pregnancy stretch marks, the surgeon shall remove the skin with marks on it and shut it tight with adjacent skin thus giving rise to a tighter skin with no marks on it.
• Stretch Mark Cream – The only method that is commercially available for usage without the consent of doctors, stretch mark cream is supposed to moisturize the area and stimulate the growth of new skin cells. The best creams are now shown to contain an ingredient called Gotu Kola and Vitamin E that are active promoters of new cell growth. Although the application of stretch mark cream does not ensure a full recovery of healthy skin, it does reduce the visibility of the marks and can lead to a better appearance when wearing bathing suits and bikinis.
• Exercise – One of the most effective non medical method of treatment is through exercise. This not only works well on pregnancy stretch marks but also with sagging breasts and cellulite. A good example of such an exercise program is the ‘Pregnancy Without Pounds’.

Associated Conditions With Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Two more conditions are associated closely with pregnancy stretch marks and those are of sagging breasts and cellulite. These two conditions affect almost 80% to 90% of all women and often are a source of embarrassment for all even though every other women has it themselves.

Cellulite And Cellulite Reduction

Cellulite is a condition of the skin usually around the bums, upper thighs and the abdomen region where in the skin develops abnormal skin texture that is associated with the dimpling of the skin. This results in a poor complexion of those regions.

The causes for it are many and range from hormonal imbalances caused during pregnancy to poor dietary practices. Cellulite Reduction methods that have been devised till date suffer from poor efficiency. What many work for one shall not work for another. Hence, cellulite sufferers are advised to follow the following curative measures together by doctors:

• Maintain a healthy diet that is balanced and free of junk food.
• Apply cellulite creams commercially available in pharmacies and the super markets.
• Exercise the bottom portions regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle overall.
• Go in for massage treatments regularly.
• Take body wrap sessions.

Sagging Breasts And Its Cure

Post pregnancy the breast increases in size and develops a sag afterwards when the breast feeding period expires. This is often a skin outgrowth that can be just as easily cured following the same treatment methods used for pregnancy stretch marks. However, the most effective treatment for sagging breasts is to exercise after child birth and following some routines such as those mentioned in the Pregnancy Without Pounds program can restore the firmness of the breasts back to almost a pre-pregnancy condition.