Partially due to genetics, stretch marks are small tears in the dermis that result when the fat or muscle beneath the skin is growing at a faster rate than the skin itself. “Keeping the skin moisturized during periods of ‘stretching,’ such as pregnancy, may help prevent them from forming,” says San Antonio plastic surgeon Mark W. Greene, MD. If your weight is fairly steady, you may be less likely to develop stretch marks, but there’s no guarantee that they won’t form.
As of late, there is no one proven way of fully preventing stretch marks. “It’s best to keep any weight changes slow and steady and to avoid hormone therapies, including oral contraceptives, if there is a strong family history of stretch marks,” says Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas.
- Keeping the skin well hydrated and using collagen-stimulating topical products may also help to some degree
- Eat foods rich in vitamins C and E and zinc, which collagen production and aid in supple skin.
- Massaging the skin with a massage brush can increase circulation.
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