Stretch marks are often a source of insecurity among women of all ages and sizes.
Skin stretches to accommodate changes in body size including puberty, pregnancy, and muscle gain. If the skin stretches too quickly though, the elastic tissues and collagen in the skin may break, resulting in stretch marks.
Stretch marks usually appear as purple, pink, or red lines. As time passes, the skin’s blood vessels heal, and the lines become less noticeable.
While there are no fail-proof ways to guarantee you will never get stretch marks, there are a few tips you can do to help reduce your risk from getting them.
Here are 4 ways to prevent stretch marks:
1. Vitamin D
Getting enough Vitamin D is essential to preventing stretch marks and to keeping your skin’s overall health. You can do this by increasing your intake with Vitamin D rich foods and/or taking Vitamin D supplements.
2. Eat omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids help the skin stay supple and may prevent stretch marks from forming. Omega-3 rich fish include:
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Herring
- Salmon
You can also get omega-3 from vegetarian sources such as:
- Soybeans
- Algae
- Walnuts
- Flaxseed
- Chia seeds
3. Keep a healthy weight gain during pregnancy
Pregnant women should consult their doctor about how much weight to gain during pregnancy. Experts recommend gaining 25-35 pounds for pregnant women already at a healthy weight. Women who are overweight before pregnancy should gain 15-25 pounds, while underweight women should gain up to 40 pounds.
Keeping a healthy weight gain will prevent your skin from losing its elasticity and leaving stretch marks.
4. Moisturize
While there are no oils or creams 100% proven to prevent stretch marks, moisturizing your skin regularly will help keep your skin supple and reduce your risk for developing stretch marks. Moisturizers also help reduce itching that happens as the skin stretches.
Read the full article by Medical News Today here to learn more helpful tips on preventing stretch marks.