Cris Peck <p>During pregnancy, many women develop stretch marks, which are also known as striae gravidarum. They appear as slightly raised red or blue lines, generally spread across the abdomen. It is quite common for pregnant women to have stretch marks on the breasts, thighs, hips, buttocks and underarms as well. Women are eager to avoid stretch marks as these ungainly marks affect their beauty and physical appearance. </p> <p><a href="http://divaskincare.com/">Stretch Marks </a>During Pregnancy </p> <p>Stretch marks appear during pregnancy as the skin is stretched over a short period of time along with quick weight gain. This causes the fibers of the dermis to break and reveal the normally hidden blood vessels. This is generally not painful but can cause itching or burning sensation in that area. The marks usually appear in the third trimester of pregnancy, but there are cases where women have developed them right at the beginning. </p> <p>As the human skin is elastic, it tends to stretch a lot. More the weight gain, more will there be stretch marks. Women with multiple pregnancies or those carrying a large baby are more prone to have stretch marks. There is loss of elasticity in some parts of the skin in pregnant women. After the baby’s birth, the skin becomes flabby and results in after pregnancy stretch marks. </p> <p>Other factors that play a role in the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy include heredity, hormonal changes, and diet. Women with darker skin are more liable to have stretch marks than those with lighter skin. </p> <p>Tips To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy </p> <p>Your mother’s experience with stretch marks will give you an indication of how your body will react to the occurrence of these marks on your skin. The best way to avoid stretch marks is to keep control over your weight. You can follow your doctor’s advice about weight gain during pregnancy. </p> <p>But if you are predisposed to have these marks, then you should look at various methods of treating them. One of the best ways to deal with stretch marks is to keep the skin hydrated. This includes drinking a lot of water and moisturizing your skin with a pregnancy stretch marks cream. Remember that there is no standard skin cream that can be recommended as some creams happen to work with some women and not with others. You can also use some cosmetic products to treat these marks. </p> <p>If you encounter itching on your stretch marks, you can apply Aloe Vera gel for a cooling effect. Watch your diet! A diet rich in Vitamin C, found in brightly colored fruits and vitamin E from green leafy vegetables as well as mineral zinc found in meat, fish and rice, is important for a healthy skin. </p> <p>Many women feel that creams can help prevent pregnancy stretch marks. But the best way to avoid stretch marks in pregnancy is to watch your weight as their appearance is usually determined by elasticity of skin and hereditary traits. </p> 48 2008-12-16T00:35:40-05:00 15 how-can-i-avoid-stretch-marks-in-my-third-trimester-of-pregnancy Cris Peck http://divaskincare.com/ 2008-12-16T00:35:40-05:00