How To Prevent Stretch Marks 

Stretch marks are often the number 1 skin concern during pregnancy, but it doesn’t have to be! Prevention is the key, and having an effective skincare routine will help prevent stretch marks. In this blog post, I am sharing my tips on keeping your skin healthy, flexible, and stretchmark free throughout your pregnancy.

When do stretch marks occur?

Stretch marks happen when your body grows faster than your skin can keep up, this causes the elastic fibers under the skin’s surface to break, resulting in stretch marks.

During pregnancy, you can gain up to 20 kg, most women will experience stretch marks in their second or third trimester, and they typically appear on the stomach and breasts, the two areas that grow the most. Stretch marks can also appear on the thighs, butt, and upper arms. The marks often start out pink or purple, but after pregnancy, they gradually fade to white or gray. 

Prevention is Key 

Prevention is essential because stretch marks are difficult to minimize if you get them. It is possible to minimize them a little if they are treated while they are new and still pink, but they are similar to scars and will leave a mark on your skin. 

Prevent stretch marks with the right Pregnancy skincare routine

Changing hormone levels can affect the skin in many ways. Some of the most typical concerns include breakouts, melasma (hyperpigmentation), itchy skin and stretch marks. 

It is good to look at your current face and body care products to determine if they are ideal for pregnancy. You might want to avoid some ingredients, such as perfume, retinol, acids, and chemical SPF filters as they are possible hormone disruptors.

The key to preventing stretch marks is to keep the skin deeply nourished and moisturized day and night, preferably using natural skincare with minimal ingredients that effectively support the skin barrier and keep it moisturized and protected.  

Morning routine

The morning is usually busy for most women, so I developed The Revitalizing Body Oil to prevent stretch marks and keep the skin soft and nourished all day. It is a lightweight oil that absorbs pretty quickly so you can get dressed minutes after applying the oil. It contains a minimal amount of citrus essential oils that uplift your mood, keeps nausea at bay, and calm the mind. It features ten luxurious plant oils that are cell renewing and barrier protecting. My best tip is to apply it directly after stepping out of the shower or on damp skin, as this helps lock in moisture and makes it easy and fast to spread and massage into the skin.

Evening routine 

In the evening, I recommend a deeply nourishing product like the Shea & Coconut Body Butter. It is formulated with pure shea butter, virgin organic coconut oil, walnut oil and vitamin E. 

These natural ingredients are rich in vitamins and antioxidants; they add a protective layer to your skin barrier and keep the skin soaked in moisture all night long. 

This is the simple 2 step routine I used throughout my pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, and I continue to use them after the pregnancy while breastfeeding to avoid stretch marks from occurring on the bust. 

If you have questions about your pregnancy skincare routine or need guidance, please comment below or send an email to contact@skincarebymai.com or DM on Facebook or Instagram.