An Addiction to Remember...

Being pregnant brings out the best in a woman. It also causes a lot of changes within a woman's body, and one thing that's dreaded during the second and third trimester is the development of stretchmarks. What are stretch marks? Read on to find out.


From Wikipedia:

Stretch marks, or striae, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely.

They first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range. The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch.^[2]

Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the resilient middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. No stretch marks will form as long as there is support within the dermis. Stretching plays more of a role in where the marks occur and in what direction they run. Stretching alone is not the cause.^[3]

Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the belly-button), breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks. They pose no health risk in and of themselves, and do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.^[4]

Unfortunately,for some women, developing stretch marks during pregnancy is unavoidable. This makes a woman feel insecure about herself. I am also a part of the unfortunate ones who developed stretch marks at an early stage. Lucky for me, I have internet access which allows me to surf and look for possible solutions to this dreaded skin condition. And here is what I found out so far:

From iloveindia.com:

• One of the simplest, yet effective home remedies for stretch marks would be to apply lavender oil on the marks, three times a day.
• Another home remedy would be to apply Aloe Vera gel on the marks. They would initially, lighten and finally, remove the marks from the body.
• Prepare a mixture by adding seven drops of lavender oil and a few drops of chamomile oil to an ounce of carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond or jojoba oil). Use it to massage the affected area.
• Includes lots of green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, liver and dairy products in your diet.
• Consume seeds and nuts that contain zinc. They will prove effective in removing stretch marks.
• In a blender, mix ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup Aloe vera gel, liquid from 6 Vitamin E capsules and liquid from 4 Vitamin A capsules. Store it in a container and place it in the refrigerator. Apply this mixture wherever stretch marks appear.
• Aroma oil is beneficial in treating stretch marks problem. Apply some of this oil on the stretch marks and massage well.
• Rub the affected area with apricot scrub. This is likely to remove the stretch marks gradually.
• Cocoa butter is beneficial in treating stretch marks. Apply it two times a day, in the morning as well as in the evening, over the affected area. This would help remove the marks.

I also browsed thru an online store called Storeeland, and found out that they sell pure rosehip and emu oils which may also help in lightening/fading stretchmarks.

Rosehip oil is relatively unknown in the UK but already word is spreading as people discover its impressive skincare benefits.

Pure Rosehip oil contains natural tretinoin, a derivative of Vitamin A, and is proven to delay the effects of skin aging. It aids cell regeneration and boosts levels of collagen and elastin to create smoother, firmer skin.
Rosehip oil can also be used to strengthen weak fingernails and thin or damaged hair. It has proved useful in reducing and elimating the effects of:

• Scarring
• Stretch marks
• Effects of psoriasis
• Effects of eczema
• Lumps from scarring
• Hyper-pigmentation
• Dermatitis
• Over-exposure to the sun
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Skin burns

* from http://www.mariposa-alternative-bodycare.co.uk/index1.html


So there. I hope I was able to provide you with helpful info. And btw, sorry for missing out on blogging lately, I became very busy at work due to year end issues. =)