Nobody wants ugly lines in any part of their body. But if you’re pregnant, expect a great chance of having several of them. Seventy five to ninety percent of pregnant women develop stretch marks. Doctors say stretch marks are hereditary and there’s pretty much nothing you can do if you’re born with it. So if your mom has had several stretch marks, you’re more likely to have them too.

But many women have proven that there are some preventive measures which can be done in order to avoid stretch marks. A healthy lifestyle and a good lotion to prevent stretch marks are what you are going to need.

Stretch marks are red or purple linear marks frequently seen in the tummy, thighs and buttocks which are areas prone to excessive stretching during pregnancy when the body becomes bigger. The skin becomes so stretched that a thin layer of the skin tears, giving the stretch marks its distinct color and appearance. This is due to the limited elasticity of the skin. With time, stretch marks heal and become small silvery lines with still a different texture from the surrounding skin. However, some stretch marks are so severe that they affect the woman’s self esteem. These marks are usually large and too many to heal readily.

A balanced diet and a good skin care regimen is a must to prevent stretch marks. Since rapid weight gain is the cause of stretching, it is imperative that a woman should control her weight. Drinking plenty of water and massaging your skin will also help give you a healthy skin resistant to stretch mark formation.

In addition to these conservative ways, a good lotion to prevent stretch marks is a must to have. There are a number of stretch mark removal lotions in the market and most of them are composed of natural products therefore there’s a less chance of having side effects. These include cocoa butter and shea butter-based lotions which are proven to be effective. Others come from extracts of aloe vera, coconut, oils of vitamin E and olive oil. These remedies should be applied in circular motion where stretch marks are most likely to develop.

While some stretch marks treatments are expensive, there are cheaper ones which are as effective or maybe more successful in treating these marks. Those made by Palmer’s are affordable and good lotions to prevent stretch marks. A favourite of most celebrity is the Bellamama Cocoa butter which is a little bit more expensive.

Since women are still prone to developing stretch marks after birth, a lotion which can be used is StriVectin-SD, the most well known of its kind in the market.

It is important to know however that before using any cream, pregnant and nursing women should consult their doctors as some creams might contain substances harmful to the baby.

To sum up, both conservative and pharmacological approaches are most effective if followed generously. With a healthy lifestyle and skin care regimen with the use of good lotion to prevent stretch marks, these lines shouldn’t be bothering you anymore as you face that great day of being a woman –giving birth to that little miracle of yours.