How to get rid of stretch marks and care for the skin during and after pregnancy

Massage With Oil

To minimise the risk or reduce the appearance of stretch marks throughout and after pregnancy it’s important to massage the areas which are most impacted. A gentle two-minute massage of the hips, belly, bust, buttocks and thighs is one of the best ways to treat stretch marks and increases blood flow and breaks up the scar tissue that causes stretch marks. Using a healing oil, such as Mustela's Stretch Marks Oil, helps to reduce friction during the massage and gives skin the vitamins and minerals it needs to repair itself. 

Apply A Cream

Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Cream moisturises and improves skin's elasticity. Formulated with ingredients of natural origin like avocado peptides, sunflower seed oil, and beeswax, its use is essential to prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy. A cream helps heal stretch marks in the deeper layers of the skin while keeping the upper layers soft and supple. One application in the morning and one application in the evening provides continuous healing for pregnancy stretch marks.

Mustela Nursing Comfort Balm is another beneficial cream that helps protect sensitive nipples, soothes and helps to restore the skin after breastfeeding and helps to avoid irritations and minor cracking. It allows young mothers to breastfeed with complete serenity and help to minimise the chances of getting mastitis.

Stay Hydrated

One of the most important actions you can take to prevent or get rid of stretch marks is to drink plenty of water. Drinking water helps provide your skin with the hydration necessary to remain healthy. Staying hydrated allows skin to function property and repair itself more efficiently and recover quickly from pregnancy stretch marks. Drinking 2 litres of water every day will keep skin cells healthy, supple and hydrated.  

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Along with applying specialised oil, cream and staying hydrated, moisture is one of the most important components of a healthy skin care routine. Regular moisturising keeps your skin smooth, nourished and bright and helps maintain your skin’s protective outer layer, preserves skin elasticity, which also helps heal stretch marks.

Medical professionals recommend choosing your skin care products carefully when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Some moisturizers contain ingredients that may find their way into your breast milk. The effect of these ingredients on newborns is unknown, so it’s best to use hypoallergenic or organic products to ensure skin is adequately and safely moisturized.

Exercises To Improve Skin & Muscle Tone

Along with hydration, moisturising and massaging, doing exercise can be a fun and effective method to prevent and repair stretch marks during and after pregnancy. Even light exercise, such as walking and yoga, can strengthen the muscles of your hips, thighs, and belly (the areas where stretch marks most often appear). Strengthening those muscles helps to tighten loose, stretch-marked skin and promotes faster healing.

There are many exercises to choose from to take up throughout and after pregnancy, such as swimming, stretching, walking, running, weight training, yoga, and Pilates. Starting with one day per week and gradually increasing to two, three, four, or even five days per week, depending on fitness levels. 

We also offer some other helpful tips for getting back to pre-pregnancy weight in one of our previous blogs here.