What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are tears in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin (the epidermis is the top layer, the most superficial, and the hypodermis is the bottom layer, the deepest). Future mothers fear them. Concretely, stretch marks appear when the collagen fibers, responsible for the elasticity of the skin, break. Among the main causes, we find:
• Too sudden stretching of the skin (significant weight gain or loss)
• A hormonal change
• Heredity. Yes, if your mother, your aunt and your sister have stretch marks, you may be prone to them too, but perhaps you will be the exception that proves the rule...
• Taking medications or supplements (corticosteroids or steroids)
• An illness (Cushing's syndrome, syphilis, typhoid, etc.)
• Very thin skin
You will have understood, lack of potency, you already have the 2 main causes (if not more): with pregnancy, your skin will rarely be stretched to this point and we are not talking about change but downright upheaval hormonal! So stretch marks and pregnancy unfortunately often go hand in hand.
Race results: this tear causes a kind of streak, pink, red or purplish on your pretty little skin. In addition, it often arrives accompanied… So plan for several colored streaks that look like scars. They are often placed in parallel. Their width varies, it can go from 1 mm to 15 mm. They are also more or less large: from a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters! The depth depends on their size and age.
Their favorite places to stay during pregnancy:
• The stomach obviously (mainly from the pubis to the navel)
• Breasts
• Thighs
• Hips
• The buttocks
• And sometimes also: the lower back, the calves, the arms, the shoulders… in short, enough to become a real little zebra!
The question you ask yourself is “am I affected?” »
50 to 80% of women develop stretch marks at the end of their pregnancy. But by following our advice below, you should come out with flying colors or at least greatly limit the damage ;)
Know that we are not all equal when it comes to stretch marks (like everything related to pregnancy). Thus, certain factors increase the risk of developing stretch marks: age under 20, obesity, expecting a large baby or several babies, being a future mother with very, very light or very dark skin. If you had stretch marks during adolescence, you have a favorable situation so be careful, but at the same time receptivity to hormones decreases with age so this does not necessarily mean that you will be affected.
It is therefore preferable to adopt our advice and work on the suppleness of the skin from the first trimester, by applying an anti-stretch mark cream morning and evening... A beauty gesture to keep even after childbirth since stretch marks can still occur. occur in the months following the birth of your baby between the hormones always in chaos (especially if you are breastfeeding) and the rapid loss of your pounds.
Our 10 valuable tips for keeping your skin beautiful & supple and thus avoiding stretch marks when you are expecting a child:
1. Drink liters and liters… of water of course
Skin hydration also comes from the inside. For your skin to be radiant and supple, it is very important to drink plenty of water: the ideal being 2 liters per day when you are pregnant. You can of course vary with herbal teas in winter or detox waters in summer. However, we avoid tea and coffee, as well as very sugary sodas. Fruit juices can be interesting for their vitamin intake but should be limited because they are also very sweet.
2. Eat healthy
Yes, we know, we will have told you this all your life but it is even more essential during pregnancy! Not only so that your baby develops well and is in great shape but also so that you are in perfect health and that you give your body all the keys to adapt as best as possible to this very special period of your life as a woman.
Eating healthily means eating a little of everything (within the limits of what is allowed when you are pregnant). Preventing stretch marks also involves your plate! Do not hesitate to favor foods containing vitamins which will help preserve the youth and suppleness of your skin:
• Vitamins C and E : fruits and vegetables (notably avocado, kiwi, lettuce, pepper, orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, melon, pineapple and tomato), legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and animal proteins. Oily fish are also very good.
• Omega 3 and 6 : rapeseed oil, flaxseed oil and seeds, eggs with the Bleu-Blanc-Cœur logo, purslane, spinach, lamb's lettuce, watercress, lettuce, lawyer, …
3. Control your weight gain
Yes, it's logical, you will inevitably gain weight during these nine months but 2 golden rules must be respected:
• Limit your weight gain as much as possible. The bigger you get, the more your skin will stretch and the more likely it will crack and reveal ugly stretch marks. Specialists recommend gaining between 8 and 12 kg for a single pregnancy, and 12 to 15 kg for a twin pregnancy. These figures remain indicative, they are only simple recommendations, stay attentive to your body and don't feel guilty if you gain more weight!
• Gain weight gradually !! If you gain 8 kg in a month, your body doesn't have time to understand what's happening. You thus increase the risk of the appearance of stretch marks because you require an enormous effort to adapt. It's not for nothing that a pregnancy lasts 9 months, so use them wisely... To do this, eat a balanced diet as previously said and above all don't tell yourself that it's great, "you can eat for two!" ”, because that is not the case…
4. Spread yourself with cream or oil… or both
Oh yes we are talking about “spreading” because for good prevention of stretch marks, it is applied morning and evening, EVERY day, and if possible from the 1st month of pregnancy . The sooner you start, the better prepared your skin will be, so don't delay. For your anti-stretch mark treatment, you have the choice between a massage oil, a gel cream or even a balm... Choose the texture that suits you best or alternate the treatments to vary the pleasures.
The ideal is really not to settle for a moisturizing cream, but to choose a pregnancy stretch mark cream : a complete treatment , specifically formulated to fight against stretch marks . Its effectiveness will be better, because it contains dedicated active ingredients which act in prevention – to avoid the appearance of stretch marks – and in correction of these marks. Our anti-stretch mark treatments contain organic vegetable oils, such as Muscat rose oil, which softens the skin and reduces scars on damaged skin. And because it is better to be vigilant about what we put on our body and face during pregnancy , we advise you to focus on brands dedicated to future and young mothers, like Daylily. Our natural treatments specifically developed for pregnant women do not contain ingredients not recommended during pregnancy (such as essential oils, caffeine, alcohol, etc.) Our face and body products are 100% compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding for prevent the appearance of stretch marks with complete peace of mind!
Which areas of the body to target? More or less the whole body in fact, since we massage from the bottom of the thighs to the top of the bust: thighs, buttocks, hips, stomach, chest, lower back. Stretch marks can appear almost anywhere. For this, our Lait Fondant is your best ally! The ideal? One application every morning all over the body to hydrate it and prevent stretch marks.
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27,90 € - Regular price
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27,90 €
So, yes, we know that it can seem painful to cream yourself morning and evening but it's really for a good cause because once the stretch marks are there, it's difficult to get rid of them. And what's more, you will see that you will enjoy it with our ultra sensory products (oil, cream and balm) which leave the skin soft! We have specially developed them with a man-midwife and pregnant women so that their use is a real pleasure. We focused on pleasant textures and scents that smell good (mmmmhhh). And if massage really isn't your thing, you can assign your darling to be on massage duty (you'll see that it's not unpleasant...). To convince him, you can mention that it is a moment of communion and exchange with baby or simply that you do all the work during these 9 months so he can do at least that.
In addition, massage is also very important, the more time you spend on it, the more it will strengthen the effectiveness of the treatment. For this our Huile Sensorielle is ideal!! This very pleasant dry oil allows a gentle massage without a greasy or sticky effect. Because it is above all a treatment oil, you can also apply it all over the body, to moisturize your skin which tends to be drier during pregnancy.
Combine business with pleasure? It's possible !! With La Pause Douceur which offers a real moment of well-being while hydrating and soothing your skin from potential itching and tightness. Its effectiveness does not stop there, as in the Huile Sensorielle and Lait Fondant, our fabric mask contains a powerful anti-stretch mark active ingredient which helps prevent their appearance. Great, right?
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28,90 € - Regular price
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28,90 €
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From
14,90 € - Regular price
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44,70 € - Sale price
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14,90 €
Once baby arrives, we don't let up on our efforts, even if your new life is busy. We continue the anti-stretch mark treatments for a few more months, while your stomach returns to its initial shape. Remember: you can improve the appearance of stretch marks (length, width, depth, etc.) as long as they are red!
5. Erase, erase, erase
To improve the effectiveness of anti-stretch mark treatments , it is recommended to exfoliate once a week. The skin cells “breathe” better and the treatments will be better assimilated. This will also help regenerate the skin for more radiance and freshness! In addition, it activates microcirculation for more supple skin. For this, nothing better than a scrub in the shower with Le Gant Sublimateur and Les Bulles Lavantes ! The two sides of the glove offer you two scrub intensities. For the stomach, focus on the soft side. For other areas prone to stretch marks, you can use the intense side which exfoliates the skin, allows better penetration of treatments and better results.
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12,90 € - Regular price
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12,90 €
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19,90 € - Regular price
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19,90 €
6. Play sports (go on, motivated!)
We are of course talking about adapted sport during pregnancy (and with the agreement of your gynecologist or midwife). In addition to the usual virtues of sport (namely relieving stress, limiting weight, producing endorphins for your well-being and that of your baby, etc.), physical activity also helps to fight against stretch marks since it will tone the muscles to provide good support to the skin. This also activates blood circulation for better cell renewal and better skin elasticity. The most popular sports are walking, swimming, yoga, stretching and other “gentle” activities.
7. Bye bye the sun
Generally speaking, it is better to limit exposure to the sun during pregnancy (hard, we know). First of all, there is a risk of spots appearing on the face, the so-called pregnancy mask. For this, we advise you to take a look at our Crème Radieuse SPF 50+ , THE essential day cream for pregnancy.
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24,90 € - Regular price
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24,90 €
8. Forget cigarettes (logic)
Well, you already knew that, and the advice is not only valid for stretch marks. Be aware that tobacco impacts the quality of your skin and increases the risk of stretch marks. For beautiful and healthy skin, it is recommended to stop smoking when you want to get pregnant and of course once conception has occurred.
9. Relax
To have a beautiful and peaceful pregnancy, you have to be relaxed :) It's already better for your baby... yes, a Zen mother-to-be will have a Zen baby. And what's more, it's better for your skin. Cortisol, the stress hormone, damages the elasticity of the skin … so relax!
To help you relax, we have created La Pause Douceur, a fabric mask for the stomach! Wrap your pretty baby bump in this soothing mask for 15 minutes. It instantly relieves tightness and itching and acts as a hydration booster! Its little extra? It helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks thanks to a powerful active ingredient, Dermochlorella!
10. Nothing is ever lost
If, despite all our valuable advice, your skin decides to do as it pleases and cracks, tell yourself that solutions exist . Of course, there is little chance that the stretch mark will disappear completely, but you can implement some solutions to make it less visible . If these marks do not completely disappear from your skin, remember that they are a sign of life, of the birth of a child and of happiness! First, use a corrective treatment against stretch marks, like our Baume Onctueux, a 3-in-1 product which also acts on the firmness of the skin, and which reduces orange peel skin.
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33,90 € - Regular price
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33,90 €
Note: It is important to start it while the stretch mark is recent and still red or purplish because it is at this time that we can try to reduce it, and not afterwards, when it becomes a white stretch mark.
There are also other treatments you can discuss with your doctor , gynecologist, or dermatologist:
• The self-tanner that can camouflage well
• Tattooing to recolor the skin
• Dermatological treatments with vitamin A creams (Be careful not during pregnancy or breastfeeding)
• Laser, microdermabrasion with alumina crystals, peeling, local injections, LED photo modulation, etc.
• Surgical intervention
That's it, you know everything, there's more! ;)
