Stretch marks, similar to pimples, are among those things that aren’t received with a grin or excitement. Muscle gain, weight gain and pregnancy can all cause stretch marks. They appear when the dermis (skin) tears and loses its elasticity. Stretch marks can be prevalent among some people and not be a major issue with others. With stretch marks, you can’t really say if what you will have one day are just minor, hardly noticeable stretch marks, or if you will have to deal with the ugly, visible red or purple marks on your behind, tummy, calves or thighs. There are ways to prevent stretch marks from pregnancy or at other times of rapid weight change, and you’ll be better off doing these things that can help your skin remain flexible since you can’t really forecast the severity of stretch marks you will have.

You can’t entirely dodge those off-putting stretch marks, but you can minimize your chances of having them if you observe these five tips for preventing stretch marks.

1. To keep your skin hydrated, drink no less than 8 glasses of water each day. When you keep your body well-hydrated every day, your body will benefit greatly and reward you with skin that is flexible and less likely to get stretch marks.

2. Caffeine and nicotine have a drying effect on the skin so stay away from them. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker or a smoker or both, it’s a good idea to kick those habits at the earliest because all they really do is dehydrate your body, robbing your skin of the necessary moisture it needs to stay supple and stretchable.

3. It’s a good idea to start including the following in your daily diet: green vegetables (the leafy kind), dairy products, nuts, and seeds. These foods are rich sources of vitamin K and zinc. Vitamin K and zinc are responsible for sustaining the health of your skin, making it more elastic and younger looking.

4. Utilizing creams for stretch marks is one way to start attending to your skin. Using a good stretch mark cream can work wondrously on the skin. Get started on a nightly habit of applying the best stretch mark cream, like Barmon Stretch Mark Cream, on your body, specifically on those parts where stretch marks might form.

5. Keep your exposure to the sun and wind to a minimum. These two elements have a drying out effect on the skin.

When it comes to taking care of the skin, the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” is true. Once those stretch marks appear, they are there for life; you can’t make them go away, just try to do your best to lessen their appearance. It is best to deal with the problem before it becomes a problem. So if you are pregnant (or planning to become pregnant) or into body-building, make certain to take safeguards because using stretch mark removal creams will not be sufficient to keep those stretch marks at bay if your lifestyle encourages their development.

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