Many women experience stretch marks during pregnancy. Inhealth, Ireland, stocks a range of products to help prevent stretch marks, and minimise the appearance of stretch marks. Bio Oil is famous for the treatment of any kind of scars and is particularly suitable for stretch mark prevention and treatment. Mama Mio makes a range of products, again for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks. They recommend using the Mama Mio Body Buff Exfoliator followed by their tummy rub butter or tummy rub oil for stretch marks. Earth Mama also has a Body Butter for stretch marks, and a Natural Stretch Oil. All these stretch mark products are delivered the next day from inhealth’s warehouse in Dublin. Please see further information below on pregnancy stretch marks and stretch mark products.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are a very common occurrence during pregnancy. They are caused by the rapid stretching of the middle layer of skin called the dermis. The skin is stretched to a point where its elasticity begins to break down. Skin contains elastin - a protein in the skin that gives it its flexibility and allows it to stretch, then return to its original position. Stretch marks occur when the elastin is damaged, causing the ‘scar’.
Stretch marks usually appear first as purple or red lines on the skin, and tend to fade gradually or diminish over time, but usually do not disappear completely. This is because it is very difficult for the elastin in skin to repair as our bodies simply do not have a way to carry out this repair.
They are most common, obviously, around the abdomen, especially near the navel, but they can also appear on the breasts, buttocks and thighs, both inner and outer. It is estimated that between 75% and 90% of women will develop stretch marks during pregnancy; some women’s stretch marks will be a lot more noticeable than others. They tend to appear during the third trimester, or the 6th or 7th months of pregnancy. The chances of getting stretch marks can vary according to your skin type, age, diet, race and the hydration level of your skin.
Inhealth, Ireland, has a range of products that can be used on stretch marks. Many of these were developed specifically after a lot of research for use on these unsightly marks.
Bio Oil
Bio Oil has many uses for different skin conditions, but it is well known for its use in the prevention and treatment of stretch marks. It is obviously safe to use during pregnancy, and should be applied from the first trimester onwards, to help prevent stretch marks appearing by thorough moisturising of the skin to maintain its elasticity. It is recommended that Bio Oil is applied twice daily to the abdomen, breasts, hips, thighs and buttocks. After showering or bathing, apply Bio Oil to dry skin, using circular motions. Allow it to dry thoroughly before getting dressed.
Bio Oil contains the following ingredients among others; the level of each of these is well within the limits set for what is considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding:
- Vitamin A to help improve the skin’s elasticity, texture and tone
- Vitamin E increases the moisture level of the epidermis; it also assists in the maintenance of healthy skin
- Calendula oil clarifies, conditions, calms and soothes the skin
- Lavender oil is well known as a skin conditioner, and also calms and soothes it
- Rosemary oil again invigorates and conditions the skin, while calming and soothing it
- Chamomile oil is very beneficial for sensitive skin, and again provides a calming and soothing effect; it also assists in maintaining the skin’s natural health
- PurCellin Oil acts as a method of delivery for Bio Oil’s other skin conditioning ingredients, improving its spreadability and absorption into the skin.
Bio Oil is non-greasy, hypo-allergenic, does not contain preservatives and is suitable for sensitive skin. As stated earlier, it is safe for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Mama Mio Stretch Mark Products
Mama Mio have put a lot of time and research into the prevention and treatment of stretch marks, as they know that this skin condition can cause a lot of stress for many women. They have four products they recommend for use with stretch marks, all of which are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy, on your sensitive pregnancy skin:
- Mama Mio Body Buff Exfoliator is recommended as the first step in your stretch mark programme. Good skin elasticity is very important, particularly when you are pregnant. Regular exfoliation and moisturising are essential to elasticise your skin. Body Buff Exfoliator contains a blend of sweet almond oil, chamomile and vitamin E with ground pumice. It is gentle yet very effective on your stretched pregnancy skin, removing dead skin cells and encouraging cell renewal.
- Mama Mio Tummy Rub Butter for Stretch Marks is packed with skin enriching nutrients including Omega 3, 6 and 9. It has a deeply hydrating mix of ingredients including Shea Butter, Borage Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Wheatgerm Oil. These rich ingredients help prevent stretch marks by increasing the skin’s elasticity.
- Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil for Stretch Marks is also packed full of Omega 3, 6 and 9. It’s full of goodness and, strange but true, is not oily! It is absorbed very quickly, leaving your skin silky-soft with a protective sheen. This award-winning stretch mark product smell fantastic, as well as making your pregnancy skin look great!
- Mama Mio Goodbye Stretch Marks aims to be the best stretch mark minimising product on the market. Each of the four effective ingredients is included at their maximum levels, and is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks by over 70%. It contains regestril, emblica, matrixyl 3000 and algisium-c along with sweet almond oil packed with omega 3, 6 and 9 to soothe the skin and help restore the skin’s moisture levels. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from this product, you must use it exactly as stated, i.e. apply a thin layer over each stretch mark (like finger painting) three times a day for 60 days. Naturally, this product is totally safe to use during pregnancy.
Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Mark Products
Earth Mama Angel Baby also make great products for stretch marks:
- Earth Mama Body Butter is a pure, totally safe to use during pregnancy, lotion for pregnancy skin. It is a rich emollient body butter created to safely moisturise the skin of expectant mothers. It is made with naturally hydrating shea butter, pure organic herbs and essential oils to soothe sensitive pregnancy skin.
- Earth Mama Natural Stretch Oil is a blend of luxurious, easily-absorbed oils to help moisturise even very dry skin and to encourage your skin’s natural elasticity. Made with organic calendula and organic camomile, borage seed oil and vitamin E to help stimulate natural cell renewal and prevent itching. Massage into your pregnancy skin on your tummy and breasts twice daily, or add a few drops to a warm bath.
All these pregnancy stretch mark products are delivered the next day from Inhealth’s warehouse in Dublin.
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