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Pregnancy fissures
Pregnancy cracks occur when the body grows more than the skin can absorb this growth, which leads to the tearing of the fibers under the skin, forming what is known as pregnancy fissures , and a pregnant woman gains more than 13 kilograms during pregnancy, which leads to the emergence of these cracks, especially in the two areas of the chest And the abdomen, and the cracks may reach the thighs , arms, and buttocks, and the cracks begin with a red or purple color, then they turn into a white or gray color. [1]
How to protect the body from cracks in pregnancy
Many methods and procedures can be followed to preserve the body during pregnancy and prevent cracks , and among these procedures we mention the following: [2]
- Follow a diet rich in nutrients: The likelihood of developing fissures in pregnancy increases if you do not get food rich in nutrients, so you should eat foods that contain nutrients, such as: vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, and various proteins, through Avoid eating processed foods that contain different food dyes, as eating a breakfast that contains eggs and toast, with a little cranberry gives high nutritional value.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most beneficial ways to prevent pregnancy cracks in a pregnant woman, or others, and pregnancy cracks are caused by skin shattering as a result of gaining large amounts of weight quickly, or losing large weight quickly, so weight must be maintained to prevent the occurrence of Sudden changes by eating healthy and beneficial foods and exercising, and it is better to see a doctor when a person notices a significant weight loss, or rapid weight gain, to find out the reason.
- Get adequate amounts of vitamin D: One study has shown a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the appearance of cracks in the skin. Maintaining normal levels of vitamin D in the body reduces the occurrence of cracks, and it can be obtained from exposure to sunlight, or from its food sources, such as: milk products.
- Maintaining body moisture: Drink enough water daily. This is to keep the body hydrated and soft, as dry skin is cracked more and worse than wet skin, and drinking caffeinated drinks increases the possibility of exposure to cracks in the skin, so it is necessary to balance the quantities of caffeinated drinks with free drinks, such as Water or herbal tea.
- Treatment of cracks in pregnancy when they appear: It may be difficult to prevent cracks from appearing completely, but their appearance can be mitigated by a specialist doctor.
- Eat foods rich in zinc: Zinc is one of the most important components of the skin, and it helps to increase the speed of wound healing , and reduces inflammation. Therefore, eating foods rich in zinc, such as: fish, reduces the appearance of cracks.
- Eat foods rich in vitamin C: Vitamin C contributes to the formation of collagen, and collagen maintains the elasticity and freshness of the skin , and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and cracks of the skin, and there is vitamin C in various vegetables, fruits, especially citrus fruits, such as: lemon and orange.
Risk factors for developing cracks in pregnancy
The expansion or contraction of the body as a result of large weight gain or loss may lead to the appearance of cracks , or what is known as stretch marks, and other reasons that lead to fissures are the following: [3]
- Weight gain: Large weight gain in a short period of time leads to the appearance of cracks.
- The use of steroids: The use of external creams and ointments that contain steroids reduces the percentage of collagen in the skin, as collagen is the main component that strengthens the skin, supports it, and reduces the chance of the appearance of cracks.
- Some health conditions: such as people with Marfan syndrome that reduces the elasticity of the skin, and people with Cushing's syndrome are exposed to an increase in the amount of hormones in the body, which leads to an increase in weight .
- Puberty: Rapid growth during puberty leads to fissures.
Symptoms of stretch marks
Stretch marks do not always appear the same, and they differ according to their duration , cause, and location, in addition to the type of skin, and among these differences are the following: [4]
- Lines appear on the abdomen , breasts, hips, buttocks, or thighs.
- The appearance of lines that cover large areas of the body.
- Notice the appearance of pink, red, blue, or purple streaks.
- The streaks appear light, which fades to a dull color.
The importance of time in treating stretch marks
The life cycle of cracks begins with the red and purple colors, and it is easy to treat and deal with when it is at this stage, and with the passage of time, the color of these marks becomes dull, and tends to a silver white color, and their treatment becomes very difficult when they turn into this color, so these signs must be treated As quickly as possible when it starts. [5]
How to treat cracks in pregnancy
There are many methods of treating pregnancy cracks, and their effectiveness varies from person to person, and among these methods are the following: [6]
- Use creams , solutions, or topical gels designed to treat them, taking care to use them in early and early cases, and massaging the affected area well using these creams, and making sure to use these products daily for several weeks to get the best results.
- The use of some household ingredients in the treatment of pregnancy cracks, such as: almond oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, or any substance containing vitamin E, as studies have shown that regular use of these substances helps in fading the effect of stretch marks on the body.
- The use of cosmetics, where the use of cosmetics that match the color of the patient's skin to cover the stretch marks is a good option, provided that it is waterproof, but it is not considered a good option while the patient remains for long periods in the water. [7]
References
- ↑ Elizabeth B. Krieger, "The Truth About Pregnancy Stretch Marks" , www.webmd.com , Retrieved 11-5-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Ashley Marcin (9-7-2018), “7 Tips to Help Prevent Stretch Marks” , www.healthline.com , Retrieved 11-5-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Cynthia Cobb (5-1-2018), "How do I get rid of stretch marks?" , Www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 11-5-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Stretch marks" , www.mayoclinic.org , 3-1-2019, Retrieved 11-5-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Robin Elise Weiss (24-10-2018), "Treating Stretch Marks During and After Pregnancy" , www.verywellfamily.com , Retrieved 11-5-2019 . Edited.
- ↑ "Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them" , www.aad.org , Retrieved 1-6-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Stretch Marks" , kidshealth.org , Retrieved 11-5-2019 . Edited.
