I'm worried about getting stretch marks after my delivery. What are some effective ways to reduce or minimize stretch marks once the baby is born? I want to keep my skin looking good.
I did a lot of research on this, and my dermatologist told me that stretch marks are mostly genetic and you can't completely erase them. But keeping the skin highly hydrated with oils containing Gotu Kola or hyaluronic acid does help fade them over time.
My MIL and mom both made me use homemade warm mustard oil mixed with a bit of aloe vera gel on my stomach every morning. It really helped to reduce the itching and faded the marks quite a bit. Old ghar ke nuskhe sometimes work best!
Keeping your skin hydrated from the inside is also very important, so drink lots of water and eat foods rich in Vitamin C. Since I had gestational diabetes, I had to be very careful with my diet, but focusing on healthy, protein-rich foods really helped my skin recover post-pregnancy.
I don't want to give any medical tips, but personally, bio-oil and extra virgin coconut oil worked wonders for me. I massaged it on my tummy twice a day right after my delivery, and it really helped in fading the marks to light silvery lines.
I'm currently in my 3rd trimester and my tummy looks like a zebra crossing already, I am so tired of this! Honestly, I am just slathering whatever heavy moisturizer or coconut oil I can find and hoping for the best, let's see what happens post-delivery!
