MM Skincare
Moisturising - not just skin deep
As new research shows that new mums’ skin doesn’t get the attention it deserves, MM takes a look at caring for your skin during your pregnancy
With all that skin has to cope with during pregnancy – stretching significantly and returning to normal in just a few months – it’s vital that it’s nourished and moisturised. But new research commissioned by
Colief has revealed that three in four (77 per cent) of Irish mums have admitted to prioritising their baby’s moisturising routine over their own! Colief’s findings certainly made for
interesting reading, with half of first-time mums saying that they found the lack of time for themselves to be one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood, with 37 per cent saying they found it most difficult to cope with the changes to their body during and after pregnancy. Perhaps most tellingly, almost two in
five (39 per cent) mums saying that they were particularly worried about getting rid of their stretch marks, with 41 per cent admitting to being embarrassed by them. Stretch marks are
unfortunately one of those little ‘pregnancy niggles’. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 75 per cent of mums to be will develop stretch marks to some extent.
54 Modernmum Stretch marks are basically caused by
collagen tearing below the skin and are extremely common during pregnancy as your baby grows and the skin stretches. Think of a balloon, which has been blown up and then deflated. A lot of the balloon’s elasticity is lost and it’s like a shadow of its former self. That’s what happens to your skin! For most women stretch marks begin as
raised pink, reddish brown or dark brown lines, which later turn a brighter shade of violet or purple. (Some women describe them as making their tummy look like a ‘road map of Ireland’.) The biggest factor in determining whether or not you’ll stretch marks is skin type. The collagen and elastin
content of your skin is partly down to genetics, so our likelihood is increased if your mum developed them. When it comes to stretch marks,
prevention is definitely better than cure, so it’s vital that you do as much as you can during pregnancy to prevent them appearing in the first place.
Of course, that’s easier said than
done, but these are the most universally accepted ‘successful
tips’ for ensuring that stretch marks don’t rear their ugly little heads!
• Massage a natural moisturising cream into your breasts, tummy, thighs, hips and bottom twice a day helps to keep skin strong, smooth and supple during pregnancy. After the birth, the unique properties boost the skin’s natural healing process in these important first few months.
• Eat a healthy diet so that your skin has enough essential vitamins and minerals. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, grapefruits, kiwis and green veg are particularly good for promoting the health of your skin.
• Take regular exercise, which helps to improve circulation.
• Drink five glasses of water every day to help moisturise your skin.
In time, stretch marks do fade, becoming less obvious and lighter than your skin colour, but they won’t – unfortunately – disappear completely. The good news is that, by caring for your skin during your pregnancy, you should be able to limit the damage to some extent!
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