Stretch Mark Prevention: Pregnancy, Puberty, & Bodybuilding

We have gathered the best stretch mark prevention items on Amazon, so you can keep your skin smooth and flawless through puberty, pregnancy, and any other activities that can impact your skin (such as weightlifting). Choose the best products for your body, but know that most methods should be effective for anyone.

What Are Stretch Marks and Where Do They Come From?

Stretch marks are actually tears that form deep in the skin. This usually occurs when the skin is forced to stretch too much in too little time. Once the skin tears as a result of this quick expansion, the healing process leaves a scar. For example, pregnancy often results in stretch marks around the stomach because your skin is forced to expand along with the size of your growing baby. The abdominal skin is stretched over your growing uterus, often in quick spurts that seem to increase daily, particularly during the second trimester.

Stretch marks are different for everyone, impacted by age, diet, and what your skin is like. People who are most likely to develop them include pregnant women, children growing through pubescent growth spurts, and bodybuilders or other people who gain weight quickly.

Let’s talk about the best ways to use stretch mark prevention products, from how much water you drink to the benefits collagen can provide to how some creams can actually help reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks.

Water Intake and Stretch Mark Prevention

Some of the best methods for stretch mark prevention include early preventative methods, exfoliation, and staying hydrated. Good hydration improves the elasticity of your skin, which means it can stretch more easily during periods of rapid growth and weight gain.

Staying hydrated is an effective method of stretch mark prevention for anyone: growing teenagers, pregnant women, and weight lifters alike. Sufficient water intake ensures your cells are plump and healthy, with plenty of elasticity to stretch and heal. Women and girls going through puberty should drink about nine to eleven cups of water a day, although this varies by weight. Pregnant women should drink eight to twelve cups. Please note this includes the water found in all the foods and beverages consumed during the day, although the majority of this should come from actual glasses of water.

Stay hydrated with this BPA-free H2O Capsule 74 Ounce Reusable Water Bottle with a storage sleeve, covered straw lid, and handle!

The Importance of Sunscreen

Most people are aware that sunscreen shields you from the sun's damaging rays. During the summer months or when spending extended periods outside, people frequently apply sunscreen. What about the remaining months of the year? Is it necessary to use sunscreen every day?

Why Should You Wear Sunscreen?

Spending time outside is beneficial to your health and can help absorb vitamin D. Let's see why you should wear sunscreen daily.

Here are some reasons why you should wear sunscreens regularly:

Excessive exposure to the sun can cause wrinkles and aging. Years of sun damage will cause wrinkles and make you appear older than you are. According to the Skin Care Foundation, 90 percent of aging is caused by time spent in the sun. Importantly, daily use of sunscreen protects you from years of visible damage.
If you have a darker complexion, your skin's melanin provides some protection from sunburns, but you must still protect your skin from dangerous ultraviolet radiation. People with fair skin are more likely to get skin cancer due to sun exposure. Therefore, everyone should use sunscreen every day, regardless of skin tone.

Add Sunscreen to your daily routine:

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50 +

Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 PA+++ — IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50 +

Tinted:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Body and Face Sunscreen Spray SPF 60 — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Face & Body Untinted Sunscreen:

Stretch Mark Prevention Creams, Butters, and Oils

Staying hydrated means keeping your outsides buttered up as well! There are a ton of stretch mark prevention and removal skincare products on the market, but you are not going to get the same results from everything. Again, everyone has different skin, and many people notice a marked difference from the results of the same products.

When it comes to stretch marks and acne scars during pregnancy, this body oil works miracles. Vitamin A and Vitamin E are plentiful in this oil. Since it mixes lavender oil, chamomile oil, and rosemary oil, Bio-oil is a potent combination of goodness that quickly cures your skin.

It's a non-greasy solution made for your convenience and is the holy grail of stretch mark prevention. It helps in the deep fading of scars by penetrating the skin. This bio-oil also aids in the evening of skin tones.

amazon link to top rated stretch mark prevention product Bio Oil

Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy hydrates to help prevent stretch marks and is clinically shown to produce improvement in four weeks.

Ultimately, however, the important part is that you are applying some sort of hydrating cream or oil to the areas most likely to be affected. When you are pregnant, of course, the skin on your abdomen is the most likely to change quickly.

This Evereden Soothing Belly Mask for stretch mark prevention in the second and third trimester is plant-based, fragrance-free, and fits the area that most needs treatment.

Many natural products, like shea or cocoa butter, are extremely beneficial to the skin. Because they are naturally derived, many women prefer them for use during pregnancy.

This Deux Derme stretch mark prevention is an intensive removal cream with vitamin E, shea butter, and cocoa butter, perfect for pregnancy or dealing with weight gain-related stretch marks.

Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream is a daily moisturizer with organic cocoa butter, shea butter, plant oils, and vitamins. This is a great product for girls growing fast during puberty, bodybuilders trying to quickly increase bulk, and pregnant women.

TriLASTIN Maternity Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is an all-natural scar remover that is safe to use during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is a mixture of plant-based extracts and shea butter as well as being hypoallergenic and paraben-free.

Of course, many women experience heightened sensitivity to smell during pregnancy. This can be especially difficult during the morning sickness that often accompanies the first trimester. Many of these have no scent at all, but for women who enjoy a gentle scent, the herbs and oils used in some natural stretch mark prevention creams have a natural, light scent that doesn’t aggravate an already sensitive system.

Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Cream is great for pregnancy and includes natural avocado peptides with a light fragrance.

Belly Butter by Earth Mama contains organic herbs and oils to ease skin and provide stretch mark prevention during pregnancy. It includes no artificial fragrance, but the herbs and oils do have a gentle, natural smell.

The best times to moisturize are after your bath or shower, after washing your face, and after washing your hands. Don’t dry off completely; leave some moisture behind so the lotions can do their job, helping your skin absorb healthier liquid. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. Even more, you can moisturize in the shower by using hydrating body washes and in-shower lotions or oils to help keep your expanding and stretching skin as soft and elastic as possible, and help with stretch mark prevention.

The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash By Naturium, Gentle Cleanser, 16.9 oz — CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash

Collagen, Protein, and Your Workout

Ultimately, the best methods for stretch mark prevention involve the way you eat and the way you treat your body. When your workout goal includes expanding your muscle mass, good skin care is essential. In addition to getting plenty of water, there are a variety of other minerals that are critical to the body.

Woman working out. Upper body strength training

Collagen in particular is extremely helpful for fluid intake and stretch mark prevention. It is found in connective tissue, making it great for your hair, bones, and skin. Unfortunately, around early middle age, most people begin to experience changes to the body. The skin does not glow like it used to. Working out leaves you with aching joints.

Adding a protein powder to your regimen after age 35 can help your skin feel healthier, and you may find you look and feel younger. Including foods with collagen in your diet is a great way to get natural sources, but you can also add a collagen peptide powder to make sure you get the right amount for your body. A collagen peptide powder with protein means you get all the benefits of both: healthier skin, slower aging, reduced stress, and increased immunity.

Collagen peptides can also be useful during pregnancy when your body is going through an incredible amount of changes. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement. Collagen is not recommended for people under 35, and should not be used for stretch mark prevention in puberty.

This 20-ounce Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder uses pasture-raised, grass-fed protein sources and comes unflavored, so you can add it to anything.

This Chocolate Collagen Peptide Powder is dark chocolate flavored but sugar-free and includes protein types 1 and 3 and reishi mushrooms for a mood boost.

Alternatively, this coffee-flavored Vital Performance Protein Powder includes grass-fed Vital Performance Protein Powder and collagen peptides. Perfect for those caffeine lovers who need an afternoon boost or want protein with their coffee.

Powders not for you? Try the Gummies

For More Information

Incorporating a good skincare routine before you notice signs of change is always a good idea. No matter what age you are, we know you just want to look and feel great — and The Woman's Clinic is here to help with exactly that. Our goal is to provide a caring, comfortable, safe environment for women of every age. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

The Woman's Clinic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com based on our patient's needs and desires.

Stretch Mark Prevention: Pregnancy, Puberty, & Bodybuilding

What Are Stretch Marks and Where Do They Come From?

Water Intake and Stretch Mark Prevention