It has been found that stretch marks arise due to the destruction of elastic fibers within the dermal tissue. Due to the drastic hormonal changes during pregnancy, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone, estrogen and relaxin, combined with abdominal bulging and skin stretching and thinning making the elastic and collagen fibers damaged or even broken, it is easy for the mother-to-be’s abdominal skin to appear pink or purplish wave-like ripples of different lengths and widths. After delivery, the pigmentation of these marks fades, leaving a white scar, which is called a stretch mark. The degree of stretch marks varies from person to person. Generally speaking, they are more pronounced in first-time mothers, family history of stretch marks, larger weight to height ratio, and mothers with multiple children are also more likely to have stretch marks. Asian women are also more likely to have visible stretch marks than Caucasian women. Seeing this concern of mothers-to-be, many businesses are offering inexpensive stretch mark oils or creams to capture this business opportunity. The active ingredients in common stretch mark oils include cocoa butter, fennel extract, olive oil, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, among others. Self-reported results vary from mother to mother, but according to the results of a 2013 article in the British Journal of General Practice by Professor McAvoy of the University of Auckland, the effects of all the above-mentioned oils or creams are not statistically significant in terms of the population if a single-blind trial is used, i.e., mothers-to-be are not told whether they are being offered a pregnancy oil or a placebo. significant. Why is the treatment of pregnancy oil ineffective? This question has rarely been seriously studied because of the five words “Northeast Dumpling House” that float through the sky of straight scientists ……, which should be “not even a thing”. Until last month, the British Journal of Dermatology finally bowed to the face of society and published online the research results of the University of Michigan on the principle of stretch marks: after all, new mothers who have given birth to babies also have the need to po “backhanded belly button” photos in their circle of friends, so how can they have stretch marks? Frank Wang, the author of the study, spent eight years studying stretch marks and said of his motivation for the study, “Stretch marks cause a lot of stress for new mothers, so it is necessary to study the mechanism of their occurrence and treatment. With stretch marks, many new mothers’ self-esteem, quality of life and even their willingness to participate in certain social activities are greatly reduced.” Studies have found that stretch marks occur because of the destruction of elastic fibers within the dermal tissue. Elastic fibers, as the name implies, give cells the “elasticity” to return to their original state after stretching, and as the mother-to-be’s abdomen bulges and the skin is stretched extremely, the originally neatly arranged elastic fibers are destroyed. The dermis then repairs itself, but the “material” used to repair it is not the elastic fibers themselves, but the disorganized fine fibers, or stretch marks. Because the skin fibers have already been altered, applying stretch mark oil or cream after the stretch marks have developed is not very effective, “Protecting the elastic fibers inside the dermis is much better than treating them after they have developed,” Frank Wang concluded. It’s difficult to avoid them completely, but a few sensible maintenance practices can reduce the occurrence of stretch marks. Wikipedia summarizes the Wiki-How series “How to Avoid Stretch Marks” based on the American Pregnancy Association’s guidelines: 1) Establish good lifestyle habits during pregnancy (1) Eat healthier. Foods rich in antioxidants, including fresh fruits and vegetables such as spinach and blueberries; foods rich in vitamin E, including nuts, avocados and kale; foods rich in vitamin A, including carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, and foods rich in Omega 3, such as fish oil, oysters, pecans and eggs are recommended. (2) Drink plenty of water to keep your cells taut. Make sure you drink 8 glasses of water a day, avoid caffeinated beverages and eat plenty of water-rich fruits and vegetables. However, “sugar moms” should also be aware of the high sugar content in fruits. (3) Proper exercise can improve the blood circulation of the mother-to-be and also help control her weight. Simple stretching exercises, kegel exercises and yoga for pregnant women are all good choices. (4) Avoid rapid weight gain in a short period of time, which can put too much tension on the elastic fibers. Although it is said that “one person eats, two people use”, the harm caused by overweight mothers-to-be is multifaceted, and is not limited to the susceptibility to stretch marks. 2. Learn and practice some skin care tricks during pregnancy (1) Try dry rubbing your skin. Use a plant fiber, such as loofah, and gently rub it from the end of the body towards the heart, paying special attention to the parts that are prone to stretch marks, such as the abdomen and armpits, but avoiding the delicate skin of the breasts. Afterwards, you can take a hot shower to wash off the skin flakes, taking care not to overheat the water. (2) Avoid using soaps that contain sulfur. Many commercial soaps or body washes contain sulfur, and sulfur tends to make the skin dry and even lose elasticity. (3) Pay attention to skin moisturizing. In addition to stretch marks, itchy skin is also common during pregnancy. Moisturizing the skin in the morning and evening can help relieve these symptoms. (4) Remember to apply sunscreen when swimming or outdoor activities. 3, after the birth to maintain good health habits continue good eating habits during pregnancy, do not rush to dieting to lose weight. Slowly getting thinner after delivery is good for skin recovery and keeping it firm. Resume exercise. After the baby is born, the new mother’s exercise is no longer restricted. Focus on strength training to train your muscles and tighten your skin; swimming, running and cycling can improve cardiovascular and circulatory function, which can also help your skin recover. For stretch marks that have already developed, try applying vitamin A and glycerin, and laser treatment is also an option to consider.