Last week I went to Cape Town for Bio-Oil’s Marks of Change exhibition, a series of beautiful photos and stretch mark facts. We learnt more about stretch marks during adolescence and pregnancy, and it was refreshing to hear how many other stretch mark carriers there are, and how mainly self conscious we feel about them.
i can’t say that I walked out the event and inspiring exhibition feeling ultra confident and ready to bare my stretchmarks to the world, but I definitely felt more normal, less alone and slightly more educated about the physical causes and treatment of stretch marks, and why it might be easier to suck it up and be less shy about them (since most people have them, along with 40 percent of men) than be ashamed and want to cover them up forever. The exhibition reminded me of that pic and sentiment that did the rounds on social media recently, which went “Your body is not ruined; you’re a goddamn tiger who earned her tiger stripes”.
Here is some stretch mark info that Bio-Oil shared with us:
How to prevent stretch marks
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise improves circulation, which keeps the skin elastic and more able to stretch as it grows.
• Gain weight gradually during pregnancy (ideally 11-16kgs in total).
• Eat a healthy diet (including foods that are rich in Vitamin E and C, zinc and silica).
• Stay hydrated (drink 2L of water a day).
• Avoid sugar which is linked to less elasticity in the skin.
• Massage can help increase circulation and nutrient supply to the skin, helping it stay supple.
• Massage Bio-Oil into areas prone to stretch marks twice daily (100% of subjects showed an improvement in the appearance
of existing stretch marks after 8 weeks of massaging Bio-Oil into the skin).
Emotions and the Marks of Change
While stretch marks are very rarely a medical concern they can be a source of emotional discomfort and distress.
Clinical psychologist, Maropeng Ralenala, suggests the following ways to look after mental health and well-being during
times of change:
• Be informed – knowledge is power, understanding what’s happening will enable you to accept changes more easily.
• Exercise – it boosts self-esteem, lifts mood and helps regulate sleep patterns.
• Eat a nutritious diet – a healthy body supports a healthy mind.
• Be flexible – you cannot control everything. Learn to let go.
• Ditch the comparisons – you are unique and your changes are too. Comparing yourself to others may create false expectations.
• Seek professional support when needed – it’s natural to feel uncomfortable during times of change, but if you are so
distressed it is affecting your functioning and personal relationships seek professional help.
For more info on Bio-Oil visit www.bio-oil.com
Images via Bio-Oil / Karin Schermbrucker
