I found another company that sells lotions and potions to assist us in our dilemma of itchy, dry, stretched out skin called Belli. I’ve placed an order for some repair cream to assist with any existing stretch marks and will let you gals know how it goes.
“Ease your mind with the knowledge that Belli helps promote safe pregnancies, guarding against ingredients linked to birth defects. Because that’s what Belli is all about: pampered protection.”
I wrote a post about a week ago discussing stretch marks and their cause. I started in the cures section but my droopy eyes got to me and I never managed to finish it. Well now I have a HUGE incentive to do so. You see, my beloved Palmer’s Tummy Butter has turned against me: ( I guess it’s my changing chemistry or whatever but I put it on this morning and by mid-morning had a horrible, itchy rash all over my tummy. And well, we all know, being pregnant, your tummy is itchy already so imagine my misery!
It’s jump started me to finish my article and to also get off my tush and order from Mama Mio like I’ve been wanting to do. I’ve seen them mentioned in several parenting magazines as well as on other blogs so they at least have a leg up on the competition since I’ve heard of them. They’ve also been used by a lot of celebrities so if it’s good enough for them then it’s gotta be good enough for me, right? BONUS: They even offer a solution to existing stretch marks.
And I found a 15% off coupon so it makes it worth a shot! Enter coupon code “mamamio” to get the discount.
Read my first stretch mark post here.
Oooo there is that dreaded word phrase that every pregnant woman through-out time has cringed over. I know you don’t have to be pregnant to get them and some women even think of them as badges of honor. To them, I say “bah!” I received my fair share from adolescence and don’t want to get any more thank you very much. Especially on my tummy – the one place I have hopes of bearing again in a bikini, one year far into the future when I have stomach muscles again anyway. Hey, let a pregnant woman have her dreams people!
Yes, yes the marks fade. Yes, yes, yes. O whatever! We all know that we will buy every item ever marketed towards removing/reducing/stopping them from being in our worlds. I know I bought out the Palmer’s cocoa butter stretch mark lotion and Tummy Butter section out with my first pregnancy and am still using it faithfully with my second. (Works really well for me by the way and I didn’t get any marks through my first and none so far with #2.) Another trick I do is using shea butter body wash in the shower, I found using regular soap to be too drying and I get a good loofah-ing too 
But you see, I want to get rid of the ones from years ago still. And I’ve had renewed hope after talking to the girls at Babybootcamp. Some of them are cosmetic junkies like me and want to reverse the entire aging process so I can’t say their advice would be wrong. They would know since they used it and a face-to-face testimonial is pretty darn high on the trustworthy scale if you ask me.
But I get ahead of myself, if you are wondering what on earth I am rambling on about then let me explain what a stretch mark is. When your skin has stretched beyond the breaking point (think rubber band snapping when pulled too far) that is a stretch mark. The marks are usually a result of pregnancy, excessive weight gain or loss and loss of elasticity. The marks literally appear because the skin tears apart in the middle epidermis (layer). Technically they are considered scars but there are still treatment options available. The newer the mark the easier it will be to treat but there is still hope for the old ones, just don’t expect miracles.
According to several articles that I’ve read, Dermatologists say the key to treatment is supporting and repairing the collagen located in the area of the marks and are similar, in concept, to the products marketed towards anti-aging. Also, look for treatments that offer the ability to repair and strengthen the elastin fibers (otherwise known as skin flexibility) in the skin.
After doing my informal poll within the exercise class, talking to pregnant and non-pregnant girlfriends, my own experiences and surfing the web I’m going to list the pros and cons of several stretch mark treatments below. If you know of any that work well for you, please email me and I’ll do my best to add them!
The list will have to wait for tomorrow night though since it is now pushing midnight and I’m exhausted. Anthony is teething molars (yes, still!) and has been a real joy all day. Hopefully after a good night’s rest for both of us, tomorrow will be a better day.
Stay tuned for part 2!
