The Tiny Thing That Could Help You Minimize Stretch Marks

After giving birth, some women wear their stretch marks with pride, and see them as nothing more than a part of becoming a mom — along with sleepless nights and endless dirty diapers. But if you don't want to deal with those pesky little lines, you may be wondering what you can do to hide them or get rid of them all together. If you're worried about being able to bare your belly after having your baby, you need to know the tiny thing that could help you minimize stretch marks.

Though some Hollywood moms would have you believe otherwise, stretch marks are fairly common among pregnant women. Nearly 90 percent of pregnant women will get stretch marks around their seventh month, according to WebMD. But what causes them, and more importantly, how can you get rid of them once and for all?

According to WebMD, stretch marks happen when your belly grows faster than your skin can handle. Unfortunately, there's no real way to prevent stretch marks, but there are things you can do to significantly reduce their appearance. As Parents mentioned, the best time to tackle fading your stretch marks is while they are still reddish in color. According to Baby Center, laser therapy and tretinoin cream are some of the most commonly used methods to minimize stretch marks. But both of these methods require assistance from a doctor. If you want to avoid the expense and inconvenience of having to visit your doctor's office, you can enlist the help of Shea butter.

According to Wellness Mama, Shea butter is a product of the seeds from the fruit of the Shea tree, and is rich in vitamins A. E, and F. It's natural moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties make Shea butter great for treating everything from burns to dry, winter skin, according to Health Central. As The Bump pointed out, rubbing Shea butter on your skin can bring back it's elasticity and make your stretch marks less noticeable. And the best part about it, Shea butter is safe enough for moms to use treat their skin daily.

Be sure that the Shea butter you're using is raw, unrefined, and that the expiration date has not expired. According to The Bump, massaging a small amount into your skin in a circular motion for 10 to 20 minutes each day should give you smooth, supple skin with less noticeable stretch marks. So if you start now, you should be more than ready to bust out that bikini this summer.