After the joyous journey of pregnancy, many women are left with loose or sagging skin, particularly around the abdomen and other areas. While it’s completely normal for the skin to stretch during pregnancy, it can be disheartening for new mothers who wish to regain their pre-pregnancy firmness. Fortunately, there are effective tips and techniques available to help tighten the skin and restore its elasticity. By incorporating these 12 effective tips to tighten skin after pregnancy into your routine, you can take proactive steps toward achieving a more toned and rejuvenated appearance.
It is common to be a little overweight postpartum. Most women get obsessed with losing post pregnancy weight weight as early as possible post-pregnancy, but they pay little attention to their loose and saggy skin. Read on to know more.
In This Article
12 Effective Tips To Tighten Skin After Pregnancy
Here we list 12 effective ways to tighten your skin after pregnancy:
1. Breastfeed Your Baby
Breastfeeding is not only extremely beneficial to your child, but it also helps you to lose weight. While breastfeeding, your calories are converted into milk, hence you burn off calories at an exponential rate.
2. Drink Plenty Of Water
Water has many beneficial properties. Drinking an ample amount every day will keep your skin hydrated. It will help to burn off calories easily and bring back lost elasticity of the skin making it look healthy. Also, drinking plenty of water will help to curb water retention in your abdomen and make you appear leaner.
3. Exercise Regularly
Once you get approval from your doctor that you are fit enough to workout, don’t wait for another second. Hit the gym and start with brisk walking and jogging. The best way to firm skin is to lose the fat and not the muscle hence incorporate strength training in your regime. Strength training will firm up sagging skin effectively. Also, incorporate planks in your routine. Doing plank exercises will also help to tighten up your loose skin.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin may seem indulgent, especially when you have a baby, but remember it is not a luxury it is a necessity. Exfoliation helps to get rid of dead skin cells. It scrubs away flaky skin and leaves your skin soft and supple. It also increases blood circulation, hence bringing back elasticity to your skin. There is a lot of variety to choose from be it mineral salts, packaged scrubs or you can use some granulated sugar with coconut oil.
5. Slather On Creams, Moisturizers, And Lotions
The market is flooded with creams and lotions that promise to firm up saggy skin. Start using such creams at an early stage during your pregnancy for the best results. There are creams and lotions available for postpartum skin as well. Make sure you take a copious amount and massage it into your skin. Massaging improves blood circulation, which is essential to achieve healthy skin.
6. Lose Weight Slowly And Steadily
Post delivery don’t be in a hurry to lose weight. Be gentle with your body and patient with your workout routine. Losing a lot of weight too quickly means you are burning up muscle along with the fat. Also, your skin and body need time to adjust to the weight loss. If you lose weight too quickly your skin will begin to sag and become even looser.
7. Include Ample Protein In Your Diet
An efficient way to build muscle is to include proteins in your diet. Consult your dietician or your trainer as to how much protein you need to consume on a daily basis and then go ahead accordingly. Protein also contains collagen, which brings back the elasticity of the skin.
8. Protect Your Skin From The Harmful Sun Rays
Harsh sunrays can damage your skin severely, especially post-pregnancy. It will dehydrate your skin and make it lose. Hence, make sure to slather on some sunscreen when you are out during the day or stay indoors as much as possible. Also, stay away from fake tans and chlorinated water as they will have a similar effect on your skin.
9. Eat Healthily
Steer clear of fried and unhealthy food. They not only add calories, but also make your skin dull and lifeless. Include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables with high water content will make your skin glow and bring back lost elasticity.
10. Raid Your Beauty Box
Your beauty box is full of treasures that you turn a blind eye to. The good old astringents and toners help to tighten and firm up the skin greatly. You could also take a few drops of essential oils and dab it into your skin. It will bring life back to your dull skin.
11. Make Use Of Your Kitchen Treasures
There are plenty of home remedies that help you tighten your skin and even help to lose belly fat. Most of the ingredients required are on your kitchen counter. You can use hot salt wrapped in a cloth as compression on your belly. You can even add some ginger to it. The compression will help to burn off the fat while the healing properties of salt and ginger will protect the skin from losing its elasticity.
12. Say No To Crash Dieting
If you are breastfeeding, crash dieting is a very wise decision. Your milk is the only source of nourishment for your baby, hence instead of crash dieting eat healthy. Also, your body needs strength to bounce back from the postpartum stress, and crash dieting wouldn’t help your body. Dieting may help you lose weight quickly, but when you stop dieting you are going to put on weight quickly again, without giving your skin time to adapt.
Conclusion
Tightening the skin after pregnancy is a gradual process that requires consistency and patience. By following a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and incorporating skincare practices like moisturizing and massaging, you can support the natural rejuvenation of your skin. It’s important to remember that each person’s body is unique, so it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice on how to best tighten your skin after pregnancy. With time and dedication, you can help your skin regain its firmness and feel more comfortable and confident in your postpartum body.
FAQ’s
1. Does Postpartum Saggy Belly Go Away?
A postpartum saggy belly can gradually improve and tighten over time with proper care and exercise. However, the extent to which it goes away varies from person to person. A combination of targeted exercises, a healthy diet, and patience can help restore abdominal tone and reduce sagging.
2. What Oils Tighten Skin After Pregnancy?
There are several oils that can be beneficial for tightening skin after pregnancy. Some commonly recommended oils include almond oil, coconut oil, and argan oil. These oils are known for their moisturizing and nourishing properties, which can help improve skin elasticity and firmness when applied regularly.
3. When Is It Too Late To Wear A Postpartum Belly Wrap?
It is generally recommended to start wearing a postpartum belly wrap immediately after giving birth or within the first few days. However, there is no strict cutoff or specific timeframe for wearing a postpartum belly wrap, and it can still provide some benefits if started later.