By Cat Archer

First of all, most stretch marks do just fade over time, making them much less noticeable, and lots of people can live with them this way. You can also cover them up with make-up made especially for that purpose. For those who want to do better than just covering them up, other therapies are available, for example;

Laser Therapy
This type of therapy is promising option. The kind of laser a surgeon uses will be determined by the color and to a certain extent the age of the stretch marks. One type of laser will stimulate the production of cells that make pigment, another type of laser works by reducing the color of stretch marks.

The reason that stretch marks appear is because of the skin becoming stretched past it’s natural limit. Another form of laser treatment actually stimulates collagen production to restore elasticity in the stretch marks themselves. This stretching of the skin does not just happen in pregnancy, but can also occur when a person grows rapidly such as during puberty. The damage caused by this stretching is actually done in the skin’s middle layer, the dermis.

Blue Light Therapy
Another treatment for stretch marks is blue light therapy – this form of therapy can be helpful in treating acne as well as stretch marks. It works with a combination of gel and light, and together these are used to remove stretch marks.

Creams
A much well established and low tech treatment for stretch marks is to use creams that help moisturize skin, repair collagen and elastin growth. These creams will often contain combinations of cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, lanolin and vitamin E.

In reality though, these creams are at their most effective when used during the period that your skin is being stretched, as they will help keep your skin soft, supple, smooth and elastic. So ideally you need to apply creams during your pregnancy to help avoid the problem occurring in the first place – so treat them as a preventative measure. If you haven’t applied creams while the skin was being stretched, the sooner you begin afterwards, the better.

Who has to worry most about stretch marks? People who are genetically disposed to them – so see whether your mother has stretch marks and this might give you an idea of what could be in store for you. It has also been found that people who have darker skin tend to be less susceptible to stretch marks than those who have lighter skin.

Of course when you carefully monitor your weight gain during pregnancy, and apply creams that have been designed specially to help avoid stretch marks during pregnancy you should not find that stretch marks cause you such a problem once your bundle of joy has arrived.

At the end of the day there simply is not one fail-safe, 100 percent way to prevent or completely get rid of stretch marks, but a combination of some of these therapies should dramatically reduce their appearance or can eliminate them completely.

Do keep in mind that stretch marks themselves pose absolutely no threat to your health at all. They are more of a cosmetic issue, and they will fade with time.

About the Author
Cat writes many informative articles on subjects that are related to family and pregnancy. For more articles on pregnancy and Family Matters visit http://www.familyinformationsite.com.

Your skin is the largest and most visible organ you have and covers your entire body. Consumers are choosing to use different organic products in their home, to ensure better health for their loved ones like food, cloth , flushable diapers, and other household items. It only makes sense to treat the skin with the same care as they do their family. Unlike the unnatural products in regular skin care, organic skin care is created from herbs, fruits, and flower buds. They are then combined with natural oils and waters.

The last thing your skin needs is to be invaded by chemicals and harmful toxins that are so prevalent in standard non organic skin care products when your skin is already exposed to harmful chemicals all day long. Organic skin care provides a healthy alternative to today’s chemical filled products.

A woman, on average. is exposed to hundreds of chemicals a day, many of which are absorbed into the blood stream. The rise of allergies and eczema has been thought by some to be caused by these chemicals that increase on a daily basis.

There are a large number of websites that sell organic skin care products or list recipes for making your own organic skin care products in your home. There are also books you can buy on organic skin care like Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care: Including A to Z Guide to Natural and Synthetic Chemicals in Cosmetics, How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics: Face Masks, Hair Rinses & Body Lotions: Recipes for Natural Beauty and Pure Skin: Organic Beauty Basics.

How Your Diet Affects Your Skin
Fatty and greasy foods are known to wreck havoc on your skin. Abstaining from these types of foods as much as possible is beneficial in healthy skincare. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals responsible for maintaining skin integrity. Because lack of vitamin A in your system can cause dry and scaly skin, vitamins A and C are very important to your skin care. Watch the labels of the foods you eat because many contain unnatural chemicals that will affect your skin. In most cases companies are required by laws to list the ingredients on the packaging of their food before it can be sold, so learn about the chemicals in your food to eat responsibly.

Having a baby can be very expensive, and so if you can find ways to cut corners, it’s worth doing. That’s where homemade baby wipes can be of great benefit. Not only do you save money, you can also be more confident what it is that you’re using on your baby’s precious skin. You can be reassured there’s nothing that might cause irritation.

Like baby wipes you purchase in a store, homemade baby wipes are portable and convenient. To make them, start with a roll of paper towels, such as Viva or Bounty. You will also need baby bath liquid, water, and a sturdy plastic container with a lid. I’m sure you can already see how you’re saving money – buying baby wipes costs from $3 to $5 a package. You’re paying for chemicals, fragrance, alcohol or other ingredients that dry the skin, and water. The ingredients listed for homemade baby wipes make two batches of wipes, so you’re only paying around 60 cent per package. Even better, you choose the baby bath liquid, and can therefore use organic or all natural if you wish to.

Firstly, choose a cylindrical plastic container, slightly bigger than a quart container. It needs to be tall enough to hold a roll of paper towels cut in half (so a bit bigger than a roll of toilet paper). Make sure the container’s lid fits tightly. Use a sharp blade to cut an “x” slit in middle of the lid.

Now, cut your roll of paper towel in half using a sharp knife. You will end up with two smaller rolls that look quite similar to rolls of toilet paper. Put one half of the paper towel roll into the container.

Grab a bowl, and mix together 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of the baby bath liquid. Pour this mixture into your homemade baby wipes container. Now you can go and make yourself a coffee, as you’ll need to wait about five minutes while the paper towels soak up the bath liquid mixture. Once the five minutes has passed, gently pull the cardboard core out of the middle of the paper towel roll. As you pull the core out, the innermost piece of paper towel should follow it up. Pull the piece of paper towel through the slit you cut in the container’s lid, and put the lid back on.

Now, when you’re ready to use a wipe, just pull the paper towel up through the lid of the container. The paper towel is perforated, so it will tear off easily at the perforation, leaving the next wipe poking through the lid, ready to use when you need it.

The container works well when you’re at home, but homemade baby wipes can also be used when you’re out and about. Pull out the number of baby wipes you’ll need and put them in a zip lock plastic bag. You can then just unzip the bag and take out a wipe when you need one, or you can cut a small hole in the bag to pull through one end of the first wipe, ready for use. In that case you may want to put the whole zip lock bag inside a plastic portable wipes box, both to stop them leaking and protect them from drying out in the air. Now you have portable homemade baby wipes!

Homemade baby wipes are very simple to make, cheap, convenient and much better for your baby’s skin – so make your own today!

About the Author:
Find heaps more great money saving baby ideas at Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author’s book about babies is available at Baby’s First Year.

Who doesn’t love a massage! One of the best ways to relax is getting a great massage from a loved one. If this is true, then why wouldn’t your baby enjoy a massage as well? Massaging your baby is a great idea and can help him wind down and possibly sleep better. It is a great way to bond with your baby or for your partner to have one-on-one time bonding with your baby if you are breastfeeding.

Step One
Pick a time when you and your baby are the most relaxed or calm. After your baby’s bath is a great time, while you are applying baby lotion. Make sure you are in a warm environment, especially if you are just pulling your baby out of the bath since his body temperature may be dropping already.

Step Two
Use baby lotion to keep your hands smooth and help them run evenly. There are various kinds of baby lotion out there from the classic pink bottles to night time lotion that includes lavender and is supposed to help calm your baby and help them sleep.

Step Three
When massaging your baby you should start with his head and work your way down. Be careful that you do not press on your baby’s soft spot if he still has one, but you can still lightly massage around the top of his head, his forehead, and behind the ears with your fingers. Massage your baby’s face including eyebrows, cheeks and chin. Move down to this neck, and shoulders, then his chest. Don’t forget his back! Massage his belly and down his legs, front and back, including his feet and toes. Bend and move his legs while massaging him helping him stretch his muscles.

Step Four
Don’t be afraid to look at, talk to and even sing to your baby while you are massaging him. This interaction is likely to build a very big, tight bond.

Step Five
Don’t stop with just one run through! Your baby will love how this feels so continue it two even three times, for as long as your baby is calm and enjoying it. Follow your baby’s cues. If he wants to change position let him, and if he seems to be frustrated, looking like he has had enough, stop the massage. Get your baby dressed and cuddle, feed, play with, or put your baby to bed, depending on your baby’s schedule and the time of day it is.

Your baby’s skin is a funny thing. You always hear about having skin as soft as a baby’s bottom, but no one ever tells you that your baby’s bottom may be the softest part of your baby’s skin. When a baby is in the womb it is subjected to all the hormones running through his mom’s body as it comes through the placenta. In the weeks after birth as your baby’s body takes over his growth and development his skin will be going through a lot of changes. You may be surprised at what he might go through.

Baby Acne
Pimples on your baby are as common as the breakouts you had during your teenage years. As the hormones leave your baby his skin is caused by an increase of oil production. This normally clears on its’ own within a few weeks without needing treatment. It is also no indication of acne problems in your baby as they reach puberty.

Eczema
Dry skin can be very common in your baby and toddler. It is often describes as an itching, oozing, crusty rash that can be found mainly on your baby’s face and scalp. Unlike cradle cap which will generally go away on its’ own before your baby’s first birthday, eczema will require either a prescription or over-the-counter topical, steroid-free antihistamine in order to clear up. Be sure you ask your baby’s pediatrician about any rash on your baby’s skin at your next well-check.

Diaper Rash
Your poor baby’s bum is not always soft. There will probably come a time when it will be red and sore, possibly even a bit bloody if your baby develops a severe diaper rash. While it can be caused by infrequent diaper changes, diaper rash is not necessarily caused by you not changing a baby’s diaper quick enough. It can be caused by a food or juice that your baby eats or drinks that doesn’t agree with him. It can also come as a side effect to teething. Diaper rash can be treated with over-the-counter creams or prescription medications if your doctor deems necessary. Be sure to ask your pediatrician at your baby’s next appointment.

Birthmarks
In most cases a birthmark on your baby’s skin is not dangerous. If you are concerned about one your baby has ask your pediatrician. Most of the time it is a little light red or brown colored spot. Sometimes they can grow. If your baby’s pediatrician thinks that there is a problem with your baby’s birthmark, there are medicines he can prescribe to help it fade or disappear.

All these skin problems that your baby can have can be exhausting for you! Between the acne, rashes and birthmarks the fun never ends for you as a new parent. Like many other things when it comes to your new baby…this too shall pass.

The big “J” word. It is a word many new mothers hear, and many new mothers fear – especially if they have had to deal with it before. There are many levels of jaundice that new parents and their newborn may have to deal with, and it can range from mild to severe.

Jaundice is a condition that will cause a yellowish tint in the skin of some babies shortly after birth. It is caused by a higher than normal amount of bilirubin in the blood that the liver is unable to break down faster than it is made. Several things can lead to the lack of break down and the jaundice in a newborn.

• The baby’s liver may not be developed enough to break down the blood cells
• More bilirubin is being made than the baby can break down
• Bilirubin is being absorbed back into the intestines before it can be passed through stools

Bilirubin numbers will generally be taken in the hospital before you leave. The number your baby should be at changes each day as your baby gets old. As a rule, anything over 20 is considered dangerous; however as a baby approaches that number the doctor may start worrying. Once a bilirubin level hits 20 it can cause deafness, cerebral palsy or brain damage in your baby. In some cases a high level of bilirubin can signify a situation of hepatitis in a baby.

There are several types of jaundice a baby can have. These include Physiological (normal) jaundice, Jaundice of prematurity, Breast milk jaundice and Blood group incompatibility (Rh or ABO problems). Physiological jaundice occurs in 50% of newborns. It normally appears between 2-4 days after birth and can last for a couple of weeks. Jaundice of prematurity is common in premature babies because their livers are generally underdeveloped and can’t expel the bilirubin properly.

Breast milk jaundice can occur when there is a substance in a mother’s milk that causes the bilirubin level to rise. This generally occurs between 4-7 days after birth and can last up till the baby is 10 weeks old. When jaundice is caused by a blood group incompatibility is caused when a mother has a different blood type than her baby. This however can be avoided in some cases now by the mother being given Rh shots while pregnant.

If the jaundice is severe enough there several different “treatments” that your doctor may suggest to help your baby get rid of the bilirubin quicker. There is a specialized blanket that is supposed to help lessen the levels of bilirubin your baby’s blood. If that does not work they have special beds that your baby can “sun-bathe” in, giving your baby phototherapy. During phototherapy there is a special light used to alter the bilirubin and make it easier for your babies’ body to get rid of it. Often times you will be asked to feed your baby more, or to quit nursing temporarily as a way to help the bilirubin clear the body.

If you are afraid your baby has jaundice you should call your pediatrician and get him looked at. Getting some reassurance that your newborn is ok is worth it.

Rashes, colds and upset stomachs are common baby ailments. But the occurrence of one or more of these symptoms can signal a serious allergy. If unrecognized, these symptoms can make an infant miserable and malnourished.

More than 100,000 babies each year suffer from milk allergy. The condition causes digestive, respiratory and/or skin problems and is often difficult to recognize.

“These babies cannot process the complex protein chains found in milk-based baby formula. And many also react to soy-based formulas,” says Dr. John Moissidis, a Board certified pediatric allergist at The Asthma Allergy Clinic in Shreveport, La.

Infant milk allergy is treated by either eliminating the milk proteins from the nursing mother’s diet, or by replacing the regular formula with an amino acid-based formula.

“An amino acid-based formula is safe for babies with milk and soy allergies because it is comprised of non-allergenic amino acids, the building blocks of protein, instead of partial or complete protein chains found in other formulas,” says Sarah O’Brien, nutrition specialist for Nutricia North America, the manufacturer of amino acid-based formula Neocate.

This specialized formula does not require a prescription, but infants taking it should be under the care of a physician.

Here are eight signs, provided by Dr. Moissidis, to help parents of infants identify a potential milk allergy.

1. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is common in babies, but if it is persistent (an average of two to four times a day for more than five to seven days) and/or if there is blood in the stool, it could signal a more serious milk allergy.

2. Vomiting
Babies often spit up bits of food, but vomiting beyond the typical mealtime regurgitation should be examined by a doctor. Reflux symptoms, such as spit-up and difficulty swallowing, can also be milk allergy symptoms.

3. Skin Rash
There are many causes for infant skin rashes like eczema. Milk allergy is one possible cause, especially if the rash occurs along with some of these other symptoms.

4. Extreme Fussiness
Every baby cries, but crying continuously and inconsolably for long periods of time is abnormal. When there is no apparent reason, this is usually called colic. Sometimes this extreme fussiness is actually caused by the gastrointestinal pain resulting from an allergy to the proteins found in milk.

5. Low or No Weight Gain
Most infants double their weight by six months and triple it by 12 months. But when babies are not getting the nutrition they need because of excessive diarrhea and vomiting, they are unable to grow like they should.

6. Gassiness
All babies have gas, but when it occurs along with several of these other symptoms, it can also signal an allergy to milk proteins.

7. Respiratory Problems
Colds are common for infants, but wheezing, struggling to breathe and developing excess mucus in the nose and throat is not. For some kids, these respiratory problems can be the baby’s reaction to the protein found in milk.

8. Failure to Thrive
Babies with milk allergy often suffer from a lack of proper nutrition characterized by dehydration, loss of appetite and lack of energy. This overall failure to thrive is often the result of the effect of the other symptoms effect on the infant’s body.

Parents can take the allergy test and learn more about infant milk allergy and amino acid-based formula at www.testforallergy.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

A common skin rash that many babies get in the first few months of life is called cradle cap. It can be described as a patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash that is found on the top of your newborns head. It is not contagious and not dangerous to your baby. What causes it though?

As humans we shed skin cells and grow new ones quickly and often without even realizing it. This action begins in infancy; however many times on babies the new skin grows in faster than it can fall off, leaving the old skin stuck to the head on top of the old.

Causes
The sebaceous glands in babies skin is often overactive because of the hormones passed from mom, through the placenta, into the baby shortly before birth. These glands create a greasy substance which can be sticky and keeps the old skin from falling off. It generally appears in a baby within the first three months and rarely after the first birthday until later on in the teen years when puberty begins. It is normally gone by eight months, if not much earlier.

The scaly skin can also appear underneath your baby’s eyebrows, and around/behind his ears. It is important to clean these areas just like you would wash the top of his head. In some cases it may appear on other parts of the body. If you are concerned, ask your pediatrician.

Treatment
Most of the time treatment is not necessary unless it bothers you or your baby. Some pediatricians will suggest putting olive oil on your baby’s head, waiting for it to loosen the scales and then gently brushing this off. However this will not keep it from reappearing. If the scabbing and skin are extra red or inflamed your baby’s doctor may tell you to use some over-the-counter cortisone cream to help clear it up. If the pediatrician makes a suggestion that does not seem to help matters, be sure to mention it at your next appointment as it may be a sign that something else is going on.

Prevention
There is no real way to easily prevent cradle cap from appearing. Since it doesn’t normally bother a baby, it is best to let it take its’ course, treat it if necessary, and let it fade on its’ own.