Sponsored By: Bio-Oil®
Before ever conceiving a child, Dr. Rita Linkner had stretch marks. They were caused by childhood growth spurts, and she knew she would be especially susceptible to stretch marks during pregnancy.
Clinically known as striae, stretch marks are a common consequence of pregnancy, and can occur on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. Early in her pregnancy, Linkner began using coconut oil on these areas.
Pregnancy and Skin
The physiological miracle of new life does a number on our skin. In addition to stretch marks, the hormonal changes and increased blood flow of pregnancy can contribute to acne and pigment changes.
As we gain the weight necessary to sustain a growing baby, and eventually breastfeed, our skin stretches. And stretching skin itches, especially on the belly, but also on enlarging breasts, buttocks and arms.
Linkner, a board-certified dermatologist at the Park Avenue dermatological boutique Skinfluence™, wanted to use a safe, organic product while pregnant. But coconut oil was greasy, and she found the considerable amount of time it took to dry inconvenient.
Linkner was 20 weeks pregnant, treating her itching skin and preemptively battling stretch marks with coconut oil, when she attended the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference in 2015. There she was introduced to Bio-Oil® and gave it a try.
“What I noticed immediately is that Bio-Oil® is so elegant and non-greasy,” Linkner shared. It also was absorbed quickly and didn’t seep onto her clothes. Bio-Oil® became her go-to moisturizer.
Linkner lives in the Northeast — where winter doesn’t mess around — and was pregnant during the drying winter months. She nourished her changing skin, and protected it from the ravages of winter with two applications of Bio-Oil® per day.
PurCellin Oil™, the key ingredient in Bio-Oil®, mimics the properties of the oil produced by the preen gland of ducks. When grooming, ducks spread preen oil through their feathers with a happy consequence — they float. PurCellin Oil™ is clinically formulated to replicate this protective benefit, shielding your skin from the elements.
And unlike coconut oil, which is susceptible to changes in weather — leaking in your purse in summer and hardening into awkward chunks in winter — Bio-Oil®’s consistency is stable year round.
Bio-Oil®: A Postpartum Prescription
Linkner’s personal relationship with Bio-Oil® continued after she brought her baby into the world.
“After you get back from the hospital, the texture of your skin is so different,” Linkner shared, “It almost looks leathery and the consistency is so dry.”
Linkner continued her Bio-Oil® regimen post-baby, with excellent results.
“It made a huge difference when I got back from the hospital in terms of helping with that elasticity, and returning my skin back to what it was pre-partum,” she said.
Linkner’s clinical work during residency encompassed multiple areas of dermatology, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, vitiligo and skin cancer. This expert now recommends Bio-Oil® to her patients immediately upon hearing that they are pregnant.
“A lot of women really do enjoy it,” Linkner said. “And the price point is reasonable.”
Ingredients Trusted by Dermatologists
The formulation of the natural botanicals calendula, chamomile, rosemary and lavender oils made Linkner feel comfortable with using and recommending Bio-Oil®.
“When women are pregnant, they are looking for products as organic as possible. I really appreciate Bio-Oil’s basic, organic ingredient list, especially because you are covering so much of your body with it,” Linkner affirmed. “And I felt very safe using it during breastfeeding.”
Bio-Oil® is an effective and elegant solution for your dry skin, before, during and after pregnancy. To learn more, visit: http://bio-oilusa.com/en-us/
Dr. Rita Linkner earned her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins and earned her medical degree from the University of Miami Medical School Miller School of Medicine. She did her residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Edited by Jody Smith