Stretch marks on pregnant women

Stretch marks in pregnancy - NHS

Pregnancy stretch marks

Stretch marks on white skin

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Stretch marks on light brown skin

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NHSD/Annabel King

Stretch marks are narrow, streak-like lines that can develop on the surface of the skin. They can be pink, red, purple or brown, depending on your skin colour. They are common in pregnancy, affecting around 8 out of 10 pregnant women.

They usually appear on your tummy, or sometimes on your upper thighs and breasts, as your pregnancy progresses and your bump starts to grow. When stretch marks appear will be different from woman to woman.

The first sign you notice might be itchiness around an area where the skin is becoming thinner.

Stretch marks are not harmful. They do not cause medical problems and there is no specific treatment for them.

After your baby is born, the marks may gradually fade into paler scars and become less noticeable. They probably will not go away completely.

What causes stretch marks?

Stretch marks are very common and do not just affect pregnant women.

They can happen whenever the skin is stretched, for example during puberty or when putting on weight. Hormonal changes in pregnancy can affect your skin and make you more likely to get stretch marks.

They happen when the middle layer of skin (dermis) becomes stretched and broken in places.

Whether or not you get stretch marks depends on your skin type, as some people's skin is more elastic.

Pregnancy weight gain

You are more likely to get stretch marks if your weight gain is more than average in pregnancy. Most women gain about 10 to 12.5kg (22 to 28lb) in pregnancy, although weight gain varies a great deal from woman to woman.

How much weight you gain may depend on your weight before you were pregnant.

It's important not to try to lose weight when you're pregnant by eating less. You need to have a healthy diet during pregnancy.

If you are worried about your weight, talk to your midwife or GP. They may give you advice if you weigh more than 100kg (about 15.5st) or less than 50kg (about 8st).

Preventing stretch marks

Some creams claim to remove stretch marks once they've appeared, but there is no reliable evidence that they work. There is also limited evidence about whether oils or creams help prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place.

Find out more about stretch marks, including possible treatments for them.

Find out more about other common health problems in pregnancy.

Video: Where does my pregnancy weight come from?

In this video, a midwife discusses where the extra weight in pregnancy comes from.

Media last reviewed: 14 March 2023
Media review due: 14 March 2026

Page last reviewed: 25 November 2022
Next review due: 25 November 2025

Pregnancy Stretch Marks: Prevention & Treatment

Pregnancy stretch marks are a natural result of your skin stretching to make room for your developing baby and uterus. Not everyone gets them, but if they do accompany your pregnancy, stretch marks tend to fade over time. Either way, they’re a reminder of your sweet baby and a badge of honor for all the work of being pregnant! Read on to learn all about pregnancy stretch marks, including why they’re a natural part of pregnancy and what you can do to soothe your skin as it stretches and supports your little one.

What Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks?

Pregnancy stretch marks (also called striae) are natural, with more than 50 percent of pregnant bodies experiencing them. Stretch marks are not exclusive to pregnancy, however; men and women, whether pregnant or not, can develop these markings whenever the skin stretches rapidly. These streaky indentations in the skin can be pink, red, purple, or brown, depending on an individual’s skin color. During pregnancy, stretch marks can appear on your stomach, breasts, buttocks, thighs and upper legs, hips, and arms. As stretch marks fade, they may change colors, appearing silvery or white, or even darkening.

Why Do You Get Stretch Marks During Pregnancy and What Are They Caused By?

Simply put, stretch marks may appear on your pregnant belly and body because your skin stretches to make room for your developing baby. The stress on your skin can cause these marks, which are not harmful. Contrary to popular belief, these streaks aren’t usually a result of normal pregnancy weight gain, but rather your skin stretching while hormone levels shift. Of course, weight gain can also cause the skin to stretch, but even those who gain a minimal or modest amount of weight during pregnancy may experience stretch marks. There are two main factors that can impact pregnancy stretch marks:

Hormones. Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy contribute to the development of stretch marks. During pregnancy, your adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol. As cortisol levels naturally increase, the elastic fibers in your skin weaken, and as your skin stretches, it results in pregnancy stretch marks.
Heredity. Genetics are also a factor in whether you get stretch marks during pregnancy. If you experienced stretch marks at a younger age, such as with a growth spurt that stretched your skin during puberty, or your family members have them, it’s more likely that you’ll get those red, purple, pink, or brown streaks during pregnancy, too.

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When Do Stretch Marks Appear in Pregnancy?

When should you expect to see stretch marks during pregnancy? Every pregnancy and body is different, but stretch marks are most likely appear sometime in the second half of your pregnancy. At this point, your baby bump starts to grow bigger and more quickly, putting further stress on the skin. Some parents-to-be will start to see these markings in the second trimester, whereas others may not notice them until the last few weeks of the third trimester. And remember, some don’t experience stretch marks at all!

How Common Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks?

As mentioned above, more than half of pregnant people develop stretch marks, meaning there's a decent chance of having no pregnancy stretch marks. Likewise, it’s also possible to experience minimal pregnancy stretch marks on your stomach, breasts, thighs, or other parts of your body. Regardless, there are a few risk factors concerning pregnancy stretch marks:

Being pregnant at a younger age
Rapidly gaining weight during pregnancy
Using corticosteroids during pregnancy
Having certain genetic disorders (Cushing's syndrome or Marfan syndrome).

If you fall into any of the categories above, you have a higher risk of developing pregnancy stretch marks.

How to “Prevent” Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Many people want to know how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, but unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to avoid them altogether. Stretch marks develop deep within your skin, specifically in connective tissues, so you can't prevent them from occurring with any topical or external treatment. Plus, because hormones and genetics are involved, stretch marks are pretty much out of your control. However, some strategies could help reduce the risk of getting stretch marks and/or minimize their appearance. The key is to take these measures before your belly expands and keep them going throughout your pregnancy.

Use lotion or cream daily to keep your skin moisturized. This tactic can also help relieve itchy skin during pregnancy, whether you have stretch marks or not.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, which may help keep your skin soft and less prone to stretch marks.
Avoid caffeine during pregnancy, which can increase your risk of developing stretch marks.
Maintain a healthy pregnancy diet with adequate nutrients. Eating a balanced diet rich in zinc, protein, and vitamins A, C, and D can help promote healthy skin.

Stretch Marks After Pregnancy: Is It Possible to Get Rid of Them?

Do pregnancy stretch marks go away? Is it possible to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy, and how long does it take for them to fade? These common questions may arise when you’re still pregnant or when you’ve already given birth and are wondering how to deal with postpartum stretch marks. The good news is that stretch marks will typically fade after pregnancy. Because stretch marks are a form of scarring, the fading will be gradual, though, and they might not completely disappear. Remember that stretch marks are a common and natural result of nurturing a baby inside your belly. Your body will inevitably change during pregnancy, and that’s expected, necessary, and completely OK. To learn more about how your body might adjust to being pregnant, check out our pregnancy calendar and know that you’re not alone in this journey—every pregnant person goes through it, too! With that being said, we know that not everyone likes the look of pregnancy stretch marks. If you want to minimize or improve the appearance and texture of your stretch marks, talk to your healthcare provider. There are a few treatments to consider, and your provider will be able to recommend what’s best for you.

Creams. Although creams can’t prevent the formation of stretch marks on your pregnant belly (or elsewhere on your body), they may be able to lessen the appearance of these markings after pregnancy. Ingredients such as tretinoin and other retinoids derived from vitamin A can help boost collagen production on the skin’s surface, which may reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Light and laser therapy. Likewise, laser and light therapies can also stimulate collagen production as well as improve elasticity.
Microneedling, microdermabrasion, and hyaluronic acid. Other dermatological treatments include microneedling and microdermabrasion, which could promote collagen growth and help the stretch marks blend into the surrounding skin. Applying hyaluronic acid daily may also help prevent and treat the appearance of stretch marks.

If you’re interested in these therapies, talk to your healthcare provider. The provider will be able to recommend an appropriate treatment and will let you know if you should avoid anything if you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

The Bottom Line

More than half of all pregnant people experience stretch marks, a natural result of your skin stretching to make way for a developing baby and uterus. But stretch marks are out of your control, as hormones, genetics, and even skin type can impact whether or not you get them and influence their overall appearance. There’s no surefire prevention strategy or cure for stretch marks during or after pregnancy. However, you can take a few precautions and opt for certain treatments to reduce your risk and improve the appearance of stretch marks postpartum. For example, during your pregnancy, try to keep your skin moisturized, stay hydrated, and maintain a healthy diet. And if you want to address stretch marks after pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider about potential remedies, such as retinoid creams, laser therapy, or dermatological treatments. Try to enjoy your pregnancy journey as much as possible, keeping in mind that normal symptoms such as stretch marks—and even those minor but annoying aches and pains—are a sign that you’re creating a little miracle inside your body. And if you’ve already welcomed your baby into the world, have fun and enjoy all those cuddles!

Stretch marks - the whole truth - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Brezgunova Svetlana Leonidovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist

Clinic "Mother and Child" Togliatti

What is it

Stretch marks are also called striae. They appear in any area of the body, but more often occur in those places where there is a large amount of fat. The most common locations are chest, abdomen, underarms, shoulders, hips, back and buttocks.

Stretch marks look like stripes on the skin, and over time their color changes. "Fresh" stretch marks are pinkish-red in color, the skin on them is slightly convex. Gradually, the striae increase in length and width, become bluish-violet, and eventually become discolored. This happens because at first there are still blood vessels inside the striae, which is why initially the stretch marks have such a bright color. Then the blood supply at the site of the stretch marks stops, the vessels become empty, the resulting skin defect is filled with connective tissue and the stretch marks become white. Since there is no pigment in the connective tissue, even under the influence of sunlight, the stretch marks remain white. Moreover, against the background of tanned skin, they become more noticeable.

Why they occur

It seems that the reason for the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy is clear at first glance: the expectant mother's belly grows, the skin stretches, and stretch marks form. Why, then, do they not occur in all expectant mothers? And is their appearance associated with weight gain? After all, it has been noticed, for example, that the likelihood of stretch marks does not depend on the size of the abdomen during pregnancy.

Stretch marks may appear in a woman with a small tummy, while a woman expecting twins will bypass this problem.

Why is this happening? Several factors come into play here. Yes, indeed, one of the reasons for the appearance of stretch marks is weight gain, but it is not so much the number of kilograms gained that is important, but how quickly a woman gained them: the faster the expectant mother gains weight, the higher the risk of stretch marks. That is why even with a small increase in weight, stretch marks can appear. The second reason for stretch marks is hormonal imbalance. During pregnancy, the amount of estrogen and cortisol decreases, resulting in a violation of the synthesis of skin and connective tissue proteins - collagen and elastin. Namely, with the help of these proteins, our skin can stretch well and restore its elasticity.

If there is not enough collagen and elastin, then the skin becomes brittle and thins faster, eventually, it breaks in some areas, and then scar connective tissue is formed in the places of tears .

And here is how the body of the expectant mother will behave during pregnancy: whether there will be sharp jumps in weight and hormonal imbalance (which means that stretch marks will appear or not, it is impossible to predict).

What to do?

Let's just say that There is no 100% effective treatment for and prevention of stretch marks. For example, most creams, lotions, gels for the prevention of stretch marks simply contain moisturizing ingredients and help soften the skin, but do not affect the balance of hormones. Therefore, these remedies cannot prevent the appearance of stretch marks if hormonal disorders have occurred. Yes, and after childbirth, various laser procedures, peelings and resurfacing will not get rid of stretch marks at all, they will simply make them more invisible.

But this does not mean that we should give up and do nothing. You can do just a lot of things: even if you do not achieve a 100% effect, there will still be benefits.

– Monitor the nutrition of the and avoid sudden weight fluctuations. Do not forget to eat protein foods - protein, together with zinc and vitamin C, stimulates the production of collagen, which gives the skin elasticity. If you don’t feel like meat yet, include fish, dairy products and legumes in your diet - these are also sources of healthy protein.

– Avoid sweets – sugar slows down collagen renewal, the skin loses elasticity and water, becomes dry, sluggish, its elasticity decreases.

- From the first days of pregnancy constantly nourish and moisturize the skin . To do this, use creams, gels, lotions with collagen, elastin, as well as vitamins C and E . The main thing is that these drugs must be approved for use during pregnancy. Before you buy this or that product, carefully read the instructions and the composition of the drug. Find out the mechanism of action of biologically active substances of a cosmetic product from a sales assistant. If you still have doubts, consult with your obstetrician-gynecologist. Look into your wallet and make a choice.

– If finances allow, do salon procedures for body moisturizing that are allowed during pregnancy (seaweed wraps, for example), if not, limit yourself to ordinary skin moisturizing, it is also effective.

- Regularly take a contrast shower : it tones and firms the skin, and the problem areas receive the blood flow they need. You can massage individual parts of the body alternately with cold and warm jets. Just don't aim the jet directly at your stomach.

– After showering, don't dry your body, just pat it dry with a towel. You can do light pinching self-massage using moisturizing creams or natural vegetable oils (such as olive or linseed). Massage promotes the removal of excess fluid and activates the work of blood vessels - they quickly carry nutrients throughout the body. Important: when massaging the abdomen and chest, massage only the sides, thighs and legs.

– Swim : the contrast of water and air temperature, active physical activity also contribute to the prevention of stretch marks.

- During pregnancy , wear special bras, they will support the enlarged breasts and will not allow the skin to overstretch.

Even if stretch marks appear, don't get upset. It has been noticed that if you immediately start a set of preventive measures (moisturizing the skin, proper nutrition, water procedures), then often stretch marks do not spread further. And if you start prevention from the first days of pregnancy, they may not appear at all.

REMINDER for moms

Start attacking stretch marks as early as possible: the younger they are, the less money and time it will take to eliminate them.

Watch your diet, try not to gain weight suddenly.
Daily moisturize and nourish the skin, not only the abdomen and chest, but also the thighs, buttocks, legs.
Lead an active lifestyle: walk in the fresh air, play sports, swim.
Take a contrast shower, do self-massage.
Wear the right underwear: a maternity bra is especially necessary for expectant mothers with large breasts

Note:

Stretch marks cannot be predicted. Even if during the last pregnancy there were no or, on the contrary, there were stretch marks, then there is no guarantee that the situation will repeat itself in the next pregnancy

You can make a composition for stretch marks yourself.

Here are the oils that will suit you:

Jojoba oil is the most effective remedy: it is used for the prevention and elimination of skin stretch marks during and after pregnancy, as well as for weight gain and sudden weight loss.
Essential oil of rosewood - helps to increase skin elasticity, also helps to dissolve small scars.
Almond oil - especially effective for the care of areas of the body where skin elasticity is reduced.
Grape seed oil - has a strong regenerating effect, improves skin elasticity.
Peach oil - has a regenerating, softening effect on the skin, restores elasticity, rejuvenates sagging skin.

You can use any combination of these oils, such as jojoba + almond oil, or jojoba + grape seed oil.

Before using any oil, read the instructions, pay attention to contraindications. Try the oil or formulation on a small area of your skin and see how it reacts throughout the day. If you experience discomfort or allergies, discard this remedy.

Make an appointment

to the doctor - Brezgunova Svetlana Leonidovna

Clinic "Mother and Child" Tolyatti

PregnancyManagement of pregnancyGynecologyChildren's hospitalPregnancy diaryOperative childbirthPregnancy planningPreparation for operative childbirthPreparation for partner childbirthBaby care programMom's school programsSchedule of childbirthPhysiological pregnancyFitness for pregnant women

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Stretch marks during pregnancy.

What are stretch marks during pregnancy?

IMPORTANT
The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Stretch marks during pregnancy are specific atrophic skin changes caused by the destruction of connective tissue under the influence of gestational factors. They have the appearance of soft bluish-purple stripes located parallel or radially on the skin of the chest, abdomen. They are diagnosed during the examination, if necessary, the level of hormones in the blood and the histological structure of the biopsy from the defect area are examined. Effective treatment during pregnancy has not been proposed. The leading one is prevention with diet correction, the appointment of multivitamin complexes, reducing the load on the skin, and improving microcirculation processes.

ICD-10

L90.6 Atrophic stripes (striae)

Causes
Pathogenesis
Symptoms of stretch marks during pregnancy
Complications
Diagnostics
Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy
Prices for treatment

General

Stretch marks (striae, linear skin atrophy, strip-like atrophoderma) occur during pregnancy in 50-90% of patients. Such atrophic changes are classified as secondary physiological. Although references to pregnancy stretch marks are found in ancient Egyptian papyri, strip-like atrophy was first described in detail in the 18th century by the famous German anatomist, professor of midwifery, Johann Rederer. Subsequent studies by dermatologists Ferdinand Gebra and Moritz Kaposi confirmed that changes at the level of the deep layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue play a leading role in the development of the disorder. Currently, experts in the field of gynecology consider striae of pregnant women not as a disease, but as a cosmetic defect.

Stretch marks during pregnancy

Causes

The etiology of striae during gestation has not been definitively established. Presumably, the reason for their formation is an increased load on hereditarily incompetent connective tissue fibers. The defect is significantly more often detected in the presence of anamnestic data on the appearance of gestational stretch marks in pregnant women's relatives. A prerequisite for the formation of striae may be subclinical forms of connective tissue dysplasia caused by a violation of collagen synthesis, its excessive degradation, a change in the ratio between different collagens with a predominance of less durable III-IV fibers, similar elastin anomalies. During pregnancy, there are additional factors that contribute to the formation of stretch marks:

Hormonal changes. By the end of the gestational period, the level of cortisol physiologically increases from 200-230 to 850-1140 nmol / l. Being a glucocorticoid, the hormone inhibits the proliferation of fibroblasts and the secretion of collagen fibers by them. Progesterone has a similar, although less pronounced effect, the content of which by 34-40 weeks of pregnancy increases more than 10 times. With an increase in the concentration of estrogen in skin cells, the amount of amino acids necessary for the synthesis of collagen and elastin decreases.
Mechanical stretching of the skin. Stretch marks often appear on the abdomen and chest. The growth of the fetus contributes to an increase in the circumference of the abdomen. This indicator changes especially noticeably from 16-18 weeks of gestational age. Under the pressure of the growing uterus, the skin of the abdomen is excessively stretched, which is accompanied by a rupture of weakened connective tissue fibers. The likelihood of striae increases with polyhydramnios and multiple pregnancy. An increase in breast volume is associated with the development of alveolar tissue, and after childbirth - with the process of lactation.

A certain role in the formation of stretch marks is played by excess weight during pregnancy. Obesity, in which the volume of subcutaneous adipose tissue increases, contributes to stronger tension and damage to connective tissue fibers. In addition, adipose tissue is actively involved in the synthesis of estrogen, enhancing the effect of the hormone on the skin of a pregnant woman.

Pathogenesis

The mechanism of the formation of stretch marks during pregnancy is associated with an imbalance in the processes of synthesis and degradation of the fibers of the connective tissue of the dermis. Under the influence of glucocorticosteroids and progestins, the synthesis of elastin and collagen by fibroblasts is inhibited, however, the ability of fibroclasts to produce collagenase and elastase is preserved. In conditions of relative deficiency of amino acids caused by the estrogen effect, this weakens the reticular layer of the dermis. As a result, the strength and elasticity of the skin decreases, when it is mechanically stretched, collagen and elastin fibers are torn, and defects are formed. Since the degradation products of fibrillar proteins have a fibrogenic effect, destruction is replaced by processes of organization and sclerosis with the formation of scar tissue.

In the area of damage, a reaction resembling an inflammatory reaction occurs - the vessels expand paretically, around which lymphocytic infiltration begins. To replace the defect, fibroblasts produce connective tissue fibers, but their microarchitecture under stretching is disturbed - collagen fibrils are arranged in bundles parallel to the epidermis, mixing with a large amount of immature elastin. Subsequently, in the region of the striae, the number of vessels, fibroblasts decreases, and fibrous tissue predominates. In the center of the focus, elastin fibrils are almost completely absent, along the periphery they are located in the form of curls and dense lumps. The epidermis and dermis thin out, which is characteristic of atrophy.

Symptoms of stretch marks during pregnancy

A characteristic sign of strip-like atrophoderma during gestation is the appearance of cyanotic-purple linear stripes on the abdominal wall, chest. Fresh striae usually form from the 25th week of pregnancy, although they can also occur at an earlier date, especially with a sharp increase in the volume of the abdomen. Soft stripes run radially or parallel to each other flush with the rest of the skin, much less often have a convex relief. The width of the stretch marks is usually from 1 to 5 mm, the length is from 0.8 to 10 cm. After pregnancy, with aging, the damaged area gradually brightens, acquires a whitish, whitish-yellow, whitish-blue, mother-of-pearl hue. Stretch marks do not tan. Their relief eventually becomes retracted ("sinking"). There are usually no subjective sensations in the uncomplicated course of linear skin atrophy.

Complications

Stretch marks in the vast majority of cases do not pose any danger to the mother or fetus, although their appearance during pregnancy can serve as an impetus for the formation of an inferiority complex. In 0.41-0.83% of cases, the destruction of protein fibrils, which occurs during the formation of striae, provokes an autoimmune response with the development of polymorphic dermatosis of pregnant women in the 3rd semester of gestation, accompanied by the appearance of itchy elements of the rash. A long-term consequence of stretch marks that occur during pregnancy is a persistent irreversible cosmetic defect that can cause neurosis, subdepression, obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Diagnostics

With the formation of characteristic purple-bluish stripes on the skin of the chest and abdomen in the second half of pregnancy and the absence of other symptoms, the diagnosis usually does not present any difficulties. A more thorough examination is required in cases where the presence of endocrine pathology or the onset of neoplastic processes can be suspected. The survey plan includes:

Hormone test. Stretch marks are more often formed with an increased content of cortisol, ACTH, somatotropic hormone, impaired production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Some pregnant women have an excessive concentration of estradiol and progesterone in the blood.
Skin biopsy examination. Deformation of elastin fibrils in the middle and deep layers of the dermis is characteristic: fragments of elastin are present, individual fibers are thickened, thinned, twisted, woven together. Around the vessels, infiltration of varying intensity is detected.

If endocrine-active tumors are suspected, an additional study of the hypothalamic-pituitary region, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands is prescribed. Band-like atrophy of the skin is differentiated with anetoderma, pathomymia, linear scleroderma, keloid scars, hypercortisolism, Itsenko-Cushing's disease, Marfan's diencephalic syndrome, Pasini-Pierini idiopathic atrophoderma, Laurence-Moon-Barde-Biedl syndrome. A dermatologist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist, neurosurgeon, oncologist can be involved in the diagnostic search.

Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy

Effective methods for the treatment of fresh striae during the gestation period have not been proposed. The presence of stretch marks does not affect the choice of the method of delivery, pregnancy is usually completed by natural childbirth, if obstetric and extragenital contraindications are detected, a caesarean section is performed. The main efforts of the obstetrician-gynecologist and the pregnant woman are aimed at preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Particular attention is paid to women with aggravated heredity, endocrine disorders, band-like atrophoderma due to obesity or pubertal changes. To reduce the likelihood of stretch marks, we recommend:

Diet correction. Since during pregnancy one of the factors in the formation of stretch marks is the relative deficiency of amino acids in the skin, the diet must be supplemented with protein products. It is important for predisposed patients to monitor the dynamics of weight gain, exclude overeating, and reduce the intake of high-calorie carbohydrates and fats.
Reception of vitamin and mineral complexes. To prevent stretch marks, supplements and drugs containing tocopherol, retinol, ascorbic acid, B vitamins are prescribed. The use of magnesium preparations can reduce collagen degradation, increase the strength of the dermis, and weaken the processes of connective tissue granularization.
Reducing stress on the skin. To avoid overstretching of the connective tissue fibers, it is recommended to perform exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles, after the 18th-22nd week of pregnancy, wear a support bandage. To protect the mammary glands during gestation and breastfeeding, you should use a comfortable bra.
Improvement of microcirculation in the skin. With a more intense blood supply, the synthesis of protein fibrils is enhanced, repair processes are accelerated and normalized. To improve blood flow in the vessels of the skin, a gentle massage of problem areas, a contrast shower are used. Nutritious and moisturizing emollients have a certain, but not decisive effect.

Aesthetic cosmetology procedures that make stretch marks less noticeable are prescribed after the end of pregnancy. They are most effective in the fight against fresh stretch marks that exist no longer than 6 months. Most often, mesotherapy, laser resurfacing, chemical peeling, electrophoresis or phonophoresis with collagen, hyaluronic acid, enzyme therapy, and cosmeceuticals are used. With a significant change in the skin relief, it is possible to carry out plastic surgery, contouring, injections of preparations based on hyaluronic acid.

You can share your medical history, what helped you in the treatment of stretch marks during pregnancy.

Sources