What do stretch marks look like during pregnancy
Stretch marks in pregnancy - NHS
Pregnancy stretch marks
Stretch marks on white skinCredit:
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Stretch marks on darker skinCredit:
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 when we're growing 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 that you do not diet to lose weight when you're pregnant, but you should eat a healthy, balanced diet.
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: 27 March 2020
Media review due: 27 March 2023
Page last reviewed: 2 August 2019
Next review due: 2 August 2022
Pregnancy Stretch Marks - American Pregnancy Association
Stretch marks, the lines that develop on the abdomen, as well as on other areas of the body, are a common skin concern in pregnancy. While they pose no risk at all to mother or baby, the discomfort created if they lead to itching, not to mention the cosmetic effects of their appearance, can cause pregnant women much distress.
What causes pregnancy stretch marks?
Interestingly, the cause of pregnancy stretch marks (or striae gravidarum) comes down to two factors, one of which is unique to pregnancy. Firstly, there is the physical stretch of the skin that occurs in pregnancy (and in other periods of rapid weight gain such as adolescence).
While the skin adapts to continuous movement by expanding and contracting, during these periods the skin has insufficient time to adjust. As the body expands faster than the skin covering it, the skin tears. The resulting scar that forms from this tear is what we know as a stretch mark.
The second factor, which is still a subject of debate among experts, involves the priming of the skin by increased levels of hormones in pregnancy. Together, these hormones attract more water into the skin, which relaxes the bonds between collagen fibers. This makes it easier for the skin to tear when it is stretched and for stretch marks to form.
When and where do they form?
While stretch marks generally become visible during the later trimesters of pregnancy (around the sixth or seventh month), some women will start to see them forming as soon as their bellies start growing.
Most lighter-skinned women tend to develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas darker-skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin. Their pattern of development follows three stages.
Stages of stretch marks during pregnancy
Stage 1: Early stretch marks will appear pink in color, and may also be itchy. The skin immediately around the stretch marks may also look ‘flattened’ and ‘thin’.
Stage 2: Gradually, the stretch marks will enlarge in length and width and become a reddish or purple color.
Stage 3: Once the stretch marks have matured, they lose their reddish/pink hue. In the months after pregnancy, they will start to fade and become pale white or silver. They may also appear slightly depressed and irregular in shape or length.
Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy, however, it is also common to get them on the breasts, thighs, hips, lower back, and buttocks.
While they can appear anywhere on the body, they are most likely to appear in places where large amounts of fat are stored.
While it’s important to know why, how and where stretch marks form in pregnancy, even more, important is to know how to help prevent them from forming in the first place. A topically-applied product like Bio-Oil is specially formulated to maximize the skin’s elasticity and ensure that it is supple and well-hydrated. By applying it twice daily right from the first trimester, your body will be better able to withstand the “big stretch” of pregnancy!
How can I prevent stretch marks?
One’s best defense against stretch marks is to ensure that the skin maintains its maximum elasticity throughout pregnancy. This is achieved by keeping skin well-hydrated and supple at all times.
Here’s what can be done to prevent stretch marks:
Skin Food
Collagen and elastin fibers in the skin are necessary to keep rapidly growing skin taut, and the stronger they are, the less likely they are to break and leave resulting stretch marks.
It, therefore, makes sense to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin E and C, zinc and silica, which help to form collagen. Vitamin C, in particular, is an important antioxidant that helps protect tissue from damage. Vitamins B2 (Riboflavin) and B3 (Niacin) are also said to help promote and maintain healthy skin.
Drinking sufficient water (approximately 2 liters a day) is essential in order to help strengthen and renew your skin.
Exercise
In addition to boosting energy levels, reducing mood swings, improving sleep patterns and enhancing one’s overall self-image, exercise too can help prevent stretch marks. Exercise improves circulation, which keeps the skin elastic and more able to stretch as it grows. This improved circulation also reduces the possibility of varicose veins and swollen ankles in pregnancy.
Keeping skin supple
In addition to ensuring that you keep your skin supple through eating the right foods and getting enough exercise, you should use a topically-applied product like Bio-Oil that is specifically formulated to maximize the skin’s elasticity.
By applying Bio-Oil twice daily from the first trimester throughout pregnancy, your skin will remain well-hydrated and better able to stretch.
Want to Know More?
- Pregnancy Nutrition
- Nordic Naturals: the Official Omega 3 of the American Pregnancy Association
Stretch marks in pregnant women: prevention and treatment
Stretch marks (striae) are skin defects that are atrophic scars of various widths. Stretch marks are not a disease, but can be symptoms of some diseases.
As a rule, in women in the position of striae occur in the form of atrophic scars on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and chest. They are the result of microtraumas of the skin that appear during its rapid stretching.
Visual stretch marks in pregnant women appear as stripes, the color of which can be from light beige to red-lilac. Fresh striae have a red-bluish color, but over time they turn pale.
For some women, stretch marks remain quite bright if they appear in places where blood vessels accumulate.
In pregnant women, striae on the abdomen and chest are located radially. Sometimes they can be slightly convex. The width of such scars is from 1 to 5 millimeters, and the length is from 1 to 10 cm.
Causes of stretch marks in pregnancy
Doctors say that the main causes of stretch marks during pregnancy are hormonal imbalance and overstretching of the skin.
During pregnancy, tears occur in the mammary glands and abdomen, as these parts of the body rapidly increase in volume. At the same time, the skin does not have time to stretch evenly, and microtears occur. Often during pregnancy, there is also a rapid overall weight gain. Therefore, stretch marks can also appear on the buttocks, thighs and other places of a pregnant woman.
Prevention of stretch marks (striae) during pregnancy
The occurrence of stretch marks during pregnancy is observed in 90% of women.
Good skin care in those areas where microtears appear most often will help to resist the appearance of stretch marks.
To increase skin strength and improve its elasticity, dermatologists advise taking a contrast shower every day, which can be completed with cool water.
Gentle massage has a beneficial effect on skin health. It is made with a washcloth or a massager with special nozzles.
Nourishing and moisturizing creams help prevent the appearance of stretch marks in a pregnant woman. In addition, as a prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy, it is recommended to use special external remedies for stretch marks, which improve skin elasticity and stimulate the formation of collagen. Today, many companies specializing in cosmetics for pregnant women offer effective and high-quality external remedies for stretch marks.
The most important thing for any mother is the health of the baby, so it is necessary to use only natural products made specifically for pregnant women.
Such products are hypoallergenic, do not contain strong perfume fragrances.
Experts recommend starting to use anti-stretch mark creams around the third month of pregnancy. But for those who are rapidly gaining weight, you can start using them earlier.
Nowadays expectant mothers have a wide range of products for stretch marks. The composition of oils and creams for stretch marks includes unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, seaweed, natural extracts. Creams are applied to problem areas at least 2 times a day. You should rub the anti-stretch marks, while gently massaging the skin in problem areas.
Can stretch marks be cured? After the birth of a child and the completion of breastfeeding, consult a beautician on how to get rid of stretch marks. The most effective procedures for the treatment of stretch marks include chemical peeling, laser resurfacing and mesotherapy. Cosmetic masks, compresses, massage, contrast douches, body wraps help well in the fight against stretch marks.
A modern woman has the opportunity to take care of the skin in problem areas during pregnancy, which helps prevent the occurrence of stretch marks. But even if stretch marks appear, then after childbirth you can make them almost invisible with the help of cosmetics and procedures.
Pregnancy stretch marks
The problem of many pregnant women is the appearance of stretch marks on the skin. Stretch marks are small stripes on the body that resemble scars. When it appears, the stretch marks are reddish-blue in color, the intensity of which weakens over time, and it takes on a whitish tint. The skin in this place becomes rough compared to other parts of the body, and looks unattractive.
If you do not take care of the skin relief, stretch marks can remain for a long time, so it is easier to prevent them from appearing than trying to get rid of them after childbirth, when the skin is already rough. Proper preventive measures will help maintain the beauty of the skin, but you also need to know the causes of stretch marks.
Stretch marks during pregnancy occur due to the destruction of the reticular layer of the dermis.
Causes of stretch marks: malnutrition; bad habits; lack of moderate physical activity; low physical activity; chronic swelling; cardiovascular or endocrine diseases. The lack of protein in the body of a pregnant woman is one of the main causes of rupture of connective tissue fibers. Lack of protein stops the production of the natural “building” tissue element - collagen. This makes the skin less elastic and firm. In order for the body of a pregnant woman to receive as much protein as possible, it is important to regulate nutrition and make it complete and balanced.
How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy
To avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the body of a pregnant woman, it is worth:
- adhere to a properly balanced diet;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- use the correct cosmetics;
- to wear special clothes for expectant mothers.
Proper nutrition is especially important for a woman when she is expecting a baby. The expectant mother should diversify her diet with poultry meat, which is rich in proteins that do not allow collagen to break down. Collagen is an important component of connective tissues that make the skin supple and elastic.
Experts recommend reducing the amount of sugar, as it stiffens the collagen fibers, which negatively affects the elasticity of the skin.
Stretch marks during pregnancy occur due to the low physical activity of women. Daily simple physical exercises will help not only maintain a figure, but also prepare the body, especially muscles, for childbirth. The load is important, first of all, for the muscles of the abdomen, thighs and legs. Moderate exercise will reduce the likelihood of stretch marks.
Special clothing for women who are expecting a baby helps to preserve the beauty of the body. Bras designed for expectant mothers avoid the risk of stretch marks on the chest.
Such underwear will stretch as the breast grows, as well as properly support it. Underwear, special belts and a bandage for the abdomen protect the skin of the body from sagging, so it does not stretch as the fetus grows.
Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy
The appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy occurs in most women. During gestation, body weight increases, and the load on the skin increases dramatically, and as the baby grows, it is constantly forced to stretch. When a pregnant woman's skin stretches, itching or burning may occur. At the same time, the skin releases a large amount of toxins due to the accelerated metabolism and requires more moisture than in the normal state of the woman's body.
Preventive measures should be taken from the early stages of pregnancy. At 3-4 months, when the chest and abdomen begin to actively increase, you need to take care of the external and internal condition of the skin daily. Experts recommend stretch mark prevention procedures that help the skin of the body to remain toned and beautiful.
It is important to constantly maintain muscle tone, because sports, massage will support not only the inner beauty of the body, but also the outer one. The skin needs to be moisturized and nourished, so during a massage or after a shower, oils or body cream can be rubbed in. Places where stretch marks may occur in pregnant women should be massaged with a special massage glove. The result is improved blood flow to problem areas and skin nutrition.
If stretch marks cannot be avoided, the skin texture can be changed with the help of postpartum colostotherapy. This procedure does not have any negative consequences for the skin, since it is based on the use of a special biomaterial - collagen. The use of kollostotherapy with the use of COLLOST ® gel will help to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy and make the skin supple. The procedure involves the intradermal injection of a gel, which allows mechanical filling of stretch marks.
Benefits of getting rid of stretch marks with Collostotherapy:
- smoothing the skin surface;
- replenishment of collagen lost by the skin during pregnancy;
- tissue regeneration at the site of stretch marks;
- scar replacement.
