Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Stretch marks are indented streaks that show up on your skin usually caused by rapidly growing skin. They are very common to get during pregnancy. About 90% of all women who are pregnant or have been pregnant experience some degree of stretch marks. While some people may never get stretch marks during pregnancy because of their genetics and skin elasticity. You can get them anywhere on your body where you have skin. The most common places are your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks. In pregnancy your belly starts to grow more rapidly by the end of your second trimester, and usually by your third trimester you start to notice your stretch marks. They can occur earlier in pregnancy as well. Stretch marks are essentially scars, so they may never go away fully, but with time they do usually fade even without intervention or treatment.

Stretch marks can look different in different places of your own body, or look different from person to person. Stretch marks over time may look different than when you first had them. Stretch marks can be red, pink, purple, reddish-brown, or brown depending on your skin color. When new they will be slightly raised from your skin. They can also feel mildly itchy as your skin can become dry while it is stretching. Over time your stretch marks will become level with your skin and will be harder to distinguish.

What actually causes stretch marks is unknown. There are some things that are believed to play a role in whether you will get stretch marks or not during pregnancy. The increased level of hormones you experience during pregnancy can be one contribution to stretch marks in some people. How tiny you are pre pregnancy can also play a role. Your tissue under your skin is stretching, so the bigger you get and the quicker you become big the more those tissues have to stretch, which can lead to stretch marks. Getting stretch marks has also been shown to be somewhat based on genetics. If you have a close relative that has stretch marks during pregnancy, your risk is increased. If you are carrying multiples your risk is also higher, due to the size your belly will get with carrying more than one baby. Being pregnant young can also raise your risk of stretch marks.

Stretch marks are basically harmless. They usually cause no discomfort or pain. Your skin can feel itchy while your belly is growing. This is normal. If your itching becomes severe you will want to speak to your healthcare provider because it may be caused by something other than just dry or stretching skin. If your skin feels itchy there are a few things you can do to eliminate the itchy feeling. One is to avoid hot showers or baths. Pat your skin dry when it is wet and apply moisturizer before your skin fully dries. This will help your body really lock in the moisture. Avoid harsh soaps that may dry out your skin. If you live in a very dry climate, or your house tends to be on the dryer side, utilize a humidifier.

There is no proven way to prevent stretch marks. Some people get them and some people don’t. There isn’t shame in getting stretch marks. One thing you can do at home if you are concerned about stretch marks is to moisturize regularly. There are lots of different stretch mark creams and oils on the market you can try. During pregnancy lotioning or oiling your body with a lotion that doesn’t irritate your skin and is safe to use during pregnancy may help to prevent stretch marks, but it also may not. Moisturizing may also help fade your stretch marks over time. Some doctors say that what helps prevent the stretch marks from appearing is taking the time to massage in the lotion or oil. That massaging the skin is where the benefit comes from. There are also retinoid creams that can help your body rebuild collagen.

It is also important to watch what you are eating during pregnancy. Being healthy on the inside can help you be healthy on the outside. Make sure you are taking prenatal vitamins to ensure you are getting all the needed nutrition for you and your baby. Eating lots of foods high in vitamin C can help promote collagen and tissue production. Other vitamins that are important to get enough of are vitamin D, zinc, vitamin E, and collagen. Make sure you are staying hydrated by drinking enough water per day. Hydration promotes skin health.

When you gain weight too quickly in pregnancy it over stretches the tissues under the skin. Keeping weight gain slow and steady can also help with preventing or lowering your risk of getting stretch marks.

Other options for stretch mark treatments are light and laser therapies. These help stimulate collagen growth. Another option to stimulate collagen growth is microneedling.

Stretch marks may look worse right after pregnancy. Some doctors suggest waiting a full year before spending money on expensive procedures. This is because in the first 12 months after getting stretch marks they may fade naturally. In some cases they may be a silvery, wispy color that is hard to even see.