Stretch marks during pregnancy
Stretch marks can be the bane of pregnancy or many women. They develop as slightly raised red or blue lines, most commonly across the abdomen, but can also occur on your breasts and thighs as the skin is stretched. These marks will fade into silver or white lines over time.
During pregnancy, your skin is stretched over a relatively short period of time, causing the fibers of the dermis (the lower layer of skin) to break up and reveal blood vessels that are normally hidden from view _ hence the initial red color. Often the marks are accompanied by an itching or burning feeling in the same area.
If you’re going to get them, stretch marks start to make an appearance from the second trimester (weeks 13-28) or early third trimester (weeks 29-40), although some women only develop them as their due date nears. may find they do not develop them until late on in the third trimester. A small percentage of women don’t get them at all.
Protecting your skin
There are things you can do to help lessen the impact of stretch marks, but if you’re predisposed to them there isn’t much you can do to avoid them. Your mom's experience of stretch marks can offer you a good guide to how your own body may react – if she had them, you’re likely to also. You’re also at more risk if your complexion is very fair.
The best way to tackle stretch marks is to keep your skin super-hydrated. This means drinking plenty of water and moisturizing your body with a safe skincare product. Some women recommend pure cocoa butter, almond oil. If you’re experiencing itching, try using aloe vera gel, which is a wonderful cooling remedy. If you have an aloe vera plant, you can break off a spiky leaf and squeeze out the sap inside to rub on the offending area.
Ensure that your diet is healthy, as the things you put into your body have a big influence on how you look. Vitamin C (found in brightly colored fruit and vegetables and E (found in leafy green vegetables and fortified cereals) and the mineral zinc (found in meat, poultry and fish, wholegrain cereals and rice, and pumpkin seeds) are key for healthy skin. Look at diet for a healthy pregnancy for more advice.
One of the best ways you can avoid stretch marks is to keep your weight gain steady. Take a look at our guide to weight gain in pregnancy or use our pregnancy weight gain calculator to work out how much weight you’re likely to gain during pregnancy.
Is it possible to get rid of stretch marks?
It’s difficult to get rid of stretch marks once you have them but over time their appearance will change – they won’t always appear an angry red, but will fade to silvery lines. If they bother you try to remember that you have them for a good reason – your child – and wear them with pride as a symbol of your new status. If you’re really distressed by them speak to your physician to discuss the possibility of laser surgery to fade them.
If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy niggles.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Related Articles
Last Modified: 27/06/2008
Related Chat
You'll need to be logged in to post new Comments and Answers or to Chat.
Login or
Register