More than half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks
during their pregnancy. Otherwise known as striae gravidarum, stretch
marks look like streaks on the surface of the skin, and may be vary in
color depending on your natural skin color. Most lighter skinned women
develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas darker skinned women tend to have
stretch marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin.
Most
women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy, however
it is also common to get stretch marks on the buttocks, hips, breasts
and thighs. In some cases up to 90 percent of women have stretch marks
on some part of their body as a result of pregnancy.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch
marks form when your skin is stretched rapidly as happens during
pregnancy. Most women develop stretch marks during the later trimesters
of pregnancy though some women start to develop them as soon as their
bellies start growing.
Stretch marks are actually small tears that
form in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it stretch. Stretch
marks represent the tearing or separation of collagen from the skin
when tearing occurs. Stretch marks are not harmful or painful and
usually fade over time.
Who Gets Stretch Marks?
Many
women believe that using lotions and creams help prevent stretch marks.
Realistically speaking however, the number of stretch marks you get
depends on how elastic your skin is. The elasticity of your skin
usually relates to your genetic make up. The best thing you can do is
find out if your mother got bad stretch marks during pregnancy. If she
did, you are probably more prone to stretch marks than other women.
Keep
in mind the more weight you gain during pregnancy the more likely you
are to have stretch marks. Normally the skin is elastic and capable of
stretching quite a bit, however for some women the changes that occur
during pregnancy are very drastic. These rapid fluctuations of weight
and skin stretching can result in stretch marks.
Women with
multiples are more likely to get stretch marks because their bellies
usually grow much larger than women with single pregnancies. Other
women likely to develop stretch marks include women who gain a lot of
weight quickly during their pregnancy and women who carry big babies.
Here are some other factors that may contribute to your susceptibility to stretch marks:
*
If you developed stretch marks before (like on your breasts during
puberty) you are more likely to get stretch marks while pregnant.
* If you had stretch marks during another pregnancy you will usually get them again.
* If you are overweight or gain more weight than recommended you are more likely to get stretch marks.
* The better hydrated and well nourished you are the less likely you are to develop serious stretch marks.
Stretch Mark Prevention
Most
women believe that they can prevent stretch marks by using creams and
lotions. There are many formulations on the market today that claim to
help prevent stretch marks. Some of these may help moisturize your skin
and reduce itching. They may help reduce some stretch marks however
there are no scientific studies that support this.
You probably
know at least one parent however that swears by cocoa butter or some
other formulation to prevent stretch marks. If nothing else rubbing
these creams into your belly provides your unborn baby with a light and
comforting massage. They may also give you peace of mind knowing you
did everything possible to prevent stretch marks.
The best thing
you can do to minimize stretch marks aside from using any creams or
moisturizers you select is gaining the recommended amount of weight
during pregnancy. Doctors recommend most women gain between 25 and 34
pounds. Gaining much more than this can cause you to develop more
stretch marks.
Removing Stretch Marks
Most women
worry about stretch marks after they have their baby. Fortunately most
stretch marks do fade with time. Usually after 12 moths postpartum most
stretch marks are light and less noticeable. Their texture may remain
different from the surrounding skin however. Many women notice their
stretch marks fading into whitish lines that are minimally noticeable.
Some
women have very severe stretch marks that impact their self esteem
after pregnancy. There are many treatments available for women that
want to improve the appearance of their stretch marks.
If your
stretch marks are particularly bad, you may consult with your doctor or a
dermatologist. Some topical treatments such as tretinoin cream can
help reduce stretch marks. These creams must be used after pregnancy
however, because they can cause defects in your unborn baby.
Most
of the topical treatments available should be used shortly after
delivery, before they start to fade. The more time that passes between
the delivery and use of cream, the less likely they are to be effective.
If
you are breastfeeding it is important you consult with your doctor
before using any stretch mark treatments. Some treatments may impact
your milk supply or pass through the breast milk to your baby.
Most
of the creams available to reduce stretch marks do not help relieve the
sagging skin that also accompanies childbirth. There are some newer
treatments including laser treatments however that may improve the skins
elasticity and help reduce stretch marks. Some women also consider
plastic surgery after they are done having children. A tummy tuck can
help hide some stretch marks and reduce sagging skin.
Most women
are able to joyfully overlook stretch marks when they consider the
miracle of life they bring into the world. For the most the small
annoyance even the worst stretch marks bring are well worth the joys of
bringing a newborn baby into the world. Do what you can during
pregnancy to maintain an appropriate weight and try not to worry too
much about stretch marks. Many women wear them with pride, a 'war
wound' or "badge of honor" related to their pregnancy. Why not wear them
with pride?
