Stretch Marks:
Prevention And Treatment During Pregnancy
by: James Brann, MD
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?
