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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?
About the Author
Dr. James Brann is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He is also Editor of Women's Healthcare Topics.
http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com
At Women's Healthcare Topics website you will find valuable and up-to-date information on numerous topics related to women's health including Signs of Pregnancy, Chlamydia, Hysterectomy, Early Pregnancy Symptoms and more.
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