Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) are indented streaks on the skin that commonly develop during pregnancy. They occur when the skin expands rapidly, causing small tears. When these tears heal, stretch marks appear, often developing on the belly, chest, hips, thighs, and bottom.
Stretch markscan be red, purple, dark brown, white, or silver and often fade. About 50% to 90% of pregnant people experience stretch marks at some point before childbirth.It is not always possible to prevent stretch marks. To lower your risk, aim to gain and lose pregnancy weight slowly.
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1. Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydratedis important for a healthy pregnancy. Hydrated, soft skin is less likely to tear and lead to stretch marks. Try keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day. Most people assigned female at birth need 72 ounces of water daily, likely more during pregnancy.
2. Focus on Skin Healthy Foods
Eat a nutritious diet to support your body during pregnancy. Choose foods rich in the following skin-healthy nutrients:
3. Try Pregnancy-Safe Exercises
Exerciseis essential for healthy pregnancy weight gain and loss. Talk with a healthcare provider about a safe exercise plan during pregnancy. Exercising regularly can help you to gain weight slowly, lowering the risk of stretch marks.
Pregnancy-safe exercises include:
4. Use Products to Maximize Skin’s Elasticity
Several products are available over the counter (OTC) for stretch mark treatment and prevention. Most products have not been proven effective, so talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new regimen. One study found that 58.5% of study participants who regularly used one or more topical products still developed stretch marks during their pregnancy.
Another review found that there are no OTC products that prevent stretch marks.Topical products available for stretch mark prevention and treatment include:
5. Keep the Skin Well Moisturized
While no products have been proven to prevent stretch marks, using a daily moisturizer may lower your risk. Well-hydrated skin is more flexible and less likely to tear.Consider incorporating a quality moisturizer into your daily routine. Apply it to any areas of your body expanding in pregnancy, such as your belly, breasts, bottom, and thighs.
6. Gently Massage the Skin
One study found that massaging the skin with almond oil during pregnancy lowered the risk of stretch marks. Study participants who performed self-massage with almond oil daily were less likely to report stretch marks than those who used other types of oil.
7. Dry-Brush Your Skin
8. Soak Up the Sun
Vitamin Dis an important nutrient for skin health. In addition to consuming it in your diet, exposure to direct sunlight provides the body with vitamin D.However, ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or tanning beds can damage the skin and raise the risk of causing stretch marks. Always wear sunscreen when spending time outdoors, and consider covering your skin with a hat or long-sleeve shirt.
What Causes Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
Pregnancyis a common time for stretch marks because the skin changes rapidly. During rapid weight gain, the skin is stretched and starts to pull apart. As the skin heals, scars develop in the form of stretch marks. Other common times to experience stretch marks include growth spurts,puberty, and during weight training or bodybuilding programs.
Pregnant people are at an increased risk of stretch marks because of hormonal changes. Higher levels of hormones bring more water into the skin to make it more flexible. While this is needed during pregnancy, having more relaxed skin makes it easier to stretch and tear, which increases the risk of stretch marks.
Risk factors for stretch marks include:
During pregnancy, experts recommend gaining 25 to 35 pounds. People with a weight that is higher than a healthy range may should gain about 15 to 25 pounds, and those with a weight that is too low may need to gain up to 40 pounds.Talk with a healthcare provider about healthy weight gain for your body.
Medical Treatment Options
There is no proven way to remove stretch marks altogether. While some stretch marks are permanent, there are treatment options available. Medical professionals may suggest the following:
Summary
Stretch marks are indented streaks in the skin that look red, purple, dark brown, silver, or white. Stretch marks happen when the skin tears and then heals. During pregnancy and other rapid weight gain, the skin becomes stretched and tear. When the skin heals, small scars form as stretch marks.
It is not always possible to prevent stretch marks. However, there are steps that you can take to lower the risk and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Some prevention strategies include regular moisturizing, daily exercise, and gentle massage.
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