Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesPurposeTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Purpose

Treatment

Pregnancybrings changes to many areas of the body, including the skin. Some skin changes can indicate a problem or complication, but others are simply cosmetic, like linea nigra.

Everyone has a line called the linea alba (“white line” in Latin) that usually isn’t noticeable. This line runs vertically from the breastbone to the pubic area and down the middle of the abdomen.

During pregnancy, this line can darken, causing a visible vertical line from the belly button to the pubic area, or sometimes the entire length of the abdomen. This is called the linea nigra (“black line”). It often correlates withchanges in pigmentationduring pregnancy such as the darkening of areas that already have more pigmentation like the nipples and areola.

Linea nigra is typically noticed in the second trimester.

RuslanDashinsky / Getty Images

Close-up on the torso of a pregnant woman cradling her large belly. There is a dark, vertical line running from the top to the bottom of her belly.

How Common Is Linea Nigra in Pregnancy?More than 90% of pregnant people have significant and complex skin changes during pregnancy.According to one study, linea nigra is the most common pregnancy skin change.

How Common Is Linea Nigra in Pregnancy?

More than 90% of pregnant people have significant and complex skin changes during pregnancy.According to one study, linea nigra is the most common pregnancy skin change.

More than 90% of pregnant people have significant and complex skin changes during pregnancy.

According to one study, linea nigra is the most common pregnancy skin change.

What Causes Linea Nigra?

Melanin (the pigment that darkens skin) already exists in greater quantities in some areas of the body. The increase in melanin production during pregnancy can cause these areas to darken. Most commonly, hyperpigmentation is noticed in:

The intensity of the hyperpigmentation may be related to:

What Is the Purpose of Linea Nigra?

Is Linea Nigra Harmful?

How Is Linea Nigra Treated?

Treatment for linea nigra isn’t medically necessary. It doesn’t affect the pregnancy, and it almost always fades or goes away entirely in the months after birth.

People who dislike the look of linea nigra may try ways to reduce the intensity of the line, including with:

A Word From Verywell

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vora RV, Gupta R, Mehta MJ, Chaudhari AH, Pilani AP, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318-324. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.148099MedlinePlus.Skin and hair changes during pregnancy.Vora R, Gupta R, Mehta M, Chaudhari A, Pilani A, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318. doi:h10.4103/2249-4863.148099Hassan I, Bashir S, Taing S.A clinical study of the skin changes in pregnancy in Kashmir valley of north India: A hospital based study.Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60(1):28. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.147782Massinde A, Ntubika S, Magoma M.Extensive hyperpigmentation during pregnancy: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 5:464. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-464Catherine C. Motosko, Amy Kalowitz Bieber, Miriam Keltz Pomeranz, Jennifer A. Stein, Kathryn J. Martires,Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology,Volume 3, Issue 4. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003DermNet NZ.Linea nigra.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vora RV, Gupta R, Mehta MJ, Chaudhari AH, Pilani AP, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318-324. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.148099MedlinePlus.Skin and hair changes during pregnancy.Vora R, Gupta R, Mehta M, Chaudhari A, Pilani A, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318. doi:h10.4103/2249-4863.148099Hassan I, Bashir S, Taing S.A clinical study of the skin changes in pregnancy in Kashmir valley of north India: A hospital based study.Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60(1):28. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.147782Massinde A, Ntubika S, Magoma M.Extensive hyperpigmentation during pregnancy: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 5:464. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-464Catherine C. Motosko, Amy Kalowitz Bieber, Miriam Keltz Pomeranz, Jennifer A. Stein, Kathryn J. Martires,Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology,Volume 3, Issue 4. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003DermNet NZ.Linea nigra.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Vora RV, Gupta R, Mehta MJ, Chaudhari AH, Pilani AP, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318-324. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.148099MedlinePlus.Skin and hair changes during pregnancy.Vora R, Gupta R, Mehta M, Chaudhari A, Pilani A, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318. doi:h10.4103/2249-4863.148099Hassan I, Bashir S, Taing S.A clinical study of the skin changes in pregnancy in Kashmir valley of north India: A hospital based study.Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60(1):28. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.147782Massinde A, Ntubika S, Magoma M.Extensive hyperpigmentation during pregnancy: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 5:464. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-464Catherine C. Motosko, Amy Kalowitz Bieber, Miriam Keltz Pomeranz, Jennifer A. Stein, Kathryn J. Martires,Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology,Volume 3, Issue 4. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003DermNet NZ.Linea nigra.

Vora RV, Gupta R, Mehta MJ, Chaudhari AH, Pilani AP, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318-324. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.148099

MedlinePlus.Skin and hair changes during pregnancy.

Vora R, Gupta R, Mehta M, Chaudhari A, Pilani A, Patel N.Pregnancy and skin.J Family Med Prim Care. 3(4):318. doi:h10.4103/2249-4863.148099

Hassan I, Bashir S, Taing S.A clinical study of the skin changes in pregnancy in Kashmir valley of north India: A hospital based study.Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60(1):28. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.147782

Massinde A, Ntubika S, Magoma M.Extensive hyperpigmentation during pregnancy: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 5:464. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-464

Catherine C. Motosko, Amy Kalowitz Bieber, Miriam Keltz Pomeranz, Jennifer A. Stein, Kathryn J. Martires,

Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology,

Volume 3, Issue 4. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.09.003

DermNet NZ.Linea nigra.

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