5 Effective Tips To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

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Stretch marks are part and parcel of your motherhood journey. While most women embrace them, preventing stretch marks when pregnant is a preferable option for some and is completely normal. Stretch marks are pregnancy-related changes that cause small tears of the elastic supportive tissue beneath the skin and often appear as purple, reddish-brown, or dark brown streaks, depending on the skin color (1).

Around 90% of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy. They occur due to stretching of the skin on the belly, breasts, hips, and buttocks (2).

Read on to learn about the causes, possible treatments, and preventive measures for stretch marks.

What Are The Causes Of Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?

Some possible risk factors responsible for causing stretch marks are (3):

• Physical stretching: The body expands during pregnancy, and as a result, skin starts to stretch. Continuously expanding and stretching will not give the skin enough time to recover and adjust to the changes. Therefore, the skin begins to tear and scar, forming stretch marks.

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• Hormones: The increasing pregnancy hormones draw extra water into the skin that helps relax the bonds of collagenⁱA structural protein that helps build the connective tissue, skin, bones, and tendons and provides body flexibility. fibers. It can make the skin prone to tear when stretched, resulting in stretch marks.

• Heredity: Although not specific to pregnancy, stretch marks may be genetic. If your mother had stretch marks, you are likely to develop them during your pregnancy (4).

Are Stretch Marks Painful Or Dangerous?

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Stretch marks do not pose a threat to the baby or the maternal health. However, they are often accompanied by itching (3) (5). Although common, researchers state that stretch marks during pregnancy could cause anxiety, self-consciousness, and depression in some women (6). Proper prenatal care and timely attention could help manage these emotional concerns.

In Which Trimester Do You Develop Stretch Marks?

Pregnant women are most likely to develop stretch marks towards the second and third trimesters. Although stretch marks begin as soon as the belly starts to expand, they become distinct by the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy (2) (3).

How To Prevent Stretch Marks When Pregnant?

You may follow the below self-care and body-care tips for preventing stretch marks when pregnant:

• Control your weight. Try to maintain a healthy weight of around 25 to 35 pounds with a balanced diet. A steady and healthy weight gain can help reduce the occurrence or intensity of stretch marks (5) (7). Aim to get regular physical activity and consult your healthcare provider to create a personalized weight gain plan tailored to your needs.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking at least two liters of water per day and staying hydrated can help rejuvenate and strengthen the skin (3).

• Have a nutrient-rich diet. Our skin contains collagen and elastin fibersⁱComponents of the elastin protein that provides strength and elasticity to the body structures. , which help tighten the skin when stretched (skin taut). A strong skin taut is less likely to tear and scar. Include a diet rich in zinc, vitamins C and E, and silica, as these nutrients help form collagen, repair tissue damage, and promote pregnancy wellness. In addition, vitamins B2 and B3 are important for skin health (3).

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• Include exercise. Regular exercising as a part of a healthy lifestyle can increase circulation and enhance skin elasticity (3).

• Protect the skin. Besides hydration and exercise, you can also keep your skin supple by regular moisturization. You may apply bio-oil and gently massage your body twice daily, from the first trimester, to keep the skin hydrated and improve its elasticity (3).

A 34-week pregnant mother, Monika, shares her observations regarding skin changes. She notes, “So far – knock on wood – I have not noticed any stretch marks anywhere on my body – but I also realize I may still get them mere weeks before delivery, so I guess we will just have to wait and see. As far as body care, I have been using lots of moisturizers on the bump & rump area every single evening after showering, sometimes in the morning as well. I also like to scrub and massage my body quite thoroughly in the shower, using lots of body wash and a loofa to get some good blood circulation and exfoliate all those dead skin cells… When it comes to the actual products I’ve been reaching for, I have not bought a single anti-stretch mark cream or belly balm or any of those other lotions and potions geared specifically towards pregnant women… I think for me personally, body butters and oils are the way to go (i).”

Things to know

Pregnancy-safe moisturizer ingredients, such as alpha hydroxy acidⁱGroup of acids found in plants and animal sources commonly used as an ingredient in skincare products. , ammonium lactateⁱA chemical compound used as an ingredient in creams to manage skin problems. , phospholipidⁱA class of lipid molecules present in cell membranes used as moisturizing agents in skincare products. , organic silica, propylene glycolⁱA synthetic liquid used in skincare products for its moisturize-retaining properties. , glycerinⁱA transparent sugary liquid used as a cleanser and moisturizer for treating skin problems such as dryness and dullness. , and sorbitolⁱA carbohydrate and alcoholic substance used as a hydrating agent in skin care products. , may help with stretch marks (12).

What Are The Possible Treatments For Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?

Although there is no proven cure for stretch marks, some treatments can lighten and reduce their intensity considerably. These include:

• Topical medication: Prescribed medications containing hyaluronic acidⁱA substance secreted in the body that helps retain volume and moisture in the skin. , trofolastin, and tretinoin might work for stretch marks. Topical application has shown significant improvement in discoloration of the stretch marks, making them faint in appearance (2). Massaging the skin with the above creams for around six months could work (8).

Caution

Although tretinoin’s systemic absorption is minimal, there may be some risks for the fetus and breastfed neonates. Thus, consider its benefit-risk ratio for stretch mark treatment after childbirth (12).

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• Lotions and oils: Topical creams or body oils containing vitamin E can treat pregnancy stretch marks. Moisturizing the skin with cocoa butter, shea butter, bio-oil, and olive oil can eventually fade the marks or reduce their occurrence (2).

Point to consider

Products containing Centella asiaticaⁱA plant whose extracts are used to treat various skin problems such as redness, inflammation, and dryness.  or hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks (8) (12).

• Medical procedure: Post-pregnancy cosmetic treatments such as laser therapy, microneedling, radiofrequency, and energy-based devices may be recommended by your healthcare provider. Laser therapy and microneedling enhance collagen production and reduce the blood flow to the stretch mark lesions (2) (9).

• Early treatment: Most dermatologists recommend treating stretch marks when they appear. You can also consult with your obstetrics and gynecology expert about the possible treatment options (7).

When Do Stretch Marks Go Away?

Stretch marks may not completely disappear but become unnoticeable with time. For most women, stretch marks after pregnancy may turn pale white or silver and irregular in shape (3).

Infographic: Safe Compounds For Stretch Marks Treatment

Stretch marks are common during pregnancy as the skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby. While several products may treat stretch marks, you must check if their ingredients are pregnancy-safe. Check out the infographic below to learn about some common ingredients that are safe to use during pregnancy.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Effective Tips To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

As your pregnancy progresses, stretch marks become more evident due to the stretching of the belly. Learn how to treat and prevent these stretch marks and keep the skin looking healthy and beautiful.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji HichamMD

Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji Hicham is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with around 20 years of experience in the field. Having worked in various Moroccan hospitals, he currently runs a private practice. Dr. Hicham specializes in rejuvenation and cosmetic gynecology, medically assisted reproduction, breast and gynecological cancers, HPV diseases, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and hormonal disorders.

Read full bio of Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji Hicham

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

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