By: Vaishnavi Raju | Date: January 19, 2021

How to Treat Pregnancy Stretch Marks – Causes And Prevention Tips

"With gaining weight and growing belly these pregnancy marks appear in the abdomen, breasts, thighs, hips, and arms".

Pregnancy not only changes a woman’s life but also brings about a lot of physical changes. Due to growing belly, most women witness pregnancy stretch marks.

It shows that your skin is stretching as your body grows. Stretch marks appear mainly in the tummy, hips, thighs, and chest. Pregnancy stretch marks can’t be prevented completely, but you can do some things to reduce their effect. They are pink, red, purple and brown. After delivery pregnancy marks may appear like deep white scars.

What are pregnancy stretch marks?

Pregnancy stretch marks are streaky depressions in the skin. It appears during pregnancy and is pink, red, purple, or brown. It is also called striaegravidarum that means stripes of pregnancy. Every woman havestretch marks in pregnancy.

Stretch marks appear mostly during the late phase of pregnancy. Some women get it in the second trimester of pregnancy and some in the third trimester. Pregnancy stretch marks are more visible in fair-skinned women. If you have a big belly due to twins or triplets then you may have bad stretch marks. These marks are more visible after childbirth when you start to lose weight. You may feel distressed due to pregnancy stretch marks, but they are not harmful to your skin.

When do stretch marks start during pregnancy?

Pregnancy stretch marks do not appear before the second trimester. Stretch marks in pregnancy are different for everyone. It depends on genetics also. If your mother has stretch marks then probably you will also have them. In some women, pregnancy stretch marks are more visible after delivery.
Mostly, they appear during the later phase or the third trimester of pregnancy. 90% of women will get pregnancy stretch marks after the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. Pregnancy marks appear like white scars if not treated on time.

What causes pregnancy stretch marks?

Stretch marks during pregnancy are a very common problem. These pregnancy marks appear when the body starts growing to accommodate the baby. The causes of stretch marks include:-
Overflow of hormones during pregnancy softens the fibres of the skin. This makes them vulnerable to stretch marks.
When the baby grows, the tummy stretches to accommodate it. It leads to stretching of the skin causing pregnancy marks.

Rapid weight gain in pregnancy can cause stretch marks in thighs, hips, and breasts also.
Those having a family history of stretch marks develop very long scars during pregnancy.
Pregnancy stretch marks after childbirth are more visible. Losing weight after pregnancy can cause bad stretch marks. Younger mothers are more at risk of stretch marks during pregnancy due to less weight and soft skin.

How to treat pregnancy stretch marks?

There is no way to prevent pregnancy stretch marks. But some methods can help to reduce the marks and make them less visible. The ways of reducing the effects of stretch marks are the following:-

Maintain a healthy weight

It is very crucial to have a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. Rapid weight gain will pull your skin apart and make you prone to pregnancy stretch marks.

Moisturize

Moisturize your skin daily with cocoa butter. It helps to reduce dryness and itchy skin. Moisturizing provides hydration and maintains skin elasticity, making it less likely to tear. You can also use coconut oil and vitamin-E oils to nourish your skin.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough fluid will help you; stay hydrated. Hydrated and soft skin does not develop deep pregnancy marks as dry skin does. Pregnant women must drink 104 ounces of water every day. It’s better to avoid caffeinated drinks during pregnancy as it causes dehydration.

Eat a nutritious diet

Diet rich in Vitamin-C, Vitamin-D, Vitamin-E, zinc, and protein helps to develop collagen. Collagen plays a vital role in retaining the skin strong and elastic. It helps to reduce wrinkles and marks. A study found that a lower level of vitamin D increases the risk of deep stretch marks. Getting sunshine during pregnancy can also help to reduce stretch marks.

Use oil, gels, and cream

See your doctor to know which is the best oil or cream for you. They should be applied to the skin when the pregnancy stretch marks are still red and purple. Massaging oils and creams may help in the fading of the marks.

Laser therapy

After childbirth, you can go to dermatologists to remove pregnancy marks. Dermatologists generally use laser therapy or chemical peel to remove stretch marks.

How to remove pregnancy stretch marks at home?

Pregnancy stretch marks can also be reduced with the help of some home remedies. They include:

Aloe Vera

Apply fresh aloe vera gel to your pregnancy stretch marks every day. Leave it for 20-30minutes. Aloe Vera helps to regenerate skin tissue and has healing properties.

Lime juice and cucumber juice

Lime juice has natural acids that help to heal the skin. Mix an equal amount of lime and cucumber juice and apply it to the affected area. It will help to reduce pregnancy marks.

Apricot Mask

Apricot has exfoliating tendencies. Make a paste of 2-3 apricots and apply a mask of the pregnancy stretch marks. Wash with warm water after 10 minutes. It helps in the fading of pregnancy marks.

Castor oil

Pregnancy stretch marks need extra moisture to heal. For this castor oil is a great option. Feed your skin daily with castor oil from the first trimester of pregnancy. It will help to make scars less visible.

Bottom line

Stretch marks during pregnancy are a common problem. It appears in the abdomen, thighs, hips, breasts, and arms when the body starts growing to accommodate the baby. These pregnancy marks cannot be prevented completely. But, moisturizing, a healthy diet, and healthy weight gain can help to reduce scars on the skin.