Pregnancy gives us a gift so precious that we don’t deserve – our babies. Unfortunately, it also gives us a souvenir that we cannot refuse – stretch marks. Learn more about the causes, treatment and how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy here.
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Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes an extraordinary transformation. As her baby grows and her uterus expands, the skin around her abdomen stretches to accommodate the precious cargo inside. This rapid stretching puts immense pressure on the underlying layers of the skin, causing the elastic fibres to tear and leaving behind those distinctive marks we know as stretch marks.
Ah, stretch marks, those enigmatic lines that grace the bodies of many women, especially during the beautiful journey of pregnancy. These fascinating marks, often referred to as “tiger stripes,” have left many curious minds wondering: what are they exactly, and why do pregnant women get stretch marks during pregnancy? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a delightful exploration into the realm of stretch marks!
5 Causes of Pregnancy Stretch Marks
But what exactly causes them to appear? Let’s delve into the fascinating reasons behind these beautiful imprints!
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Rapid Expansion: As the baby grows, the skin stretches to accommodate the increasing size of the uterus, leading to the formation of stretch marks.
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Hormonal Influence: Hormonal changes, specifically elevated levels of hormones like cortisol and estrogen, can affect the skin’s elasticity and contribute to the development of stretch marks.
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Genetic Factors: Some studies suggest that genetics may play a role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to developing stretch marks during pregnancy, meaning you may be more likely to have them if your close relatives experienced them as well.
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Weight Gain: Rapid weight gain during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters, can contribute to the formation of stretch marks.
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Collagen and Elastin Disruption: The stretching of the skin during pregnancy can disrupt the production and organisation of collagen and elastin fibres, which are responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and strength.
What Do Stretch Marks During Pregnancy Look Like?
Image Source: iStock
Not all stretch marks look alike. It also varies depending on what caused them, your skin’s elasticity and your skin type. Common variations of stretch marks during pregnancy include:
- Indented streaks or lines on the stomach, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body
- Pink, red, black, blue or purple streaks
- Bright streaks that fade to a lighter colour
- Streaks covering large areas of the body
When do stretch marks appear during pregnancy?
Stretch marks have a sneaky way of making their appearance during pregnancy. Typically, these marks start to show up in the later stages, usually during the second trimester.
However, it’s important to note that every woman’s body is unique, and the timing can vary. Some may notice them earlier, while others might not see them until the third trimester. So, keep an eye out for those elusive lines as your belly grows and embrace the marvellous changes happening within.
Again, the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy depends on how fast your skin stretches and how quickly you’ve gained or lost weight.
How to Minimise the Appearance of Stretch Marks
No one likes stretch marks. Unfortunately, if you are genetically prone to it, sometimes there is very little you can do to prevent it. While there is no proven way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, there are some steps to try to minimise how bad the stretch marks will look on your skin.
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Detect them early
Regular massage with vitamin E oil or coconut oil can help keep the elastin and the collagen healthy, preventing stretch marks.
It might sound a little counterintuitive, but the right stretch mark cream can also effectively prevent stretch marks! If you haven’t started using a stretch mark cream yet, it’s best to get one as soon as possible!
Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream uses Lipobelle™ Soyaglycone, which intensively moisturises your skin, increases skin thickness by 12% and fades stretch marks. It’s also good at relieving itching, which is normally a sign that stretch marks are about to appear.
To make the most of this stretch mark cream, it’s best paired with Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Serum. It’s enriched with Alpha Bisabolol which helps disguise stretch marks and regenerate the growth of skin cells. In addition, it’s clinically proven to reduce 72% of stretch marks in 30 days.
Indeed, Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Treatment Series is just what you need to minimise stretch marks and prevent new ones from appearing.
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Exfoliate your skin regularly
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.