Stretch marks in pregnancy: what to do?

Stretch marks during pregnancy are a very common problem, affecting about 90% of expectant mothers . Usually, they tend to appear in the second half of pregnancy , especially on the belly and breasts .

To prevent them, it is important to avoid sudden weight gains and take care of your diet and lifestyle . Furthermore, to reduce the risk of developing them, it can be useful to moisturize the skin daily with a good anti-stretch mark cream , almond oil or other vegetable oils.

Stretch marks in pregnancy: how to recognize them?

At the beginning, stretch marks appear as pink, red or purplish streaks , with a linear or branching pattern,  and are  often associated with a sensation of tension , itching or a slight burning . In their most advanced stage, however, they take on a white or silvery colour .

Usually, they are mainly located on the belly and breasts , due to the increase in volume that occurs during pregnancy, but they can also affect the buttocks , hips and thighs .

Stretch marks from pregnancy: when do they appear and how long do they last?

Stretch marks from pregnancy usually appear between the sixth and eighth month . Unfortunately these are permanent blemishes and therefore do not resolve after childbirth , even if they can fade over time and therefore improve in appearance.

Stretch marks in pregnancy: what do they cause?

During pregnancy, the progressive enlargement of the breasts and abdomen, together with weight gain, subject the skin to intense and continuous stretching . This tension can cause the elastic fibers of the dermis, i.e. the deepest layer of the skin, to break: stretch marks are nothing more than the body’s attempt to repair these “tears” through a healing process .

A rapid or excessive weight gain , a twin pregnancy , a very large fetus or a high amount of amniotic fluid can accentuate skin distension and therefore contribute to the appearance of stretch marks.

In addition,  genetic predisposition plays an important role in their formation, which however is also favored by hormonal factors. Progesterone and relaxin , for example, stimulate tissue relaxation , contributing to their relaxation. On the other hand,  cortisol ( produced in abundance between the sixth and eighth month) reduces collagen formation and therefore makes the skin less elastic .

First pregnancy without stretch marks: what about the second?

Although genetic predisposition plays a role in the formation of stretch marks during pregnancy, it is not the only factor involved.

Age , weight gain , bump size , diet , and lifestyle can all contribute to the appearance of this blemish. For this reason, the fact that you didn’t have stretch marks during your first pregnancy doesn’t protect you from developing them in your second (or subsequent) pregnancy.

How to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy?

Since these are imperfections of a permanent nature, acting on prevention is essential, even if genetic predisposition can prove to be a very difficult factor to counteract.

Here are 5 useful strategies to try to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy.

1. Check the balance

Excessive caloric intake can lead to sudden weight gain, which does not allow the tissues to gradually adapt to relaxation, favoring the appearance of stretch marks.

2. Take care of your diet

A balanced diet, rich in fruit , vegetables , legumes , fish and vegetable oils , will promote skin regeneration. In addition, the intake of Vitamin C (contained for example in citrus fruits) will promote the formation and absorption of collagen , making the skin more toned and elastic.

3. Drink more

During pregnancy it is recommended to introduce about two liters of water a day . In order not to accentuate nighttime urination or  heartburn, however , it is better to limit the intake before bedtime and during meals.

4. Keep active

Moderate physical exercise , in addition to preventing excessive weight gain, will promote cell renewal and tissue tonicity .

5. Moisturize the skin

The use of almond oil during pregnancy  can help combat the dryness and itching that often accompanies stretch marks in their early stages. Other widely used vegetable oils are argan oil , coconut oil , shea oil  (or  shea butter  ) and even olive oil .

There are also plenty of anti-stretch mark creams on the market to use during pregnancy, which can help hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, exert an antioxidant effect and stimulate collagen production and cellular repair.

To increase the effect, the advice is to apply them on slightly damp skin , after a bath or shower.

However, be careful to use only products that are compatible with pregnancy (or breastfeeding, if you are breastfeeding).

Stretch marks in pregnancy: the remedies

While unsightly, these skin changes are not a medical problem . 

“Serious” or particularly unwelcome stretch marks, however, can be eliminated by means of drugs or aesthetic medicine treatments , which allow the scar tissue to be removed and to stimulate the repair of damaged tissues.

However, these therapies are not recommended in pregnant women , and therefore can only be started after childbirth and once breastfeeding has ended .

Medicines

Most stretch mark medications are based on vitamin A derivatives .

These preparations should never be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. In addition, they must be prescribed by the doctor and taken according to his instructions.

The most common products are based on  tretinoin (Retin-A) , a form of synthetic vitamin A. Tretinoin creams with concentrations greater than 0.05% have been shown  to improve pregnancy stretch marks by up to 47% .

Other medicines against stretch marks are represented by:

• silicone or collagen -based gel
• hyaluronic acid creams
• creams containing at least 20% glycolic acid
• creams containing at least 10% ascorbic acid
• creams containing 0.05% retinoic acid

These preparations work by stimulating the production of collagen and cell growth , as well as improving the elasticity and hydration of the skin.

Aesthetic medicine treatments

Laser therapy is the only treatment proven to significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This method uses beams of light to break up scar tissue and stimulate damaged tissue.

Unfortunately, this is an expensive therapy, requiring up to 20 sessions over several weeks to achieve a 20-60% reduction in the appearance of stretch marks.

Other treatments include:

• collagen injection
• advanced radiofrequency techniques
• microdermabrasion
• cosmetic surgery to remove or replace scars with new skin