Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) are indented streaks on the skin that commonly develop during pregnancy.
They occur when the skin expands rapidly, causing small tears.
Stretch markscan be red, purple, dark brown, white, or silver and often fade.
globalmoments / Getty Images
To lower your risk, aim to gain and lose pregnancy weight slowly.
globalmoments / Getty Images
1.
Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated is important for a healthy pregnancy.
Hydrated, soft skin is less likely to tear and lead to stretch marks.
Try keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day.
Most people assigned female at birth need 72 ounces of water daily, likely more during pregnancy.
Focus on Skin Healthy Foods
Eat a nutritious diet to support your body during pregnancy.
Choose foods rich in the following skin-healthy nutrients:
3.
Try Pregnancy-Safe Exercises
Exerciseis essential for healthy pregnancy weight gain and loss.
Talk with a healthcare provider about a safe exercise plan during pregnancy.
Exercising regularly can help you to gain weight slowly, lowering the risk of stretch marks.
Pregnancy-safe exercises include:
4.
Most products have not been proven effective, so talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new regimen.
Well-hydrated skin is more flexible and less likely to tear.Consider incorporating a quality moisturizer into your daily routine.
Dry-Brush Your Skin
Dry-brushingis a massage with a dry, stiff brush.
Talk with a healthcare provider before trying dry-brushing during pregnancy.
Soak Up the Sun
Vitamin Dis an important nutrient for skin health.
Always wear sunscreen when spending time outdoors, and consider covering your skin with a hat or long-sleeve shirt.
What Causes Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
Pregnancyis a common time for stretch marks because the skin changes rapidly.
During rapid weight gain, the skin is stretched and starts to pull apart.
As the skin heals, scars develop in the form of stretch marks.
Pregnant people are at an increased risk of stretch marks because of hormonal changes.
Higher levels of hormones bring more water into the skin to make it more flexible.
Risk factors for stretch marks include:
During pregnancy, experts recommend gaining 25 to 35 pounds.
Medical Treatment Options
There is no proven way to remove stretch marks altogether.
While some stretch marks are permanent, there are treatment options available.
Stretch marks happen when the skin tears and then heals.
During pregnancy and other rapid weight gain, the skin becomes stretched and tear.
When the skin heals, small scars form as stretch marks.
It is not always possible to prevent stretch marks.
Some prevention strategies include regular moisturizing, daily exercise, and gentle massage.
Schagen SK, Zampeli VA, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC.Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging.Dermatoendocrinol.
2015;2015:640482. doi:10.1155/2015/640482
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Advice about eating fish.
Centers Urgent Care.Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy: What women can do.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Exercise during pregnancy.
Brennan M, Young G, Devane D.Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2012;11(11):CD000066.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000066.pub2
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them.
2012;21(11-12):1570-1576. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04087.x
Rawlings, A. V. (2006).
2014;40(5):537-544. doi:10.1111/dsu.12460
