Stretch Marks Are A Common Annoyance During Pregnancy Here’s A Trimester
Stretch marks develop in nine out of ten pregnancies, usually in the sixth or seventh month. These pinkish streaks around stomachs, breasts, or hips happen when collagen and elastin stretch and snap during pregnancy due to the pressure of rapid weight gain. You have the best chance of reducing the appearance of stretch marks when they’re new. Once scars fade to white, they’re extremely difficult to treat.
Whether you get them depends mostly on your pregnancy and your genetics, says dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D. If your mom or grandma developed stretch marks, you’re more likely to get them too. While there’s no surefire way to prevent stretch marks, these tips can keep them to a minimum during your pregnancy.
The Best Stretch Marks Creams And Oils For 2021 Are:
- Best overall Pai the gemini pomegranate and pumpkin seed 2-step stretch mark system: £49, Lookfantastic.com
- Best beauty editor favourite Hatch Mama belly oil: £58, Harveynichols.com
- Best for ethical ingredient sourcing Typology stretch marks gel-to-oil with baobab oil: £26.20, Typology.com
- Best for pregnancy Weleda stretch mark massage oil: £16.69, Feelunique.com
- Best for easy application Clarins body partner: £40.24, Feelunique.com
- Best for a treat Omorovicza firming body oil: £55, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best for new mums Science of Skin solution for stretch marks: £39.99, Scienceofskin.com
- Best for those with eczema or hypersensitive skin Dermatology M ultra rich vitamin E 10% intensive face and body cream: £42, Dermatology-m.com
- Best for both old and new stretch marks Nuture nourishing skin treatment cream : £12.99, Nutureskin.com
- Best for post baby belly Coco and Eve bounce body masque 212m: £39.99, Asos.com
- Best cream or oil duo Burts Bees mama bee duo: £21.48,
- Best for on a budget Kit & Kin stretch mark oil: £9.99, Kitandkin.com
- Best for a floral scent Elemis japanese camellia body oil blend: £40, Lookfantastic.com
- Best scent-free Neals Yard mothers balm: £20, Johnlewis.com
- Best cold cream Mama Mio tummy rub trio: £43, Mioskincare.co.uk
- Best for all over body application Dr Lipp BBF balm: £11.26, Justmylook.com
- Best for a tried and true product Bio-Oil: £16.99, Boots.com
Neutrogena Lightweight Body Oil Defies Genetics
I dont think its genetics. My mom was loaded with stretch marks on her little tummy. My tummy stretched a ton and I didnt get any . I was too nauseated the first four months to use anything. Afterward, I used Neutrogena Body Oil. I used it before I was married, and 20 years later, Im still using it. And my little girl said it makes me smell like I did when she was a baby. Mary Fetzer, SheKnows writer and blogger
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Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about womens health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles.
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Its no secret that with pregnancy often comes the possibility of stretch marks. In addition to making some people feel self-conscious, all of the stretching skin can also be very uncomfortable for pregnant people, and a high-quality stretch mark cream can often help in both of these situations.
How Common Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks
As mentioned above, more than half of pregnant people develop stretch marks, meaning there’s a decent chance of having no pregnancy stretch marks. Likewise, itâs also possible to experience minimal pregnancy stretch marks on your stomach, breasts, thighs, or other parts of your body. Regardless, there are a few risk factors concerning pregnancy stretch marks:
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Being pregnant at a younger age
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Rapidly gaining weight during pregnancy
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Using corticosteroids during pregnancy
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Having certain genetic disorders .
If you fall into any of the categories above, you have a higher risk of developing pregnancy stretch marks.
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Hatch Collection Belly Oil
This belly oil intensely hydrates the skin, reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars. Created with moms in mind, the oil is free from parabens, phthalates, dyes and fragrances. The nourishing blend of calendula, sweet almond and grapefruit oil is packed full of antioxidants and skin-boosting goodness. Add a couple of drops to a warm bath or apply it directly to the bum, bust, belly or thighs to combat stretch marks.
What we love:
- Some customers found the citrus scent off-putting
- Takes several pumps to get enough product
Buy it: $17, Walmart.com
How Likely Am I To Get Stretch Marks When Pregnant
Stretch marks are quite common during pregnancy with about 90% of women seeing them sometime during pregnancy, according to Dr. Vergara-Wijangco. Genetics plays a role as well, so if your mom had them, you are more likely to get them too.Younger moms tend to get more stretch marks, presumably because their skin is firmer.
Most women begin to see stretch marks appear around the end of their second trimester, according to Dr. Engelman. “Some women start seeing stretch marks even earlier, and some may not get stretch marks at all. Stretch marks are dependent on each individual womans body and how it grows during pregnancy.”
The color of your stretch marks may vary depending upon your skin tone. “If you have a lighter complexion, you will tend to develop pinkish stretch marks. skin tones tend to get stretch marks that are lighter than their skin tone,” says Dr. Vegara Wijangco.
Stretch marks can appear differently on the skin due to the age and severity of the mark. “Newer marks tend to be darker, while older marks may be more faded,” notes Dr. Engelman.
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Massage Your Belly With Oil To Protect Your Skin
Massaging your skin with oil can break up the scar tissue that causes stretch marks to stick around long after pregnancy. You can use coconut oil, Vitamin E oil, or a serum specially formatted for pregnant people like Everedens Golden Belly Serum.
Marula oil and centella asiatica, which are my two favorites, help to hydrate and provide the skin with lipids and fatty acids while also promoting the skins own production of its lipids by stimulating the keratinocytes, which are the skin cells on the top most layer of the skin, says Dr. Sarina.
A lipid barrier is at the top-most layer of your skin, protecting you from harmful toxins. When the lipid barrier is weak or damaged, it can lead to skin issues like dryness, itchiness, and irritation. Applying oil to your belly rejuvenates your skins lipid barrier and helps create those natural oils that protect your skin.
Using oil on your itchy stretch marks also reduces the friction between your hands and your belly so you dont end up doing more damage. And massaging increases your skins elasticity, helping it to withstand further stretching.
What Are Stretch Marks And How Do They Form
Stretch marks are basically small scars located in the middle layer of your skin that are visible in the top layer of skin . They form when rapid weight gain or hormonal changes stretch the skin beyond its ability to repair itself. Thats why theyre called stretch marks.Your skin has an amazing ability to stretch and adapt thanks to its collagen and elastin fibers. But when your skin stretches too fast or too far, it can tear slightly. When this happens, your body will immediately start working to heal the new scars. Despite our bodys natural defense mechanisms, small scars can still show up once everything is healed.
Any sort of quick weight gain or rapid growth spurt can lead to stretch marks, which means stretch marks arent just for pregnant womenStretch marks are most often associated with pregnancy because pregnancy hormones, like cortisol and estrogen, reduce the activity and effectiveness of the fibroblasts in your skin. This, in turn, reduces the collagen and elastin that give your skin its stretchiness. Couple that with your growing belly, thighs, and chest, and conditions are just right for stretch marks to form.
Every womans body and every pregnancy is different, but if you do develop stretch marks, youll probably start noticing them at the end of the second trimester or sometime during the third trimester. They usually form on a pregnant moms stomach, thighs, bottom, hips, and chest.
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Earth Mama Belly Butter
Price: $$This lightweight, creamy body butter aims to prevent and relieve dry, itchy skin without leaving a greasy residue. Free of petroleum, parabens, and artificial fragrances, this lush lotion is formulated with organic herbs and oils geared especially toward preventing stretch marks, such as aloe and shea butter.Since its been clinically tested for irritation, its ideal for people who have skin sensitivities. Many reviewers prone to rashes, eczema, or breakouts report that they were able to use this cream with success, and a handful say its light, refreshing scent is reminiscent of a Creamsicle or fruity cereal.
How Do You Treat Your Itchy Stretch Marks
When my stretch marks appeared, I thought they were just something that happened to every pregnant person. I didnt think there was anything I could do about them. To a certain extent I was right.
The predisposition to developing certain types of scar tissues is genetic, explains Dr. Sarina Elmariah, a board certified dermatologist, instructor in dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and a scientific advisor of baby- and pregnancy-safe skincare line Evereden.
The genes that encode everything are still being understood, she continues. You may have a natural predisposition to developing scars or stretch marks.
Though they may be inevitable for some, there are options available to help you manage your itchy stretch marks. The following methods can help heal your skin and relieve the itch.
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One Love Organics Skin Savior
So this technically isnt formulated for stretch marks, but I started using it on my belly right after having Stella and it helped so much. Its formulated with coconut oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, mango butter, and a bunch of other plant-based ingredients. I originally got it as a cleansing balm, but since its so hydrating, I figured Id try it on my stretch marks and I fell in love with it. Its packed full of antioxidants so it can effectively protect and repair skin. A little bit goes such a long way, so one jar will literally last for 6+ months.
Will These Stretch Marks Ever Go Away
Well, sorry to disappoint you but stretch marks dont go away per se. But yes, may lighten over a period of time thus reducing the stress of a new mommy. You may do the following to reduce and lighten the marks. You may apply coconut water on the affected area let it dry till you feel your skin is stretching. Once you feel the stretch you can either apply aloe vera gel or shea butter on the affected area or then rinse off the area with water, post that you can apply some moisturizer to soothe the skin. This will help you in lightening the stretch marks.
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Easy Ways To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
January 7, 2020 By Megan I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post. See more details here.
We all dread them. and yet we are told there is nothing we can do to prevent stretch marks. Its genetic. You either get them or you dont. Though I dont completely disagree with this statement, I know there are things you can do to prevent stretch marks. Perhaps some peoples skin is miraculously more stretchy than yours but if you are genetically predisposed to stretch marks there are still options for you.
Stretch marks are something we generally accept as a given. You either have elastic skin or not. If you are lucky enough to have elastic skin you wont get stretch marks right? Wrong.Of course there is something you can do about stretch marks that is if you can change the elasticity of your skin. So how do we do it?
I have taken a lot of this information from the e-book Bump to Birth. This is a wonderful resource for mothers to be looking for more natural cures for all your pregnancy ailmentsincluding stretch marks.
Best For Preventing Stretch Marks: Mustela Maternite Stretch Marks Prevention Cream
All my friends and friends of friends that used Mustela swear by it. I used it day and night with my firstborn and didn’t have one stretch mark. Pregnant again and using it again.
This best kept secret cream from French brand Mustela is a bit of a gem. They also do a serum and an oil.
Designed to help prevent the appearance of stretch marks in pregnancy, this cream smooths on to increase skin hydration and therefore elasticity as well as help your bump feel more comfortable.
If youre feeling turned off certain smells during pregnancy, youll be pleased to hear this cream is also available in a non-scented version.
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Are Stretch Marks Painful Or Dangerous
If youve never had stretch marks before, you might wonder if theyre painful or dangerous. The good news is that while theyre unsightly, stretch marks are neither painful nor dangerous.
In fact, the majority of women will get stretch marks during their pregnancy . And theyre no worse for the wear!
If you have the urge to scratch your stretch marks, this is also common. Itchy stretch marks probably mean you have dry, itchy skin.
But another cause of itching is a pregnancy rash called PUPPP or PEP. This itchy rash begins in stretch marks and spreads to other areas. While its fairly common, doctors arent quite sure what causes PUPPP.
Regardless, this annoying rash is harmless to both mom and baby and goes away by itself within a couple of weeks after delivery.
But enough of the technical stuff! Lets get to the best ways to reduce the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.
Avoid Sudden Weight Gain Or Loss
Avoiding rapid weight changes and working toward healthy and gradual weight gain during pregnancy are also helpful.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that those who have a healthy weight before pregnancy should gain 25 to 35 pounds of total weight before giving birth.
If stretch marks are severe or interfering with a persons mental well-being, treatment options are available.
People can see a doctor who specializes in treating stretch marks to learn about possible solutions and ways to reduce their appearance.
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What To Look For In A Good Pregnancy Stretch Mark Cream
There are certain qualities you want to look for in a good stretch mark cream to make sure your skin is cared for and stays moisturised.
Oil or cream? Many mums prefer to choose an oil over a cream, as they provide additional moisturisation and keep the skin hydrated but, many women prefer the feeling of a cream on their skin. Oils can often get on your clothes, too using a cream avoids that hassle.
Choose a hypoallergenic variety: Hypoallergenic stretch mark creams are best if you have sensitive skin or any allergies, and when you’re pregnant you might find your skin reacting differently to normal. Hypoallergenic brands won’t have dyes or fragrances that could irritate.
Hydration is key: Using a stretch mark cream is all about keeping the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid and ceramides are great for moisturising.
Keep it calm: Soothe your skin with shea butter or cocoa butter ingredients these are great if you’re suffering with itchy skin – a common complaint in pregnancy.
Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter
First up on our list of the best stretch mark creams is this nourishing belly butter by Mama Mio. Specifically designed for pregnancy, the creamy formula is infused with coconut oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter and vitamin E. Better yet, its clinically proven to boost skin elasticity and moisture. Happy customers report that this cream helps prevent stretch marks and soothe itchy, taut skin during pregnancy. Its also vegan, dermatologically tested and free from silicone, parabens and artificial fragrances. Is it any wonder this pick won a Best of Pregnancy award in 2022?
What we love:
- 98 percent of moms agree that their skin felt supple and more elastic after use
- The cream absorbs quickly and isnt sticky
What to consider:
- Some customers dont like the natural scent
Buy it: $34, Dermstore.com
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When To See A Doctor
You should talk to your doctor if your stretch marks cover a large part of your body or if you are concerned about how your skin looks.
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