It's common to get stretch marks during pregnancy, usually on the abdomen, thighs and breasts, but also in other areas. There is no treatment proven to prevent stretch marks. Stretch marks won't disappear, but they will fade over time.
You can't completely prevent stretch marks from appearing during pregnancy, but there are some things you can do to help reduce the chances of getting them. Plus, don't worry too much, because pregnancy stretch marks usually fade with time.
Researchers have found that products containing centella or hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks. Centella is an herb, and our skin naturally contains hyaluronic acid.
While stretch marks generally become visible during the last trimester of pregnancy (around the sixth or seventh month), some women will start to see them forming as soon as their bellies start growing.
Factors like the use of creams or lotion, diet, and lifestyle also play a role in the outcome. Therefore, the information obtained from your skin genetic report can be used to tailor your diet and lifestyle to lower the risk of stretch marks. Most people follow a skincare routine for better skin.
The first sign you notice might be itchiness around an area where the skin is becoming thinner. Stretch marks are not harmful. They do not cause medical problems and there is no specific treatment for them. After your baby is born, the marks may gradually fade into paler scars and become less noticeable.
Bio‑Oil® provides a comprehensive skincare solution for use throughout pregnancy, and has been used safely by pregnant women for over 20 years to help improve the appearance of stretch marks and scars. Its unique formulation works to maximize the skin's elasticity, and helps the skin stay well-hydrated and supple.
Does Bio-Oil Skincare Oil Help With Stretch Marks? While stretch marks are permanent, Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is formulated to help improve their appearance. A product — such as Bio-Oil Skincare Oil — specifically formulated to help keep the skin supple and moist may help reduce the possibility of stretch marks forming.
Anyone Can Get Them
An estimated 50% to 90% of women have them, but men can get them, too. It's also common for teen girls (breasts, thighs, hips, or buttocks) and boys (lower backs or hips) to get stretch marks during growth spurts.
Research shows nine out of 10 women develop stretch marks during pregnancy—usually in the sixth or seventh month, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.
Try massaging the affected areas at least twice daily (and every time you get out of the shower) throughout your pregnancy. This ritual will help moisturize, firm, and maximize the skin's elasticity to allow it to stretch easier over time.
To limit these effects, try to gain weight slowly and steadily during pregnancy. You can do this by: Eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, seeds, and nuts. These foods all contain nutrients that are thought to help keep your skin healthy.
Bio-Oil helps to improve the appearance of existing stretch marks formed during pregnancy, teenage growth spurts or periods of rapid weight gain. Although it is more effective on newer stretch marks, older stretch marks will also show some improvement with regular use of Bio-Oil.
During pregnancy your hormones can soften the fibres of your skin, making it more prone to stretch marks. You may get stretch marks on your tummy as your baby grows and your skin stretches.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into the stretch marks, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. During pregnancy, it should be applied from the start of the second trimester to areas that are prone to stretch marks such as the abdomen, breasts, lower back, hips, buttocks and thighs.
According to some studies, Bio-Oil can be effective in helping to improve the appearance of stretch marks. It is said to take three months before you start noticing a difference, but some people report visible results after four weeks of consistent use.
By applying a product twice daily throughout pregnancy, your skin will remain well-hydrated and better able to stretch.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
People with deeper skin tones tend to get less stretch marks because darker skins are more flexible than paler skin types, but that doesn't mean stretch marks are completely avoidable.
Before stretch marks begin to emerge, the skin can appear thin and pink. It may also feel irritated or itchy. The marks initially develop as wrinkly, raised streaks that can be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown or dark brown, depending on skin color.