When do stretch marks appear and what do they look like during pregnancy?

After pregnancy, many women notice that they have stretch marks, especially on the stomach and thighs. The stretch looks different in the photo. The appearance of such trouble after the birth of the baby is facilitated by stretching of the skin on the abdomen during pregnancy. This causes a lot of inconvenience to the fair sex and causes negative emotions. The desire for beauty and aesthetics, for harmony in everything is quite natural for any woman. At the same time, it is quite possible to prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the body if all the required measures are taken in time.

Today there are a considerable number of various remedies, each of which helps to get rid of such an ailment. Such remedies can be used already during pregnancy and continued after childbirth. Treatment of old stretch marks may require more time, but at the same time it is quite possible.

Why and when do stretch marks appear on the stomach?

Stretch marks on the abdomen during pregnancy occur due to excess body weight gain during the 9 months of waiting. Striae are called whitened, old stretch marks, which are very difficult to remove even in cosmetology clinics.

The cosmetic defect appears in the form of uneven stripes of various colors (from purple to white). They appear most often in the upper chest area, above the nipples, on the sides of the abdomen and on the thighs.

The most active period for an expectant mother to gain excess weight is considered to be the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd trimester. It is at this time that the skin experiences maximum stress and stretch marks appear.

A common cause of cracking of the epidermis is:

insufficient hydration;
poor skin nutrition;
abuse of harmful drinks and food throughout pregnancy.

You can avoid defects if you prepare in advance and start using special cosmetics and adjusting your diet.

A good preventative measure is daily moisturizing of the skin of the abdomen.

In what places can they appear?

First, stretch marks on the body appear in the abdominal area. It is this part of the body that constantly increases during the period of waiting for a child. Moreover, such a process can occur quite quickly. The abdomen increases several times, and at the same time the uterus itself grows.

A woman may not notice the appearance of the first stretch marks localized in the abdominal area. Since they are located below, closer to the pubis. Representatives of the fair sex notice them after childbirth, when the belly becomes smaller.

The next area of the body where stretch marks form during pregnancy is the thighs and buttocks. These places are significantly increasing in volume. Stretch marks are localized on the inside and front of the thighs. Striae also appear on the mammary glands. The following changes contribute to this:

the skin of the breast begins to stretch;
the glands become engorged;
the epidermis does not have time to adapt to the changes taking place.

A woman may also find stretch marks in the bust area.

Why do they appear on the sides and hips?

The cause of stretch marks is hormonal internal changes in the body. Due to the active production of the hormone estrogen, the restorative properties of skin cells are weakened, as a result, a woman during pregnancy is faced with such a visual defect. The main factor contributing to this phenomenon is the weakening of the subcutaneous and skin tissue. And if at the same time the fetus is characterized by intensive growth rates, then the formed reserves of fatty tissue lead to severe stretching of the skin.

Large localization of stretch marks on the thighs may be due to the fact that a woman does not monitor her diet at all while expecting a child. She does not always consume healthy and natural products.

Sometimes a failure of blood circulation in the pelvic organs can provoke the formation of stretch marks on the skin surface of the thigh. You can recognize the beginning of the process by a slight tingling and itching of the skin.

Do they appear on the stomach?

The abdomen is one of the most common areas of the body where you can notice stretch marks during pregnancy:

the fruit grows;
the uterus enlarges and rises higher;
tissues are forced to stretch.

And if all these physiological processes occur at an accelerated pace, skin cells are injured and do not have time to recover. Some women avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen. This is due to the individual characteristics of the body and the fact that the fetus itself is not large in size. This may depend on the volume of amniotic fluid.

Causes of appearance on the chest

Many expectant mothers experience stretch marks on their breasts that appear during pregnancy. Against the background of hormonal changes occurring inside the body, the mammary glands can significantly increase in size. The fabric in the bust area is fragile and has the least elasticity. It cannot cope with the load placed on it, it is stretched and injured, which leads to stretch marks.

Can they appear on the legs and ankles?

The appearance of stretch marks on the legs and ankles during pregnancy is rare. However, this is not excluded. Especially if the expectant mother, while expecting a child, does not deny herself anything and does not monitor the calorie content of her daily diet:

weight begins to increase rapidly;
large body weight presses on the lower part;
veins swell;
the calves are filling;
the epidermis is forced to stretch.

In this case, striae are localized on the back of the ankles, rising to the knee joints.

Is it possible to avoid

It is impossible to completely get rid of stretch marks without resorting to plastic surgery. Reducing the visibility and lightening stretch marks is possible only with a long and persistent struggle, using all known means. Therefore, it is important to know how to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy and moisturize your skin.

Prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy includes not only superficial skin care, but also adaptation of diet, lifestyle, sleep and thoughts.

Methods for preventing the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy:

it is important to keep your body weight under control and not gain excess weight by eating sweet and unhealthy foods;
it is necessary to adjust the diet of a pregnant woman: exclude unhealthy and fried foods, remove carbonated sweet waters if possible, focus on the right fats (avocado, fish);
maintain water balance in the body - to maintain it, you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of pure water without gas per day.

When planning to conceive and during pregnancy, when stretch marks appear, a woman should monitor her health, since a deficiency of vital microelements can lead to a deterioration in the appearance, well-being and condition of the skin.

What are stretch marks and why do they occur?

During pregnancy, the skin gradually adapts to the increase in body volume. But often, due to hormone imbalance, the production of elastin and collagen deteriorates. As a result, the skin changes its properties, becomes thinner and loses elasticity, reacting to stretching with micro tears. Another important factor influencing the formation of stretch marks is the genetic predisposition of the skin (thin, rough, inelastic).

At first, stretch marks look like deep blue scars with a purple tint - as a result of recently burst connective tissue, through which the vessels are visible.

After a few weeks, the skin becomes rough and the color of the scars changes to pink. Scars are visible even with intense tanning in the sun or in a solarium.

How to remove stretch marks

After conceiving a child, it is better for a woman to immediately learn how to prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy, since it is completely impossible to remove them. Using modern cosmetics will help make stretch marks less noticeable. When dealing with defects at home, regularity is important, otherwise positive results will not appear.

It is more effective to fight stretch marks at the stage of their appearance

Oils

Vegetable oils nourish the skin, saturating even the deep layers of the epidermis. The modern cosmetology market offers a wide range of specialized oils for the prevention of stretch marks and their reduction. If used incorrectly, natural oil can have the opposite effect and dry out the skin.

Creams

In pharmacies you can find good, inexpensive creams to prevent skin stretching during pregnancy. The effectiveness of such creams is aimed at moisturizing the skin and nourishing the damaged area, so that the strip becomes more elastic.

There is no point in thinking about what is best to use for stretch marks during pregnancy: scrub, oil or cream. Experts recommend approaching the problem in a comprehensive manner, using all means at once:

nourishing the body from the inside with the right fats;
maintaining fluid balance;
replenishment of vitamin deficiency;
skin scrubbing;
use of creams and ointments.

How to prevent stretch marks from appearing?

If your friend who gave birth boasts of the absence of stretch marks, this is not at all because she applied the most expensive cream at the stage of planning her pregnancy. She was just lucky: she had naturally elastic skin. So it will be very wrong on your part to pin your hopes on cosmetics alone: you may miss the moment. But you can’t sit idly by waiting for stretch marks to appear either. If your skin is genetically predisposed to this, you just need to try to slow down the unwanted processes. Like, in principle, any pregnant woman. But in case of predisposition, efforts need to be tripled.

In any case, a pregnant woman is forced to reconsider her diet towards a healthy, wholesome diet. But to prevent the appearance of stretch marks, proteins play a very important role: they synthesize the production of much needed collagen and elastin. You also need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink enough fluids (but do not forget about the possible appearance of edema - control the amount you drink). Pay attention to the intake of vegetable oils, chicken, eggs, cheese, beef, nuts, whole grains, and legumes. But flour and sweet foods are not the best food for you right now.

Among the many vitamins that are so necessary during pregnancy, pay special attention to vitamin E. It removes harmful substances from the body, which, accumulating in connective tissues, contribute to the weakening and reduction of the described properties of the skin. Vitamin E accumulates in the body, so if you take a multivitamin complex for pregnant women, this will be quite enough.

Weight control is very important for many reasons. And to prevent the appearance of stretch marks, weight gain must also be kept within limits. Try not to gain more than 10-11 kilograms during pregnancy and remember that with rapid weight gain, stretch marks appear faster and in greater numbers. Under no circumstances should you eat for two, as loving mothers and grandmothers advise us. And if the doctor does not limit you in physical activity, move a lot.

Around the third month, when your belly begins to noticeably grow, think about maternity underwear. Be sure to wear the “correct” bra with wide straps; a maternity bandage can also prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

Also start cosmetic procedures. Creams and gels against stretch marks are not a panacea, but in combination with other measures they can work in your favor. In the absence of professional products, you can use olive, peach or almond oil. Natural scrubs are good: salt, burnt sugar.

Anti-stretch mark cosmetics stimulate the functioning of cells that produce elastin and collagen necessary for the elasticity and firmness of the skin. In addition, such creams contain nutrients and moisturizing substances, including vitamin E (also found in vegetable oil).

You can prepare an excellent oil against stretch marks yourself: combine half a glass of olive oil and aloe juice, 10 drops of vitamin E and 5 drops of vitamin A. Pour the “cream” into a dark glass container and store in the refrigerator. Rub this oil on your problem areas every day for at least two months and you will notice the results!

Apply the cream with massage movements to risk areas: chest, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, armpits. Alternate stroking and pinching - this tactic gives a good effect and prevents the appearance of stretch marks on the stomach. It is better to rub the chest, thighs and buttocks with a terry towel. It is also useful to massage with a special brush or mitten (ideally a massager). Remember that massage movements are made in the direction of the heart. It is also useful to take a contrast shower, but only if you are not in danger of miscarriage. Warm up under running comfortably warm water, then stand in a hot shower for a few seconds (up to a minute and a half), then switch to a cold shower for a few seconds. Remember that a hot shower should be 2-3 times longer, and you need to finish the procedure with a cold shower. All these activities significantly improve blood circulation and help enhance the necessary properties of the skin.

In general, all preventive measures are aimed, as you can see, at maintaining and improving the firmness and elasticity of connective tissues.

What products are best for smearing?

It is recommended to apply any cosmetic products not only when stretch marks appear on the abdomen, but also at the very beginning of pregnancy, preventing the appearance of defects. Any cream or ointment for stretch marks during pregnancy acts by retaining moisture in the epidermis, moisturizing the skin, and increasing its elasticity.

Many women prepare cosmetics themselves using folk recipes, but the effectiveness of such home remedies has not been proven. Professional creams and oils are easier and more pleasant to use, so it is important to know what is best to apply to the stomach and chest area during pregnancy for stretch marks and dry skin. Modern products are presented in an assortment, so it is better to focus on numerous real reviews.

Mustela

Mustela cream for stretch marks helps well during pregnancy or hormonal imbalances. The product is completely safe for the body of the expectant mother and fetus.

The effectiveness and benefits of Mustela cream for stretch marks during pregnancy:

prevents the appearance of scars and smoothes out stretch marks that have already appeared;
nice smell;
thick consistency;
efficiency;
absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy layer on the skin.

Reviews of the use of Mustela for stretch marks during pregnancy are mostly positive, which confirms the effectiveness of the product.

Mustela cream for stretch marks

Bepanten

Bepanten is a relatively inexpensive remedy for stretch marks used during pregnancy. The ointment is considered a healing medicinal product sold without a prescription. Doctors prescribe Bepanten to heal the skin for various injuries.

Bepanten ointment is recommended for use against stretch marks daily from the first trimester of pregnancy. Lubricate existing stretch marks or areas most susceptible to stretching, twice a day.

Bepanten for stretch marks

Lierak

Many women use Lierak for stretch marks during pregnancy. According to reviews, this is the best product on the market. Despite its effectiveness, the cream has a number of disadvantages:

Strong smell;
poorly absorbed;
rolls down.

Lierak helps make even old stretch marks less pronounced.

Lierac Phytolastil for stretch marks

Weleda

Weleda is a natural oil remedy for stretch marks used during pregnancy. All cosmetics from this company contain natural ingredients. The oil is safe for the health and development of the fetus. When used throughout pregnancy, it prevents skin stretching.

The main advantage of the product in question is its naturalness and safety. You can use the oil an unlimited number of times per day. Recommended to apply to damp skin after shower.

Weleda stretch mark oil

Causes of stretch marks

During pregnancy, a global restructuring occurs in the female body, primarily at the hormonal level. These changes make it difficult to produce collagen and elastin, which are responsible for skin elasticity, which leads to stretch marks. But scientists are in no hurry to draw conclusions: if only this were the cause of the appearance of a defect on the skin, all women would suffer. However, there are lucky women who did not receive a single extra strip during the entire period of bearing a child.

There are other factors for the appearance of stretch marks. These include:

Heredity. In most cases, if stretch marks have passed the female half of your family, then they will pass you too.
Late pregnancy. After 35, the body's recovery processes slow down.
Short period between pregnancies. Due to sudden changes in weight, the skin does not have time to adapt, which can lead to the appearance of stretch marks.
Large intensive weight gain. The human body is unique, and the skin has the ability to stretch without visible consequences. However, during intensive growth over a short period, it simply does not have time to adapt, and tears occur, leading to stretch marks.
Bad habits reduce the elasticity of the skin, making it dry.
Poor nutrition. A pregnant woman's food should be varied. The diet must contain the required amount of protein.
A sedentary lifestyle reduces skin tone.

All this refers to the so-called risk factors that can affect the appearance of stretch marks, but the main reason lies elsewhere.

What can you do to get rid of your belly after childbirth?

Some women, after discovering stretch marks on their stomach, do not know what to do with them and how to reduce their severity.

What, besides creams, helps against stretch marks during pregnancy:

massage using a dry brush with natural bristles (you need to start the massage on dry skin from the bottom up);
it is important to drink enough clean water every day to maintain the body’s water balance;
Moisturizing the skin should be a top priority in care; you should pay special attention to the lower abdomen, skin on the thighs and chest.

It is important to monitor your diet and introduce foods into your daily diet that help nourish the epidermis!

After giving birth, it is important to lose weight gradually; a sudden loss of body weight can lead to the formation of new stretch marks.

Treatment methods

It is very difficult to get rid of existing stripes. At the present stage of development of medicine, there are 2 ways:

dermabrasion - involves scraping the upper layer of the dermis, which refreshes the overall condition and makes the skin smoother. Resurfacing is performed with crystals that are under pressure, but at the same time stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
laser surgery, an expensive procedure that, in the early stages of stretch marks, thanks to a pulsed laser, changes the pigmentation of the skin.

The success and duration of the laser method depends on age, and during the process a woman may experience minor pain.
The most effective method will be to prevent stretching of the epidermis immediately after conception. The use of special creams, contrast showers and massage will significantly reduce the likelihood of sprains. The main remedy in the fight against the occurrence of stretch marks is the normalization of nutrition. Consuming large amounts of fiber, vitamins and microelements will strengthen the epidermis, making the surface firm and elastic.

Prenatal prevention measures

By following important skin care rules, you can prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the body.
How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy:

it is necessary to monitor weight gain, it should be gradual;
You can’t go on strict diets or overeat junk food;
drink more pure water without sugar and dyes;
walk more in the fresh air;
use natural cosmetics;
exfoliate dead skin cells more often.

Creams for stretch marks should be applied two to three times a day, and be sure to apply oils or ointments at night after a shower.

What is the best thing to use for stretch marks?

There are a huge number of remedies for preventing the appearance of stretch marks. However, everything can be divided into three categories:

cream;
oils;
masks.

They are sold in specialized stores and pharmacies. When choosing a cream, pay attention to its composition. It’s good if it contains vitamins A and E, retinol, elastin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, jojoba and shea butter, amino acids and essential oils.

Read: Feelings in the first week of pregnancy

The following varieties of oils are popular among expectant mothers:

grape seed oil;
wheat germ oil;
olive oil;
Castor oil;
rapeseed oil;
almond oil;
Coconut oil;
cacao butter.

Additionally, you can use special masks: yeast, grape, clay, aloe mask and many others. You can buy them or prepare them yourself.

The secret to the success of all these cosmetic procedures is their regularity. If you forget to smear your body every day, it won't do any good. It is better to use remedies for stretch marks from the earliest stages. And even if they still appear, thanks to creams and oils, their number will be much smaller, and the strips themselves will look more neat. And, most importantly, remember that stretch marks are just a cosmetic defect that does not affect pregnancy, so don’t be too upset.

Video about fighting stretch marks:

May 22, 2020 Valeria 218

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Discussion: 8 comments

Talkova:
05/22/2018 at 11:33
I used a special cream, but with a natural composition, for stretch marks. And, of course, in addition to the “light” diet, I did morning warm-up and gymnastics every day, and also went to my trainer in the fitness room on Saturdays.
Answer
Anya:
05/23/2018 at 12:41
I didn’t develop a single stretch mark during pregnancy, apparently due to the condition of my skin before pregnancy and good heredity. But during the year, while the child was on guard, many stretch marks appeared on the chest, and no means helped to avoid this.
Answer
Natasha:
05/25/2018 at 00:16
It seems to me that the main thing is heredity, they also advise not to overeat while pregnant, so that the fetus is not too large and it is easier to give birth to a child, and therefore there will be fewer stretch marks.
Answer
Nadia:
05/27/2018 at 00:08
Neither I nor my mother had any stretch marks after giving birth; I carried two children and, fortunately, did not have any such problems. A friend recently gave birth to a very large boy, and she has stretch marks.
Answer
Dina:
05/27/2018 at 14:28
I had very good abs, I worked out every day and could do more than 100 reps in one approach. That’s why I didn’t have any stretch marks on my stomach at all. But they remained on the chest (under the bottom). I probably should have done a contrast shower; I heard from the girls that it really helps.
Answer
Marina:
10/13/2018 at 23:20
I used a special cream for stretch marks during pregnancy, but I applied it when I remembered, everything was ok throughout the pregnancy, and 2 weeks before giving birth they suddenly appeared, one stretch mark after another, by the time I gave birth my entire stomach was covered in stretch marks. It seems to me that the problem is not in the cream, but in heredity and the amount of fluid consumed during pregnancy.
Answer
Katyusha:
01/07/2019 at 02:34
For as long as I can remember, I started getting stretch marks before I was pregnant. Even then, on the doctor’s advice, I began to rub moisturizing creams into problem areas. I also heard that you can get rid of stretch marks with laser removal.
Answer
Yuna:
03/17/2020 at 00:32
Read also: How to strengthen blood vessels on the face and remove redness. What causes the problem?
I got stretch marks when I was a teenager, there’s no way to get rid of them, if they appeared during pregnancy I think it’s the same thing, I just have to accept it and move on with my life.
Answer

Conclusion

So, is it possible to remove stretch marks?

immediately after childbirth so that they disappear forever.
This can be done with the help of special creams, physical exercises and wraps. After 6 months after giving birth, a woman can also contact an experienced cosmetologist who will prescribe her a course of effective procedures. It is worth noting that the
sooner a woman begins to fight striae, the easier it will be for her to get rid of this defect. How fertilization of a woman's egg occurs can be found in the link.