How to Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Pregnancy stretch marks are a common occurrence – 90% of women get stretch marks from pregnancy [1] so you are not alone. While pregnancy stretch marks are hard to avoid and will most likely never completely disappear, you can reduce their appearance with the right approach. Read on to find the best stretch mark therapy for pregnancy. 

At a glance:

• Stretch marks are a perfectly normal part of pregnancy
• Pamper your skin during pregnancy – don’t worry about stretch marks!
• Look for products containing the right ingredients – and avoid others.

Contents:

• Why do I get stretch marks from pregnancy?
• How can you prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?
• How can you care for stretch marks after pregnancy?
• How do I find the best stretch mark prevention product for me?

Why do I get stretch marks from pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the most common times for stretch marks. Particularly during the sixth or seventh month, hormonal changes weaken the connective tissue while the growing baby stretches the belly.

When the skin is stretched too fast for the underlying connective tissue to keep up, it can rupture and cause a type of scar – the stretch mark^[1].  Consequently, up to 90% of women get stretch marks during pregnancy^[2,3].

How can you prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?

Don’t let worries about stretch marks overshadow your pregnancy! Instead, take the opportunity to pamper your skin during this exciting time by keeping it well hydrated and supple.

You can directly support the skin of your belly and breasts by regularly massaging with rehydrating oils or creams several times a day.

As a tip: ask your partner to do this from time to time – it will give them the opportunity to connect with the baby and give you a well-deserved pampering.

How can you care for stretch marks after pregnancy?

Stretch marks do not completely disappear with time, but there are definite benefits to using creams, lotions, gels or oils to keep skin moisturised throughout and after pregnancy – and even during your daily routine. The rule stands: the earlier you start, the better the results.

How do I find the best stretch mark prevention product for me?

The most common products for preventing or caring for stretch marks are heavy moisturisers containing collagen-boosting ingredients, such as hyaluronic acids, as well as soothing and moisturising components^[4,5].

Some typical ingredients to look for in a cream to effectively care for stretch marks are:

• Soothing vitamin E or nut butters, such as cocoa, coconut, or shea butter
• Moisturising plant extracts, such as aloe vera, onion, or cica (centella asiatica)
• Essential oils, such as lavender, jasmine, rose hip, rosemary or chamomile

Some creams also contain collagen stimulating compounds, such as hyaluronic acid or hydrolysed collagen supplements to improve skin texture by tightening and plumping your skin.

Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy and breast feeding are:

• Vitamin A
• Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives), such as tretinoin or retinol
• Parabens

If using on the breasts, please make sure that there is no product or any ingredients on the nipples before breastfeeding.

Finally, you should choose a product that feels best to you, whose fragrance you like and that fits your budget:

• Which texture should it be? gel?
• Do you like a light scent? Maybe you have a pregnancy-related aversion and would rather go fragrance-free.
• How much do you want to spend on this product?

Summary

Don’t let your stretch marks get you down – they’re a perfectly normal part of pregnancy. See it instead as an opportunity to splash out and pamper your skin with the love and care it deserves. A range of products is available that can help moisturise and soothe your skin, which can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks at the same time.

References