Pregnancy Stretch Marks - Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Highlights:  What are stretch marks? What causes stretch marks during pregnancy? What type of stretch marks occur during pregnancy? How to remove pregnancy stretch marks? What are some effective home remedies for stretch marks? Do ayurvedic skincare products help in reducing pregnancy stretch marks? Conclusion

After having a kid, many things change, including your routine, how much sleep you get, and how free you feel.

The many bodily changes you'll notice go along with a shifting routine. Stretch marks are the most notable one. These marks are as much a part of having a baby for many mothers as diapers and feedings are.

Stretch Marks can have a red, purple, or silver outlook. A stretch mark removal cream is a primary requirement typically during pregnancy, but it can help you during any stage of life. 

Some individuals are more vulnerable to stretch marks. Typically these markings develop on the:

• Chest
• Hips
• Thighs
• Belly
• Bottom

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are scarring that develops when your skin stretches or contracts with short notice. Pregnancy, abrupt weight gain or loss, and body building are all common causes. Dermabrasion, micro-needling, retinol lotions, and laser resurfacing treatments are some cosmetic treatments available. The natural treatments include stretch mark removal cream, stretch mark oil, stretch marks lotion and natural oil massage.

What causes stretch marks during pregnancy?

Changes in the elastic supporting tissue beneath the skin give rise to stretch marks. Depending on your skin tone, the skin of your tummy and breasts may develop streaks of reddish brown, purple, or dark brown. Some women furthermore experience them on their hips, thighs, and buttocks.

No known treatments can help stretch marks disappear or prevent them from developing. As your tummy swells, keeping it well-hydrated may help to lessen itching.Therefore using stretch mark removal cream, which hydrates the skin, is of prime importance during pregnancy. 

Some of the streaks and stretch marks may gradually lose colour after your child is born. It may vary from person to person when stretch marks start to show during pregnancy, despite what you may be wondering. 

Usually, stretch marks rapidly appear later in pregnancy due to the skin stretching due to weight increase. Moreover, the skin around the stomach expands to make room for the developing baby and growing uterus, leading to stretch marks.

What week do stretch marks usually appear in pregnancy?

While some pregnant women experience stretch marks as early as the second trimester, others may not appear until the final few weeks of the third trimester. Some fortunate women have none at all.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict with certainty which category you will belong to. However, besides weight gain, the following factors could make you more likely to get stretch marks:

1. Hormonal imbalance

If you produce more cortisol than usual naturally, the stretch mark odds are marginally high for you. Collagen, a protein in the dermis that maintains the flexibility of your skin fibres, is decreased by cortisol in your skin. This causes the formation of stretch marks.

2. Genetic cause

Did your mother have stretch marks during pregnancy? Given that your skin type is inherited and some are inherently more elastic than others, if she did, likely, you will also.

What are some early signs of stretch marks?

According to dermatologists, hormonal shifts can make the skin more brittle and prone to ripping. History may repeat itself if you see adolescent scars on your hips, tummy, breasts, and buttocks.

Depending on the colour of your skin, stretch marks first tend to be red, then turn reddish-brown or dark brown. Early stretch marks can itch and feel somewhat elevated. A stretch mark removal cream will soothe the skin and reduce the itching and irritation.

What type of stretch marks occur during pregnancy?

Striae gravidarum is the stretch mark variant that women deal with during pregnancy. These formations, categorised as secondary to striae distensae, are most noticeable on a pregnant woman's belly, breasts, and thighs. They usually appear around the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy, but they can occasionally appear as early as 24 weeks.

Stretch mark formations may also be visible on a pregnant woman's upper arms, hips, and buttocks. Beginning as striae rubrae, these stretch marks progress into linear hypopigmented depressions that frequently have fine creases.

Pregnancy-related physiological and hormonal changes are primarily responsible for decreased or weakened elastin fibres and fibrillin microfibrils (a glycoprotein) in the dermis. Stretch marks in pregnant women now have a more parallel pattern of appearance (frequently forming side by side) rather than a perpendicular alignment.

Luckily, stretch marks developed after pregnancy does tend to diminish, maturing after a year or two (postpartum). However, stretch marks typically do not totally go away but could be lightened and eased off with stretch mark removal cream.

Can stretch marks be avoided during pregnancy?

The best strategy for pregnant women to avoid stretch marks is to gain weight progressively during pregnancy. Together with your healthcare professional, you can develop a diet and exercise regimen that will keep you from gaining too much weight while providing you with the nutrition you need to take care of both you and your unborn child. However, you may be relieved to learn that stretch marks will eventually fade if you get them while pregnant. The red or pink colour will become light silver or white over time.  Using stretch mark removal cream and stretch marks lotion will hydrate the skin, helping in fading away the scars.

How to remove pregnancy stretch marks?

Although it may be challenging to prevent stretch marks, numerous treatments can help decrease their visibility. Here we have discussed some:

1. Apply retinoid cream

A topical drug derived from vitamin A is retinoid cream. Applying retinoids may make your skin look better, especially if your stretch marks are still relatively new. 

This stretch mark removal cream improves the appearance of your skin's collagen and makes the marks less noticeable. If you are pregnant or nursing, talk to your doctor about this cream. . Most doctors concur that topical retinoids should not be taken during pregnancy or while nursing because the benefits fail to outweigh the risks. There are plant based Vitamin A /  retinoid stretch mark removal creams. The risks with natural creams will be far less than chemical creams.

2. Think about a laser therapy

Another method for minimising stretch marks is laser therapy. Advanced medical technologies allow your skin's collagen or elastin to grow more quickly. There are different kinds of laser therapy, and your doctor can assist you in deciding which one is best for you. Again, these are all non-natural stretch mark treatments. For a natural course, choose natural stretch mark removal cream or stretch marks lotion.

3. Opt for a glycolic acid treatment

Chemical peels and glycolic acid lotions are additional stretch mark treatments. Many of these therapies are pricey, and your insurance may not cover them. They reduce the visibility of existing stretch marks but do not prevent new ones from developing.

What are some effective home remedies for stretch marks?

According to the latest medical records, there isn't yet a magic substance that will permanently remove stretch marks. Stretch marks can still be visible, but some natural treatments can minimize their appearance and speed up their fading. Some of them are covered in the list below:

1. Prepare a sugar scrub and use it repeatedly

First, let us understand the process of making and applying the scrub:

Step 1: Combine softening agents with 1/2 cup sugar, like coconut or almond oil. The oil should be incorporated into the sugar a little at a time. Your scrub is done when it resembles wet beach sand. It takes around 1/2 cup of oil to complete the process.

Step 2: Now, gently rub the stretch mark oil mixture over the area of your body with stretch marks.

Step 3: Repeat in the shower or bath twice or thrice weekly. Use warm water to rinse.

Prepare the scrub in small batches as necessary. The sugar scrub can be kept long in a closed container, but if it smells or looks funny, start anew with fresh ingredients.

2. Apply natural vitamin A-rich cream

Vitamin A present in a stretch mark removal cream and stretch marks lotion, is known as a retinoid. These ingredients may make skin look younger and smoother. They are present in a lot of over-the-counter (OTC) topical cosmetic products. If you take vitamin A products, it is best to carefully follow the guidelines as they might occasionally cause skin irritation. We still, as always, recommend using natural plant based skincare products.

3. Use centella containing lotions

Centella-containing products, often known as cica creams, are sometimes used to treat scars or to calm and repair sensitive skin. Worldwide, cica creams are becoming more and more popular, but they can be expensive.

Moreover, Centella promotes the production of collagen and the control of inflammation. According to numerous types of research published via a reliable source in 2015, stretch marks lotion and stretch mark removal cream containing centella may help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and improve their appearance. However, as the researchers emphasised, additional evidence is still needed.

4. Keep your skin moisturised with coconut oil

Some proven advantages of virgin coconut oil for appealing to skin health. It may aid in maintaining the barrier defences of your skin. Moreover, certain 2018 types of research coined that coconut oil helped various skin infections and dry skin. 

Remember that any skincare procedure has the potential to trigger allergies or sensitivities occasionally. This includes natural methods and DIY solutions too. Therefore, discontinue using coconut oil or any substance if you experience a reaction due to continuous application.

5. Trust the aloe vera solution

Although little scientific evidence supports using aloe vera to treat stretch marks, pure aloe vera can calm and mend skin so it might be worth a try. Natural Aloe Vera gel has calming and soothing effect on the skin and could be used as natural stretch mark removal cream.

Consider using genuine aloe vera from a plant or an over-the-counter stretch marks lotion containing aloe vera. to your stretch marks daily after you shower.

Do ayurvedic skincare products help in reducing pregnancy stretch marks?

There are several ways to remove stretch marks from your body, but the tried-and-true old-fashioned Ayurvedic cures are the best. It's crucial to remember that some stretch marks are more difficult to remove than others. The benefit of using Ayurvedic remedies or ayurvedic skincare products is that they are completely safe. You'll have nourished skin even if your stretch marks don't disappear with ayurvedic stretch mark removal cream.

Here are the top 3 ayurvedic solutions that can help you get rid of pregnancy stretch marks naturally:

1. Niraa Stretch Mark Lotion by Blue Nectar

This potent Ayurvedic natural herb-infused stretch marks lotion penetrates deep into the skin's layers, increasing skin elasticity and hydration. Also, its 3-in-1 Body Butter's composition relieves dry, itchy skin, taking care of the skin, just like a stretch mark removal cream would do.

Why do women during pregnancy find this product useful?

Shea butter, which moisturises and heals the skin, is present in this velvety body butter stretch marks lotion, specially formulated for dry skin. Natural emollients like cocoa butter and mango butter keep the skin hydrated and encourage the production of new collagen and cells. Eventually, it is a well-liked pregnancy product for women because it is dermatologist tested and comes with no side effects.

 

2. Blue Nectar's Kumkumadi Skin Glow Oil

 Kumkumadi tailam has saffron's collagen-boosting characteristics, that enhance skin flexibility and minimise fine lines and wrinkles growth. Additionally, mulethi contributes to keeping smoother, younger-looking skin by enhancing skin texture.

Kumkumadi serum or Kumkumadi body oil has been made intensely hydrating and nourishing to treat the stretch mark-affected areas. This body oil gives the skin a nourished, even-toned appearance by softening, smoothing, and locking in moisture. Kumkumadi Tailam can safely be used as stretch marks lotion cum oil.

3. Nalpamaradi Thailam

Ayurvedic skin-strengthening herbs and very beneficial murchita til tail blend to create the Nalpamaradi Thailam. It is a body massage oil that prevents stretch marks, soothes irritated skin, and retains moisture for stretch-free, smooth skin.

If you have a combination skin or dry skin, use Nalpamaradi Thailam, twice daily, i.e., in the morning before you take a bath and in the evening before you go to bed. Make sure to use the Nalpamaradi Thailam three times a week in the morning and at night if you have oily or sensitive skin. It can be best stretch mark oil for everyday use.

Conclusion

Even during pregnancy, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and exercising frequently may help prevent stretch marks from rapid weight increase or loss. When trying to gain or lose weight, consider getting advice from a nutritionist because they can help you gradually and securely. This, in turn, reduces the risk of developing stretch marks.

Despite this, stretch marks frequently run in families, and regular lotions or creams won't guarantee their entire prevention. However, natural stretch marks lotion and stretch mark removal cream are normal, natural, and safe for your health.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Shubhr Kumkumadi Skin Glow Oil | Body Polishing & Nourishing

Niraa Stretch Mark & Scar Body Lotion Cream with Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter & Uplifting Rose

Nalpamaradi Thailam for Skin Brightening With Turmeric