However, some studies indicate that gaining weight during pregnancy, not drinking enough water or having low vitamin C levels all increase the risk. Carrying a baby at what studies refer to as ‘an increased gestational age’ (let’s just say ‘big’), or having a baby who is particularly heavy, tall or has a large head circumference, have all been identified as potential risk factors for developing stretch marks.
PREGNANCY STRETCH MARKS SKIN
‘Some studies suggest that women with lighter-coloured skin get them more,’ explains Dr Anjali. Other factors that mean you might be more prone include being overweight before becoming pregnant, being a young mum, drinking too much alcohol, or even the colour of your skin. So if you have previously had stretch marks on your breasts or thighs, or the women in your family have been prone to them, the chances are that you might get them while pregnant too. ‘Some pregnant women may be more at risk of developing stretch marks than others, as family and personal history play their part,’ explains Dr Anjali. > READ: THE BENEFITS OF PREGNANCY MASSAGE Am I likely to get stretch marks?
‘People who start to workout intensively can get them around their biceps, and individuals who have put on a lot of weight quickly are susceptible too.’ So you can expect to see them wherever there’s a rapid expansion.ĭuring pregnancy, the most common area for stretch marks to occur is across the abdomen, but you may also notice them on your breasts as they swell in preparation for breastfeeding your baby. And, if you put on some baby weight, you may find them on your bottom, hips and thighs, most commonly during the second and third trimesters. ‘I see a lot of teenage boys who have suddenly shot up in height and have stretch marks around their thighs,’ says Dr Anjali. Stretch marks don’t just affect pregnant women. This means that our bodies can’t repair broken connective tissue as well as they would otherwise. It’s also thought that during pregnancy, increases in hormones such as glucocorticoids suppress the production of collagen. This is what we call a stretch mark.’ They're not to be confused with the linea nigra which is a dark brown line that will fade after pregnancy. ‘When this happens,’ explains Dr Anjali, ‘you can start to see deeper layers of your skin’s connective tissue through the gaps. This connective tissue is stretched to breaking point. But it’s like trying to build an extension for a new lodger without using any new bricks.Ī rapid period of expansion disrupts the collagen and elastic fibres in your dermis, resulting in decreased strength and elasticity. During pregnancy, your skin becomes increasingly taut as your uterus expands to make space for your growing baby. ‘Stretch marks are caused by scarring that occurs in the dermis when it is stretched,’ explains Dr Anjali. It’s like trying to build an extension for a new lodger without using any new bricks Your skin can be divided into three main levels: the epidermis (outermost layer), the dermis and the subcutis (innermost layer). How do stretch marks appear in pregnancy? Remember, stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of, they're beautiful, completely normal and are part of your body changing. You may get them in your second trimester, for others it can be the third trimester and some women just don't get them at all. However, it's most common for stretch marks to appear later in pregnancy as the skin stretches from your baby growing and you gaining more weight. When do stretch marks appear in pregnancy? Over time, these will fade to become white, shiny streaks, resembling scars. ‘The skin can also be raised and itchy while they develop.’ Lines form perpendicular to the direction that the skin is stretched in. ‘When the stretch marks first appear, the lesions can be pink, red or purple in colour,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. The medical term for them is 'striae gravidarum', which is Latin for stripes of pregnancy. Stretch marks are streaky lines that appear on your skin and are usually pink, brown, purple or red in colour, depending on the colour and tone of your skin.
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