What Are Stretch Marks And What Can You Do About Them?

What are stretch marks, and why do these battle wounds of pregnancy appear? Let’s find out!

Table of Contents

What causes stretch marks?
Who is most likely to develop stretch marks?
Where do stretch marks appear, and how long do they stay?
What can I do to get rid of them?
What can I do to prevent them?
What should you look for in a stretch mark product?

Skip ahead to any section you find the most interesting!

Stretch marks, which appear as lines on the skin, are often dubbed a battle wound of pregnancy. However, in an article published on Parents.com, dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D. highlighted that nine out of 10 women develop stretch marks during pregnancy.

While it is indeed more common in pregnancy, anybody can get a stretch mark.

But first, what is a stretch mark? Also known as striae distensae and striae gravidarum, it’s a type of scar that appears as lines on the skin. They come in various colours depending on your skin tone and how long they’ve been around. Newer stretch marks are usually pink, red, or purple, while older stretch marks appear white or light grey.

If you wonder what causes them, how to prevent them, and what you can do about them once you spot them on your body, you’ve come to the right place, Mama.

What Are The Causes Of Stretch Marks?

A stretch mark is an aftermath of the rapid stretching or shrinking of the skin’s connective tissue, which can happen during pregnancy, weight loss, muscle building, and even growth spurts.

This sudden change leads to the tearing of collagen and elastin in our skin. Through these tears, the blood vessels underneath can show through, which leaves red marks—one of the standard colours of new stretch marks.

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), the development of stretch marks usually come in three stages:

Stage 1: New stretch marks will appear pink. They may be itchy. The surrounding skin of the stretch mark will look flattened.
Stage 2: The stretch marks will get longer and more prominent and transition into a darker colour, like red or purple.
Stage 3: Mature stretch marks will no longer appear red or purple. Instead, they will look white or light grey. In addition, the lines will be noticeably more irregular in shape.

Who Is Most Likely To Develop Stretch Marks?

There’s no individual immune to developing stretch marks. From pregnant women to adult men, anybody may develop stretch marks throughout their lifetime. However, certain risk factors make it more susceptible to specific individuals.

1. Pregnant Mamas

Of course, pregnant women are on top of the list because of the inevitable expansion of their bellies as their babies grow. Moreover, the hormonal changes Mamas go through also play a key role in weakening the skin’s connective tissues and making them more vulnerable to ruptures. They are even more likely to get stretch marks if they gain more weight than the average or recommended weight gain.

2. Individuals with dry skin

A healthy, moisturized skin is more resilient to changes in your body. Meanwhile, dry skin is thinner, less elastic, and pliable. If you’re not moisturizing your skin regularly, you have a higher chance of developing stretch marks.

3. Individuals with stretch marks in their family history

A quick look at your family history can help determine if you will develop stretch marks. If you’re mama, grandmother, aunt, or sister has stretch marks; then you will most likely have them too.

4. Bodybuilders

Stretch marks know no gender, as even men are troubled by them, more so if they’re bodybuilders or an avid weightlifter. With how quickly their muscles develop, it’s inevitable for their skin to stretch and scar.

5. Individuals with certain medical conditions

Cushing’s and Marfan’s syndrome are two disorders associated with stretch marks. This is because these two conditions affect the adrenal glands, which cause the body to release excessive cortisone levels. And with high cortisone levels comes a decrease in collagen levels in the skin.

6. Individuals frequently using corticosteroids

Corticosteroid creams often used to reduce rashes, dermatitis, itching, and more can also impact one’s susceptibility to stretch marks. This is because corticosteroids can lower collagen levels and reduce your skin’s elasticity.

7. Individuals with fluctuating weight

Whether it’s sudden weight gain or loss, this can also make you prone to stretch marks. For instance, if you suddenly gain weight, your skin experiences will have to “accommodate the increased body mass.”

Where Do Stretch Marks Appear And How Long Do They Stay?

Common areas where stretch marks appear include the abdomen, breasts, thighs, hips, lower back, and buttocks. The APA stressed that they are “more likely to appear in places where large amounts of fat are stored.” The arms, thighs, and buttocks are where they usually appear for weightlifters and bodybuilders.

Medical News Today reports that stretch marks typically become less noticeable 6 to 12 months postpartum for pregnant Mamas.

What Can You Do To Get Rid Of Them?

Stretch marks often fade over time. But of course, not everyone has the patience or luxury of time to wait for them to go away. Thankfully, a few clinical treatments help get rid of them. Here’s how you can reduce stretch marks or eliminate them.

1. Microdermabrasion

A fast and painless procedure, it works by targeting the top layer of the skin to remove dead skin. However, a single treatment is usually not enough, so you may need to come back for more sessions to achieve your desired result.

2. Laser therapy

Although it’s a treatment more commonly done for acne scars, laser therapy can also target stretch marks. It works by using laser light to trigger melanin production so that your stretch marks will blend in with your skin tone.

3. Micro-needling

With micro-needling, tiny needles are used to trigger collagen production. Like microdermabrasion, one treatment is not enough to eliminate them. Studies have shown that micro-needling is particularly effective for patients with darker skin tones.

4. Chemical peels

A chemical peel has been known to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, particularly white ones. Similar to other treatments, a chemical peel stimulates collagen production.

5. Cosmetic surgery

If all else fails, one can opt for cosmetic surgery to eliminate stretch marks. Unfortunately, this treatment is pricey, but it also comes with its own set of health risks.

Here’s one thing to remember though: newer stretch marks, which appear pink, purple, or red-like, are generally easier to treat compared with the whiter and more mature stretch marks.

How Do You Prevent Stretch Marks?

It’s great that there are various treatment options for stretch marks. But frankly, they can get pretty expensive. Fret not, though, as there are also numerous ways to make sure that we prevent these pregnancy battle scars from showing up.

1. Moisturize your skin

As mentioned earlier, dry skin makes you more prone to stretch marks. So please pay attention to your skincare routine and ensure that you give it some TLC. For example, use a lotion or, better yet, a specially formulated product for stretch mark prevention.

2. Exercise regularly.

There are a lot of perks to exercising when you’re pregnant. Not only does it give you more energy and improve your mood, but it also improves circulation, which then helps keep your skin elastic. The APA furthers that pregnancy exercise can also reduce “the possibility of varicose veins and swollen ankles.”

3. Eat skin-healthy food.

In tandem with regular exercise, healthy food also wonders for your skin. In particular, incorporate more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins E, C, B2, B3, zinc, and silica. Drinking enough water is also crucial in maintaining healthy skin.

4. Control your pregnancy weight gain.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend women at a healthy weight gain, somewhere between 25-35 pounds. Meanwhile, underweight people are advised to gain up to 40 pounds. Those who are overweight, only 15-25 pounds.

5. Avoid direct sunlight.

As we all know, UV rays can damage the skin’s collagen. So if you’re going out, use a mineral sunscreen or a pregnancy-safe moisturizer with SPF.

What Should You Look For In A Stretch Mark Product?

Pregnancy makes one prone to stretch marks, which is why a stretch mark product is critical. However, since pregnancy is a susceptible period, one must be cautious about looking for a stretch mark cream.

With some chemicals capable of harming a fetus, it’s best to steer clear of products that contain retinoids, salicylic acid in high dosages, phthalates, hydroquinone, formaldehyde, parabens, and chemical sunscreens.

Apart from these ingredients, it would be best if you avoided them. Several tried-and-tested ingredients do wonders to help stretch marks. These include:

Shea Butter
Jojoba Oil
Aloe Vera
Cocoa
Vitamins A & E
Hyaluronic Acid
Coconut Oil
Argan Oil
Rosehip Oil

Keep Stretch Marks At Bay With Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream and Serum

Regarding stretch marks, it’s always better to prevent them from appearing regardless of genetics. Like Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream is here to help Mamas protect their skin from stretch marks and reduce their appearance. Enriched with a blend of natural ingredients known to target stretch marks, such as aloe vera, shea butter, and the incredible Lipobelle™ Soyaglycone is derived from soy.

Together, our natural ingredients help moisturize your skin, protect it from damage, and naturally enhance collagen production for improved elasticity. Plus, it helps relieve itching, too!

For the complete anti-stretch mark treatment, make sure you use our Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Serum before you slather on our cream. Together, our products deliver 2x optimal effectiveness in fading stretch marks!

We also took an extra step to ensure our products are 100% safe for you and your little one. Our stretch mark cream is free of paraben and alcohol and dermatologically tested in Singapore.

We’ve sold nearly 3,000 stretch mark creams and received great reviews from mamas, too! Now that you know more about stretch marks do yourself a favour and keep your skin free of stretch marks with Mama’s Choice Stretch Mark Cream and Serum. 😉