Pregnancy is a time of rapid growth and change, not just for your unborn child, but for you as well. Your body is rapidly expanding to accommodate this new life. For many moms-to-be, this means stretch marks. Striae, as they are known, can be pink, reddish or purplish in color and usually appear as long streaks on the abdomen, hips, buttocks and upper arms. There are many treatments on the market to treat stretch marks and significantly diminish their appearance.
Prevention
Many creams and oils, like those containing cocoa butter, claim to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. Using these moisturizing treatments can help keep your skin soft and may decrease your risk of getting stretch marks, but with the rapid changes that are a part of pregnancy, no cream can guarantee that it will completely prevent them.
Nutrition is also an effective means of prevention. Drink plenty of water to keep the body and skin well hydrated. Managing your weight is also important. By gaining the appropriate amount of weight, you can reduce the expansion of skin, especially over the thighs and upper arms. Vitamins A, C, and E are great for maintaining healthy skin. Good sources of these vitamins are foods like cantaloupe, strawberries and whole grain breads.
Prescription Creams
Tretinoin cream (Retin-A) has been shown to improve the appearance of recent stretch marks, those that have been visible for less than six weeks. It works by helping your skin to rebuild collagen, which makes the striae look more like the surrounding skin. This treatment is ineffective on older stretch marks and since it is a Category C drug, which means its safety has not been tested on pregnant animals or humans, its safety record for expectant humans is unknown. Be sure to let your obstetrician know if you are taking this or any prescription medications during pregnancy.
Over-the-Counter Creams
No cream, or treatment for that matter, will completely eradicate the appearance of stretch marks. Some that are on the market may reduce the dark pigmentation associated with striae, but time alone will have the same effect. Within six to 12 months after delivery, many stretch marks begin to fade and ultimately may take on a coloring that is lighter than the surrounding skin.
Microdermabrasion
The popular facial treatment of microdermabrasion is now being used to treat stretch marks. During a microdermabrasion treatment, crystals are gently blown onto the skin. These crystals polish away the topmost layer of the skin, which results in new skin growth. This treatment is effective for both new and older stretch marks.
Collagen-Building Laser Treatments
Two popular treatments utilizing light therapy are pulsed dye laser therapy and fractional photothermolysis. During pulsed dye laser treatment, the laser is directed at the underlying skin, the dermis, and is used to stimulate new collagen growth. This treatment does not damage the overlying skin. Fractional photothermolysis also utilizes laser light to target the dermis and stimulate collagen and elastin growth. The difference between the two treatments is that fractional photothermolysis causes partial damage to very small areas of the targeted skin. This damage is minute and typically heals quickly. Contact your dermatologist if you are interested in laser treatment for striae or any other skin pigmentation issues.
