Increased hormone levels and fluctuations in weight gain during pregnancy can damage the skin and tear the dermis, leaving behind scars referred to as stretch marks. Eating a balanced diet and exercising may help ensure that weight gain is healthy and appropriate during pregnancy. Ideally, weight gain should be between 24 and 28 lbs. Whether a woman will have stretch marks post-pregnancy is mostly genetically determined. However, certain treatments have been shown to improve texture and appearance of stretch marks. To eliminate them entirely may not be possible.
Step 1
Treat them early after your pregnancy. At first, stretch marks may appear reddish or purple, but they eventually lighten and may even disappear over time. Once fully mature, stretch marks are almost impossible to eliminate. Massage them in the shower under warm water or lather your skin with a lotion that contains aloe vera or cocoa butter.
Step 2
Get back into an exercise routine. Regular exercise will stimulate blood flow to the skin and help get you feeling and looking like you did before your pregnancy. However, make sure you limit your weight loss to 1 to 2 lbs per week to avoid further damage to your skin.
Step 3
Reduce the appearance of minor new marks by applying tretinoin cream, also known as Retin-A. According to MayoClinic.com, treating new stretch marks with tretinoin cream can improve appearance and texture. If you experience skin irritation, consider onion extract for its anti-inflammatory properties. A study published in "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology" reported that the use of onion extract gel "significantly" helped to improve scarred tissue.
Step 4
Consider pulsed dye laser therapy to reduce the redness and inflammation of stretch marks. According to Dr. Brian Zelickson from the University of Minnesota Medical School's Department of Dermatology, "Lasers also induce collagen growth and remodeling, as well as some elastin remodeling which improves the look of the skin."
Step 5
Look into microdermabrasion treatment for older stretch marks. When the crystals involved in this treatment come in contact with the skin, they gently polish the skin's surface and remove the topmost layer. According to MayoClinic.com, microdermabrasion may result in new, more elastic skin.
Tips and Warnings
- Self-tanners can help camouflage stretch marks.
- Retinol can't be used during pregnancy. Wait until your baby arrives to treat stretch marks.
References
- Stretch Marks.org: Stretch Marks: Stretch Marks May Be Improved with Laser; Brian Zelickson, MD
- "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology;" The Ability of Onion Extract Gel to Improve the Cosmetic Appearance of Postsurgical Scars; Zoe Draelos,MD; May 2008
- MayoClinic.com: Stretch Marks: Treatments and Drugs
- "Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription"; Vivian H. Heyward, Ph.D.; 2006
- MedlinePlus: Striae
