Stretch marks, which are also known as striae gravidarum, are the result of the collagen in your skin breaking down. This process isn’t remotely painful; in fact, most mothers do not even notice it until they see the telltale red marks on their skin.
Stretch marks tend to appear on the abdomen, buttocks, breasts, and inner things and arms. While pregnancy is not the only time that people get stretch marks, it is among the most common. Stretch marks occur more frequently as the result of the following:
. Rapid growth or weight gain (such as in pregnancy and puberty)
. Family history of stretch marks
. Personal history of stretch marks
. Certain ethnicities that are more likely to get stretch marks
. Carrying more than one baby
. Having polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid)
Store shelves are full of lotions and creams promising to prevent or erase stretch marks. Plenty of women swear by products that help avoid stretch marks. The truth, however, is that very little can be done to prevent stretch marks, but every little bit counts.
First, eat a well-balance diet and drink plenty of water. Healthy, well-nourished skin is more elastic and less apt to break down. You should also make an effort to gain weight slowly over the course of your pregnancy and avoid huge jumps in weight gain. Try lotions that hydrate your skin and make it feel less itchy and raw as it expands. These product probably won’t reduce the number or severity of stretch marks, but they will help you stay comfortable.
The good news is that while stretch marks may look bright red and angry in pregnancy, they are not destined to stay that way after you give birth. Over the course of the first few months postpartum, they will begin to fade to a silvery color.
There are some treatments to reduce stretch marks that you can use after giving birth, though most practitioners advise that you wait until you are completely done having children before embarking on expensive treatments that have varying levels of success. Source
