How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
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Key Takeaways: 1. Stretch marks during pregnancy, also known as striae gravidarum, can't be completely prevented — genetics and hormones play the biggest role — but early, consistent skincare can reduce their severity. 2. Starting a daily moisturizing routine in the first trimester, before visible marks appear, gives your skin the best chance of maintaining elasticity as it stretches. 3. Staying well-hydrated, managing weight gain steadily, and eating foods rich in vitamins C, D, and E support skin elasticity from the inside out. 4. Natural oils like almond oil and vitamin E oil have the most anecdotal support; cocoa butter and olive oil alone have not shown strong clinical benefit in trials. 5. LOLA's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is dermatologist-tested, formulated with Apricot Oil, Shea Butter, and Vitamin E, and absolutely no parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances. For use during pregnancy and into postpartum. |
While pregnant and busy doing the full-time work of incubating a brand new human, stretch marks might be the last thing on your mind. But, even though pregnancy stretch marks are a totally normal, common side effect of a rapidly expanding belly, they can be itchy—and you simply might not like the way they look.
We'll be straight with you: it's not possible to fully prevent stretch marks from forming. But, there are steps you can take to manage them. We'll walk you through practical tips for reducing stretch marks throughout your pregnancy, from starting early in the first trimester with daily moisturizing of natural oils; staying well-hydrated; eating a diet rich in vitamins C, D, and E; and maintaining a consistent, gentle exercise routine.
Can You Actually Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
To reiterate: it's not actually possible to prevent stretch marks, also known as striae gravidarum, during pregnancy. Here's why:
First, genetics factors in, making some pregnant people more or less prone to stretch marks than others. Secondly, pregnancy hormones play a major role: release of estrogen, relaxin, and cortisol encourages the belly's ability to stretch by loosening collagen fibers. (This is a good thing—your growing baby needs the room!) Finally, rapid skin expansion happens as your body changes, often so quickly that your skin can't keep up, causing it to tear; scars from skin tearing are what form the stretch marks.
That being said, you can still take steps to keep your skin well-hydrated and supple, support skin elasticity, boost collagen production, and aid in skin circulation and cell turnover, all of which will help reduce the rapid-fire tearing that leads to formation of those pesky lines.
When to Start Caring for Your Skin
To help slow the development of stretch marks, beginning interventions in the first trimester is key, according to Dr. Navya Mysore, Primary Care Physician and Women's Health Expert.
Everyone is different. Some pregnant people don't develop stretch marks until the second or third trimester (or at all), while others see them form right away. It's best to start minimizing stretch marks as soon as possible, even before you see visible lines, or failing that, as soon as they crop up.
"These tips are more effective within the first few weeks of developing stretch marks," notes Mysore. "Once you get into older stretch marks like gray/whitish, it's harder to capture and remedy."
Below, we'll list the best practices for promoting skin elasticity and reducing stretch marks.
Tips to Help Minimize Pregnancy Stretch Marks
1. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated throughout your pregnancy is a good idea for many reasons—increasing blood flow that supports you and the fetus, and keeping you feeling energized and strong as you grow your baby. It will keep your skin hydrated, too, increasing suppleness and skin elasticity, and priming skin cells for turn-over and tissue repair, which can keep stretch marks at bay, or prevent them from worsening. Dr. Mysore recommends intake of 8+ glasses of water daily.
2. Eat a Skin-Supporting Diet
What you eat matters, too. Experts recommend taking a daily prenatal vitamin, but you should also fill your diet with real foods that are rich in Vitamins C, D, E, zinc, and protein, that will support collagen production. Think lots of fruits and veggies, the more colorful the better, nuts and seeds, and lean proteins like eggs, fish, and chicken. These dietary tips will support your skin from pregnancy through postpartum.
3. Moisturize Early and Often
Start a moisturizing routine in your first trimester, even before you see stretch marks. You'll want to moisturize twice daily, massaging the skin of your abdomen, breasts, and hips in a circular motion to help promote circulation and absorption. Use natural oils (or moisturizers containing natural oils) to help prime your skin elasticity.
When choosing a moisturizer, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a humectant which helps retain moisture and promote skin hydration; centella asiatica, a medicinal plant effective in wound and skin repair; and almond oil, which studies have shown can minimize stretch marks.
Dr. Mysore specifically recommends vitamin E, a skin-protecting antioxidant, and Bio-Oil, which effectively reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
Know that some oils may take time to be fully effective, and that your body may continue to stretch into postpartum, particularly if you're breastfeeding, or dealing with scarring from a C-section, so it's a good idea to keep moisturizing even after birth. LOLA's postpartum collection can support your postpartum skin and overall recovery with gentle, non-toxic products, from Stretch Mark Prevention Cream to Organic Disposable Postpartum Underwear.
4. Exercise Gently
Long gone are the days when doctors promoted bed rest during pregnancy; nowadays, the medical consensus is that staying active during pregnancy helps with pain management, labor prep, and overall health for you and the baby. Aim for low-impact options, like walking, prenatal yoga, and swimming, and always consult with your OB/GYN before beginning an exercise routine–sometimes pregnancy conditions or complications may limit your ability to safely engage in certain activities. Exercise is great for reducing stretch marks, too, as it improves circulation, and manages weight gain rate–more on that below.
5. Manage Weight Gain Gradually
It's normal and expected to gain weight during pregnancy. Again, you're supporting the growth of a new human. However, rapid weight gain can sometimes be cause for alarm, indicating conditions like pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. During prenatal appointments, it's a good idea to discuss your pregnancy diet with your provider—not with the aim of restricting, but rather to keep track of your weight, ensuring it's progressing at a healthy pace, and that you and baby get the nutrients you need.
When it comes to skin, slow and steady weight gain will be easier on stretch marks than rapid changes, which causes the skin to tear and scar.
A Note on Body Positivity
It bears repeating: pregnancy stretch marks are totally normal, harmless, and nothing to be concerned about. That being said, it's also totally understandable if you'd like to minimize them, whether because you're feeling itchy or uncomfortable, or you simply don't love the appearance.
During pregnancy, your body changes so dramatically, it can be a lot to process. Keeping your skin supple, hydrated, and healthy absolutely can't hurt. The interventions we've suggested to aid your expanding skin–hydrating, eating well, exercising, and moisturizing with natural oils–will also support your overall health and well-being during your pregnancy and postpartum, so it's a win-win.
A quick reminder that your skin, and your body in general, continue to change after birth and into postpartum. Dr. Mysore explains that breast tissue gets stretched when breastfeeding, and when you wean your baby off, the tissue shrinks back, leaving stretch marks. For this reason, we encourage continuing to follow our tips to prevent stretch marks to support your postpartum skin, increase skin elasticity, and promote collagen production.
Read next: How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
FAQs/People Also Ask
1. Can you actually prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?
No, it's not possible to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. However, there are ways to reduce or minimize their appearance.
2. When should I start using stretch mark cream during pregnancy?
Start as early as possible, in the first trimester, even before stretch marks have become visible.
3. What is the best oil to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?
Bio-oil and Vitamin E oil have been shown to be the most effective at reducing the appearance of pregnancy stretch marks.
4. Does cocoa butter prevent pregnancy stretch marks?
There is only anecdotal evidence, but no studies have supported this.
5. Do stretch marks from pregnancy go away?
While they likely never fully go away, they often fade on their own over time.
Remember, your pregnancy stretch marks are totally normal, a mark of the powerful transformation your body underwent during its superhuman feat of creating new life. We applaud you! LOLA is always here to support your skin health—and your overall health, for that matter—with gentle, non-toxic, gynecologicist-approved products, from prenatal to postpartum and beyond.