After birth, stretch marks will gradually change from red or purple to tan or white, and will become more difficult to see. However, some women never lose their stretch marks.
As your body grows, some areas of skin may become stretched . Elastic fibers right beneath the skin may tear. This creates streaks of indented skin called stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to occur on your belly and breasts. These purple, pink or red marks (striae) may appear on your abdomen, breasts, and thighs.
APPEARANCE OF STRETCH MARKS:
Early stretch marks are itchy and pink in colour .
They enlarge in the next few weeks and become reddish or purple in colour.
Once matured,they loose their red/purple hue and become pale. After delivery they appear silver or whitish in colour.
Risk factors for developing stretch marks :
- family history of stretch marks
- being Caucasian,
- gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy, and already having stretch marks on your breasts or thighs.
How to prevent them?
Not every pregnant woman gets stretch marks, but they are very common. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent them completely. There are some lotions and oils that claim to prevent stretch marks. The effects of these products are not proven. However, keeping your skin well moisturized can help reduce itchiness. Stretch marks should fade and become less noticeable after pregnancy.
