Motherhood comes with boundless joy but also leaves its traces on the body. Stretch marks, a sign of how the womb expanded to accommodate the growing fetus, is one such sign. Though stretch marks in pregnancy and post-delivery are natural, these marks are not limited to pregnant women alone — they can be seen with anyone who had rapid weight gain or loss.
Among mothers, stretch marks are seen on the abdomen, upper thighs, upper chest, and buttocks. It can be challenging to remove the same.
Why do stretch marks appear during pregnancy?
When Swastika Roy Ghosh, a 34-year-old from Kolkata, delivered her first child in May 2019, she noticed that the stretch marks on her abdomen and thighs remained prominent even post-partum. She recalls, “I used to wear crop tops before pregnancy but I feel very conscious about the scars on my belly to put them on anymore. Initially, I thought they would gradually fade. So I did not apply any creams or attempt to remove them. However, over time, my stretch marks have become more visible.”
“Stretch marks are common in pregnancy — they affect around eight out of ten women,” said Dr Pramatha Sirisha, consultant, obstetrics & gynecology, Rainbow Hospitals, Secunderabad. Dr Gatha M Upadya, dermatologist, KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka, says, “Stretch marks are scars that look like streaks or cracks. These appear when someone gains or loses weight rapidly.” During pregnancy, women have an average weight gain of 10 to 12.5 kg. This causes the skin to expand. “When the skin expands and shrinks too fast, it leads to the breakage of collagen, a protein that makes our skin elastic. Like any other scar in our body, stretch marks remain permanent and may fade away over time or become less noticeable,” said Dr Upadya.
Stretch marks, which start appearing during pregnancy, tend to be itchy. “One of the first signs a woman notices is itching around the area where the skin becomes thinner. This thinning occurs when the dermis (middle layer of skin) stretches and breaks,” explains Dr Sirisha. She adds that moisturizing creams or oral antihistamines can help relieve this itching.
Is it possible to get stretch marks without being pregnant?
Dr Upadya says that anyone can have stretch marks, irrespective of age and gender. In the past, celebrities like Rihanna and Lady Gaga have flaunted the stretch marks on their upper thighs and upper chest respectively, showing that it’s natural to have them. For some, like Bollywood actress Zareen Khan who lost a lot of weight in the past, stretch marks can be a sign of victory. Khan has been vocal about embracing her imperfections and flaunts her stretch marks.
“Most people who work out regularly and have rapidly lost or gained weight have stretch marks on their shoulders, upper chest, and butt,” shares Dr Upadya. Genetics, too, plays a role. Dr Sirisha adds, “Having a family history of stretch marks can lead to the development of stretch marks during weight gain or loss.”
Can stretch marks be prevented?
Dr Upadya says that stretch marks cannot be prevented; however, creams and lotions can make them less visible if used early. “You need to start using them as soon as you notice the stretch marks. Regular moisturization is also vital to heal the skin. However, if you start using the lotions only a year later, they may not be as effective.”
Dr Sirisha shares that though many creams and lotions claim to prevent, reduce or remove stretch marks, there is little evidence of their efficacy.
Which treatment is best?
Some of the common treatments used for stretch marks are:
- Retinoid-based creams (not to be used during pregnancy)
- Silicone gel
- Creams containing hyaluronic acid
- Light or laser treatment
- Microdermabrasion (removes thin layer of skin)
Dr Upadya adds that placental extract gel is also used as a treatment option for pregnancy stretch marks due to its ability to heal while leaving minimal scars.
It’s time to embrace the scars
Like Ghosh, many women worry about stretch marks even before they become pregnant. Ghosh recalls conversations with her friends who were also conscious about the scars being noticeable. “Over time, I learned to accept my body as it is. I no longer wish or attempt to get rid of my stretch marks,” she shares.
Dr Upadya says that having stretch marks is common and one should not feel embarrassed by them. “It’s a natural scar and one needs to embrace it. While stretch marks tend to fade away over time, it’s important for women to stop letting these scars affect their confidence,” she said.
Takeaways
- Stretch marks are scars resulting from the breakage of the dermis of the skin due to rapid weight loss or gain. Anyone, irrespective of age and gender, can have stretch marks. However, they are fairly common during pregnancy.
- They can appear on the shoulders, breasts, abdomen, upper thighs, and buttocks.
- Stretch marks cannot be prevented or removed completely. They can be made less noticeable by using prescribed creams and lotions.
