august 2024

Stretch marks 101

fantastic skin elastic planning pregnancy stretch marks Recommended Products
Stretch marks 101
share

 

Stretch Marks in Pregnancy – What are they? What causes them? Can I get rid of them?

Stretch marks, also known as Striae, are slightly sunken, narrow, stripes across areas of the skin, in particular the abdomen, breasts, thighs, bottom, chest, upper arms, calves, and lower back. It is almost impossible to predict who will or will not be affected by them but what is known is that some people are more likely to get them than others.

What causes stretch marks?

A common skin concern that affects people of all ages and genders, stretch marks are harmless and not known to pose any risk to your health, however, they can impact on your self-esteem and confidence.

Stretch marks are very common and are thought to affect up to 80% of pregnant women and are not harmful. They occur when the dermis, which sits just underneath the first layer of skin, becomes stretched and the fibres within break causing lines to be visible. Rapid stretching or shrinking of the skin is primarily what causes these marks, however if you have a family history of stretch marks then you may be more predisposed to developing some too due to genetics, so time to blame mum and dad! This is likely to be because your family genes have lower levels of collagen and/or elastin, meaning that your skin is less stretchy and not as strong as some others. Hormones associated with puberty and pregnancy are also contributing factors. During pregnancy your skin is growing faster and stretching like it probably never has done before - especially in those latter stages - to accommodate your growing bump. 

Can I get prevent or rid of stretch marks?

Contrary to many products’ claims, there is no evidence to suggest that stretch marks can be prevented or reversed. Adding hydration and elasticity back into your skin can reduce the chance of any stretch marks being red, angry, sore and irritable or itchy and we would strongly recommend preparing your skin early in fact from as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. By the time you are about 12 weeks pregnant your uterus will already be growing above the pelvic brim meaning your bump will soon start to expand and your skin will start to stretch, so using a product such as our incredible Fantastic Skin Elastic can help to improve the appearance of your skin, including hydrating it, plumping out the layers and reducing scarring over time.

Once the damage to the dermis of the skin has been done it is irreversible, meaning stretch marks will be permanent – however, there are things you can do to improve their appearance! Initially, they may be pink, red, brown, purple, or black, but will gradually fade to a skin coloured or silvery line.

If you do see some stretch marks appearing we would strongly recommend caring for those new additions to your skin through massage, using a hydrating, soothing and calming product such as Fantastic Skin Elastic which can really help to relieve tight, itchy, stretching skin. The natural ingredients found in Fantastic Skin Elastic, a natural and rich massage serum which provides relief to skin anywhere on your body, include grapefruit, geranium, calendula, and lavender to soothe and soften your skin, while vitamin E encourages elasticity and beeswax locks in moisture.

And above all, don’t hide behind your stretch marks, be like those women who sport them with pride. After all, most of us, male or female, will have some somewhere on our bodies and as with any scars, lumps and bumps they tell a part of our story! One day, just as our hair will fade to silver, so will they!