Will I get stretch marks during my pregnancy?
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Will I get stretch marks during my pregnancy?
Unfortunately, while some lucky women will survive the “big stretch” of pregnancy without any stretch marks to show for it, the reality is that it is estimated that up to 90% of women are prone to developing stretch marks in pregnancy.
There are a number of factors that will affect whether one develops stretch marks or not, and these come down to:
Skin Type
Stretch marks tend to be associated more with darker-complexioned women than with lighter-complexioned women. In a mixed race study, 77.8% of those with darker complexions developed stretch marks in pregnancy, while only 45.2% of lighter-skinned women got them.
Family and Personal History
A large study found that over half of women with stretch marks had mothers with stretch marks, so there is a hereditary link. The strongest association, however, was made between pregnancy stretch marks and the presence of existing stretch marks on the body (for example on the breasts and thighs). Among women with pregnancy stretch marks, 81% had pre-existing stretch marks in these areas.
Age
Interestingly, it has been found that as you get older, you are less likely to develop stretch marks.
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IThere is a direct association between the amount of weight gained in pregnancy, and the development of stretch marks. Bear in mind that it is better to focus on eating the correct healthy foods than to worry about how much weight you are putting on.
Skin Condition
Women that maintain a nutritious diet and keep their skin well-hydrated and supple are less likely to develop stretch marks in pregnancy.
While most of the above factors are pre-determined, a topically-applied product like Bio-Oil is specifically formulated to help improve the skin’s condition. By working to maximise its elasticity, it keeps the skin supple, thereby helping to prevent the formation of pregnancy stretch marks. Bio-Oil should be applied twice daily from the first trimester throughout your pregnancy to keep skin well-hydrated and better able to stretch.
1Nussbaum, Rachel, MD, Benedetto, Anthony. Cosmetic aspects of pregnancy. Clinics in Dermatology (2006) 24, 133-141 2,3Chang AL, Agredano YZ, Kimball AB. Risk factors associated with striae gravidarum. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004; 51:881-5.