Stretch Marks: Skin Problems in Pregnancy
By Sarah Day, CNM

Stretch marks occur in 97 percent of women. They occur in the middle, elastic layer of your skin, called the dermis. It’s fortified with fibres known as collagen that allows your skin to stretch and snap back into shape.

When this layer is continuously stretched over a long period of time, its elasticity breaks down. Your skin tries to reinforce itself by increasing the amount of collagen in the over stretched tissue. That is what creates the scars we call stretch marks.

The most common areas affected by stretch marks are the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, breasts, and arms. They usually begin as purplish or reddish marks that fade to shallow grey or white scars. There are no rules for stretch marks since all skin types are different. They also do not age or heal in the same exact manner.

Four Different Factors that Contribute to the Formation of Stretch Marks

Heredity - Some skin is genetically prone to stretch marks
Skin Type - Some skin is dryer with less elasticity than others i.e. dry skin vs. oily skin.
Weight - rapid gain or loss
Pregnancy - the weight gain associated with pregnancy. Although some women are more susceptible to stretch marks, anyone can get them. The absence of stretch marks during one pregnancy does not necessarily mean stretch marks will not appear in another.

There’s a great deal of debate about exactly what causes stretch marks and whether they may be prevented. Some experts argue that their development is largely down to the type of skin you have inherited and that if you are going to get them you are going to get them. Others maintain that they are due to nutritional deficiency and can be prevented and even cured by eating a healthy diet and taking certain vitamins.

However our research has proved that while you cannot actually prevent stretch marks, you can minimise their spread and effects through taking care over what you eat, drinking plenty of water, controlling your weight gain and using a specialised moisturiser to massage the affected areas daily.