Stretch marks, itchiness, and other skin changes during pregnancy

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Stretch marks, itchiness, and other skin changes during pregnancy

Stretch marks

Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) are lines on the skin that may appear late in pregnancy. They look like slightly indented pink, red, dark, or white streaks, depending on your skin color. Stretch marks are most common on the abdomen, but they can also develop on the breasts and thighs.¹

The cause of stretch marks is not well understood. They have been linked to increasing pregnancy hormones and stretching of the tissue under the skin. Heredity is thought to play a role in the development of stretch marks; if your mother had them, you are likely to have them as well. Weight gain during pregnancy does not seem to play a role in the development of stretch marks. Some women who gain little weight during pregnancy develop stretch marks.

Creams or oils (such as vitamin E oil) or other treatments have not been shown to prevent stretch marks. They do, however, help with skin dryness and may reduce itching.

Although stretch marks never go away, they fade to a lighter color, becoming less obvious after pregnancy.

Itchy skin

Dry, stretching skin tends to be itchy. Your growing abdomen is likely to be the most itchy part of your body as your pregnancy progresses. To manage itchy skin, avoid hot showers and baths. After bathing, pat excess water off your skin and apply moisturizer before it has fully dried. Applying moisturizer that you keep in the refrigerator may further reduce itching. Try eliminating drying soaps, skin products with alcohol, and heavily chlorinated water from your daily routine. These may contribute to skin dryness. If you live in a dry climate, use a humidifier at home. For a severe, persistent itch, contact your health professional.

Other skin changes during pregnancy

• The areola, or area around your nipples, may darken in the second trimester of pregnancy.
• A dark line on the skin between your navel and your pubic area (linea nigra) may appear. Linea nigra fades after pregnancy.
• Dark patches may develop on your face. This is known as the “mask of pregnancy,” or chloasma, and it usually fades after delivery.

These skin pigment changes are not totally understood. It is thought that high levels of pregnancy hormones cause the pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes) to make more pigment.¹ To help keep these skin changes from being too obvious, use sunscreen and avoid sun exposure.

About two-thirds of white women and one-third of black women will develop redness on the palms of the hands (palmar erythema) during pregnancy.¹ In some women, the red areas are also itchy. Palmar erythema is thought to be caused by increased levels of estrogen during pregnancy. The problem is not serious and usually disappears shortly after delivery.

Tiny, red elevated areas (vascular spiders, or angiomas) on the face, neck, chest, and arms affect about 67% of white women and 10% of black women during pregnancy.¹ Like palmar erythema, angiomas are not serious and usually go away after pregnancy.

Other normal skin changes that occur during pregnancy include blotchy skin and acne. Acne may either increase or clear up during pregnancy.

References

Citations

1. Cunningham FG, et al. (2005). Maternal physiology. In Williams Obstetrics, 22nd ed., pp. 122–150. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Credits

Last updated:	November 30, 2006
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman