Stretch marks are due to tearing of the elastic fibers in your skin. Your skin’s ability to stretch over your enlarging uterus is due to genetic, hormonal and constitutional factors: meaning that you are really born with the factors that cause (or avoid) stretch marks. The following advice may help decrease the severity of stretch marks:
- Avoid sudden jumps in weight gain in pregnancy: let your skin stretch very slowly each day
- Use of skin creams to improve the softness and resilience of your skin (cocoa butter, Neutrogena, Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, etc.)
- Avoid any steroid creams medications: the high levels of cortisone from your placenta is a main factor that works on the elasticity of your skin