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What Causes Stretch Marks

Striae gravidarum, also known as stretch marks, are caused by the skin stretching rapidly. So it makes sense that stretch marks are common during pregnancy when bellies and other body parts grow (hello, pregnancy boobs!).

Stretch marks are a common concern for many expecting mothers. In fact, it’s been reported that somewhere between 50-90% of pregnant women experience stretch marks (source).

They often show up on the belly, breasts, thighs, and/or hips and can range in color from red and purple to silver and white. But what causes pregnancy stretch marks? And how can you manage them?

Let’s dive into the factors that contribute to stretch marks during this special time in your life.

1. Rapid Skin Stretching

The most obvious cause of stretch marks during pregnancy is the rapid stretching of the skin. As your baby grows and your belly expands, the skin has to stretch to accommodate the increasing size. 

This sudden stretching can cause the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin to break. These fibers are responsible for the skin’s elasticity and strength, and when they are stretched beyond their limit, they can tear, resulting in stretch marks.

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2. Hormonal Changes

Pregnancy brings with it a flood of hormonal changes, and some of these hormones can make your skin more susceptible to developing stretch marks. The two most important hormones involved are:

• Estrogen: Estrogen levels rise significantly during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters. Estrogen can affect the skin’s collagen and elastin fibers, making them more likely to tear as the skin stretches.
• Relaxin: Relaxin is another hormone produced during pregnancy that helps prepare the body for childbirth by relaxing the ligaments in the pelvis and making the skin more pliable. While relaxin helps with childbirth, it can also contribute to skin stretching and the formation of stretch marks.

These hormones alter the skin’s structure, making it more prone to stretching and tearing.

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3. Weight Gain

During pregnancy, weight gain is necessary and healthy for both you and your baby. However, significant weight gain can cause the skin to stretch beyond its natural limits, leading to stretch marks. 

It’s common for women to gain weight more quickly during the second and third trimesters, especially in areas like the belly, hips, and breasts.

While it’s important to gain weight for a healthy pregnancy, rapid weight gain increases the likelihood of stretch marks. Keeping weight gain gradual and within a healthy range, as advised by your healthcare provider, can help minimize excessive stretching of the skin.

I gained about 40 pounds while I was pregnant. But by using the natural strategies listed below, I managed to get through my pregnancy with no stretch marks!

4. Size of the Baby (or Babies)

A larger-than-average baby, or multiple babies (in the case of twins or triplets), can put more pressure on the skin, causing it to stretch more rapidly. 

If your baby (or babies) grow(s) quickly, particularly in the final trimester, your skin may not have enough time to adjust to the rapid expansion. This can lead to more noticeable stretch marks.

5. Multiple Pregnancies

If you’ve been pregnant before or are expecting more than one baby, the skin may stretch more severely due to repeated or simultaneous growth. Each pregnancy stretches the skin in a similar way.

And with subsequent pregnancies, the skin may not fully return to its original shape, making stretch marks more likely. Additionally, during later pregnancies, the body may have less time to adjust, leading to a higher chance of developing stretch marks.

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6. Dehydration

Keeping your skin hydrated is important during pregnancy, as it can help maintain its elasticity. When you’re dehydrated, your skin can lose moisture, becoming less supple and more prone to tearing as it stretches. 

Drinking plenty of water and using moisturizing creams or oils can help keep the skin hydrated and may prevent or minimize the appearance of stretch marks. More on this below!

7. Genetic Predisposition

If your mother or other close family members developed stretch marks during pregnancy, I’m afraid you may be more likely to experience them as well. Genetics play a big role in how your skin responds to stretching. 

Some people naturally have more elastic skin, while others may be more prone to developing stretch marks due to inherited factors. If you have a family history of stretch marks, there’s a higher chance that you’ll get them too during your pregnancy. 

But try not to stress too much about that. I’m going to give you ways to minimize or prevent stress marks naturally!

How To Prevent Stretch Marks Naturally During Pregnancy

Prevention is always better than correction. So the sooner you prevent or earlier you catch pregnancy stretch marks forming, the better. 

I would start using these strategies in your second trimester or when your bump starts to show and/or your belly starts feeling tight, dry, and/or itchy.

While stretch marks and pregnancy can often go hand-in-hand, I managed to avoid developing any stretch marks during pregnancy. Woo hoo!

I conquered my goal of having a stretch mark-free pregnancy by using the below 4 natural remedies for pregnancy stretch marks:

1. Hydration to Prevent Stretch Marks When Pregnant

Water

It’s always important to stay hydrated but even more so during pregnancy when your body needs extra fluids. Water helps create amniotic fluid to surround and protect your baby as well as extra blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to them.

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day also has the added benefit of keeping your skin plump and elastic by keeping it hydrated from the inside. Well-hydrated skin is more supple and less likely to develop stretch marks because it’s more flexible and can stretch easier without damage.

Proper hydration is essential for keeping your skin healthy and elastic, which can help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. If your skin is not properly hydrated, it can become less elastic and more prone to tearing.

I recommend bringing a water filter bottle with you when you go out to eat. That way you can eliminate nasties from your water to stay hydrated with clean water when you’re on the go. In fact, they remove over 70 contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, PFAS and more!

These bottles are great for hiking and traveling too! My hubby and I each used them on our road trip to Las Vegas for our baby shower, and they worked great! Plus, they gave us peace of mind knowing that I was protecting our baby.

Electrolytes

When we think about staying hydrated, we often just focus on drinking water. And while drinking enough water helps keep the skin supple and reduces the risk of stretch marks, there’s more to hydration than just fluid intake. 

Electrolytes, which are minerals that carry an electric charge, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of fluids in our body. These minerals, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, help regulate many important functions, including maintaining proper hydration levels in the skin.

Electrolytes help with hydration, which can in turn support your skin’s health and possibly reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Recommended Electrolytes

There are many different electrolyte powders on the market that you can add to your water. But watch out for harmful ingredients like artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. Basically, avoid anything artificial!

Artificial sweeteners are linked to cancer, insulin resistance, weight gain, and obesity. Artificial flavors are derived from petroleum products as well as other unnatural, inedible substances and chemical sources with certain flavorings linked to Alzheimer’s Disease, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity. 

Artificial colors are also derived from petroleum with many containing known or suspected genotoxic or carcinogenic properties. They have also been linked to behavioral problems in children, such as hyperactivity.

I personally used the Paleovalley Essential Electrolytes in Watermelon while I was pregnant and continue to use them when I need a hydration boost. I like Paleovalley’s electrolytes because they contain high quality, all naturally derived ingredients with nothing artificial. They also don’t contain refined sugar or Stevia. 

I avoided Stevia while preparing to get pregnant and during pregnancy. That’s because the steviol glycoside compounds in stevia are a type of steroid that can affect hormones, making it a potential endocrine disruptor (source) that has also been found to have antifertility properties. Stevia may also alter the gut biome (source), causing digestive issues, such as bloating, nausea, and gas.

The Paleovalley Essential Electrolytes do contain “seaweed extract,” and seaweed can contain high levels of iodine and heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead. Brown seaweeds like kelp are very high in iodine. Overall though, seaweed is considered safe in moderation during pregnancy.

However, I checked with Paleovalley to be on the safe side and found out that the seaweed in their Essential Electrolytes is “Red Algae, more specifically the Lithothamnion SP species, harvested off the coast of Iceland.” They also provided the COAs (Certificate of Analysis) for the heavy metal content of the electrolytes (I love how transparent Paleovalley is!):

• Watermelon Essential Electrolytes COA
• Lemon Lime Essential Electrolytes COA
• Orange Essential Electrolytes COA

On a side note, you may want to avoid the Essential Electrolytes in the Orange flavor as it contains 60mg of turmeric (I confirmed this with Paleovalley) since turmeric is not recommended as a supplement during pregnancy.

As always, consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements.

2. Collagen Peptides to Prevent Stretch Marks When Pregnant

Collagen is the predominant protein naturally in our bodies, making up approximately 30% of our total protein content (source). It provides structure, elasticity, and strength to the skin, hair, nails, and other tissues.

As we go through various physical changes like pregnancy, collagen production decreases, which can lead to stretch marks. A study found a correlation between women with stretch marks and a reduction of collagen (source).

So what are collagen peptides, and how can you boost your body’s collagen with them? Collagen peptides are the broken-down form of collagen, making them easier for the body to absorb. 

While stretch marks are a common skin concern during pregnancy, supplementing your body’s natural collagen with regular use of collagen peptides can lead to improved skin elasticity, hydration, texture and overall appearance.

When consumed, collagen peptides help stimulate collagen production from within, supporting the skin’s structure to help prevent and reduce stretch marks from the inside out.

Recommended Collagen Peptides

First of all, you should always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements.

With that said, the best option for collagen peptides is pasture raised or grass-fed with no additives (just 100% pure collagen peptides). But be careful which collagen peptides you use as many contain heavy metals including lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. 

For example, the popular Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides was found to have trace levels of mercury. 😱 Mamavation did an in-depth article on which collagen peptide brands were found to contain heavy metals.

I used Perfect Supplements Collagen Peptides throughout my pregnancy. This is the brand recommended by Mamavation as it’s from pasture raised (grass-fed) cows, is “Glyphosate Residue-Free” certified, does not require a Prop 65 warning, and tested very clean, including for phthalates and PFAS (forever chemicals).

There are also some organic grass-fed collagen peptides options available now. But I’m not sure if they contain heavy metals. I highly recommend reaching out to the companies and requesting their Certificate of Analysis (COA) to see their heavy metal levels and decide for yourself.

• Natural Force Organic Clean Collagen Peptides Powder (claims to be 3rd Party Lab Tested for heavy metals)
• Sports Research­® Organic Collagen Peptides
• Micro Ingredients Organic Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides Powder

3. Dry Brushing to Prevent Stretch Marks When Pregnant

Dry brushing is a form of exfoliation that uses a dry brush with stiff, natural bristles in circular motions over the body. By stimulating circulation, exfoliating dead skin cells, increasing collagen production, and promoting skin elasticity, dry brushing can prevent stretch marks or possibly reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks.

For expecting mothers, dry brushing can be a helpful skincare technique for managing stretch marks, especially as the body undergoes rapid changes during pregnancy. With consistent care and a gentle approach, dry brushing can support your skin’s health and help you feel confident and comfortable as your body changes during pregnancy.

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How Dry Brushing Helps Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Dry brushing during pregnancy offers many benefits. And beyond that, it feels fantastic, especially when you have an itchy baby bump! I highly recommend dry brushing when you’re pregnant and even when you’re not.

Here are 5 ways that dry brushing helps prevent stretch marks (and helps your skin + overall health):

1. Increases Circulation 
2. Promotes Skin Regeneration
3. Encourages Lymphatic Drainage
4. Removes Dead Skin Cells
5. Improves Skin Elasticity

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How To Dry Brush

First off, you need to start with a dry brush to use. 😉 I use and love the Primally Pure Dry Brush Duo that includes a dry brush for the body as well as one for the face.

The Body Dry Brush is made from sustainable bamboo wood and boar bristles with just the right amount of stiffness to scratch the itches you didn’t even know you had.

It takes just a few minutes before you shower and feels amazing! Then when you get out of the shower, your skin will be primed to optimally absorb moisturizers. Here’s a video from Primally Pure on exactly How To Dry Brush: Dry Brushing | Primally Pure.

Get 10% OFF every Primally Pure order with discount code “WLM” (save this code – it can be used every time you order)!

Is It Safe To Dry Brush While Pregnant?

While I was pregnant, I asked my health care provider if it was safe to dry brush my body, and more specifically if it was safe to dry brush my belly. She said dry brushing was safe.

And as far as dry brushing my belly, she said that was safe because babies are well protected in the womb. But you should still double-check with your own provider about dry brushing during pregnancy to be on the safe side.

Other Ways to Exfoliate

Dry brushing is a fantastic way to exfoliate your skin and help prevent pregnancy stretch marks or minimize the appearance of stretch marks. But there are other ways to exfoliate in place of dry brushing or in addition to dry brushing.

The following exfoliation methods can be done in the shower to remove dead skin and smooth the skin’s surface:

• Natural Loofah
• Unscented Body Scrub – Avoid artificial fragrance, phthalates, and parabens.
  • Artificial fragrances are cocktails of more than 3,000 toxic, carcinogenic chemicals including phthalates and formaldehyde.
  • Phthalates are carcinogenic endocrine disruptors that cause reproductive issues including infertility as well as increased risk of miscarriage and gestational diabetes. They are also linked to permanent birth defects, risk of preterm birth, developmental issues, autism spectral disorder, childhood behavioral problems, asthma, diabetes, breast cancer, and a higher incidence of childhood cancers.
  • Parabens are endocrine disrupting artificial preservatives with genotoxic and cytotoxic effects that harm reproductive health, can cause infertility, and increase the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer (they were found in 99% of breast cancer tissue in a study).

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You’ll want to watch out for essential oils as well since not all essential oils are safe for use during pregnancy. The safest bet is to use a body scrub that is unscented and does not contain essential oils.

As with any skincare routine, be sure to listen to your body and consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns or experience any discomfort while dry brushing or exfoliating.

4. Moisturizing to Prevent Stretch Marks When Pregnant

Regularly applying moisturizing creams and oils to areas prone to stretch marks, such as your belly, thighs, and breasts, can help improve the overall texture and tone of the skin.

But one of the most important ways moisturizing helps is by keeping the skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is better at recovering from the stress of rapid stretching, which may reduce the appearance of marks over time. And when the skin is well-moisturized, it tends to be more elastic making it resilient to stretching, which can prevent tearing.

As the skin stretches, it can also become dry and itchy. Dry, tight skin is more prone to cracking and developing stretch marks. Moisturizing regularly helps prevent dryness. In turn, this helps soothe itchy skin, which can be a common issue during pregnancy. This will reduce the temptation to scratch and potentially damage the skin.

Massaging moisturizing creams or oils into the skin also promotes blood circulation. The increased blood flow can aid in the delivery of nutrients to skin cells, helping them function better, heal easier, and maintain their health during pregnancy.

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Recommended Moisturizers

As I mentioned earlier, avoid artificial fragrances at all costs. And be careful with essential oils as many are not safe to use during pregnancy. These tips go for moisturizers as with all products used during pregnancy.

While I was pregnant, I used both an oil and a homemade tallow balm for extra moisture. I used the belly oil first then followed it with the homemade tallow balm to seal the oil in. Here’s what I used:

Belly Oil for Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

• The Honest Company Honest Mama Hydrating and Soothing Glow On Body + Belly Oil (Fragrance-Free)
  • Check out my review at my Amazon Storefront

Belly Balm for Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

• Homemade Tallow Balm – super easy to make with just 2 ingredients!
  • If DIY isn’t your thing though, no worries. Here are some ready-made belly balm options:
    • Badger Belly Butter (Organic)
    • Mambino Organics Oh Baby! Belly Butter (Organic)

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Wrapping Up How To Prevent Stretch Marks Naturally When Pregnant

Unfortunately, stretch marks are a common part of pregnancy. The primary causes include rapid skin stretching, hormonal changes, weight gain, and genetic predisposition. And while stretch marks are harmless, they can cause some mamas-to-be to worry or feel bad about themselves.

While there’s no surefire way to prevent stretch marks, taking steps to keep your skin hydrated, maintain a healthy weight, and support your skin’s elasticity can help minimize or possibly even prevent their appearance.

It’s important to remember that stretch marks are a normal and natural part of pregnancy, and most of them will fade over time, even if they don’t completely disappear. Embrace the changes that your body is going through, and give yourself grace during this beautiful journey!

Have you been pregnant before and experienced stretch marks? Did you find anything to help yours? Please share about your experience in the comments!

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