Posts Tagged ‘stretch marks’

What are stretch marks and can they be prevented?

Stretch marks (striae) are pink, reddish or purplish indented streaks that often appear on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs.  Unfortunately, stretch marks cannot be prevented during pregnancy. The degree to which a woman experiences stretch marks is determined genetically. If your mother got them during pregnancy, you probably will too.  Stretch marks usually occur when weight is lost or gained quickly. Using creams and gels rarely make a difference. Fortunately, stretch marks fade with time and become silvery white or red.  Once you are done with your pregnancy, you can manage your stretch marks with new medical laser technology.   They will often fade to light pink to grayish stripes but rarely disappear completely.