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Last Updated on: November 6, 2023

Women often get stretch marks when they experience a shift in weight or growth, like during pregnancy.

Stretch marks are essentially scars that happen when collagen and elastin fibers tear during hormonal changes and growth.

Commonly, stretch marks occur around a pregnant woman’s breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs at any age during pregnancy.

So, how do you remove them?

Preventing Stretch Marks in Pregnancy

Did your mother experience stretch marks after pregnancy? How many stretch marks you get can be influenced by genetics.

You actually can prevent stretch though.

Here are three tips to stop stretch marks in their tracks during pregnancy:

  1. Eat well, since good nutrition keeps the skin healthy.
  2. Creams and lotions moisturize the skin as it stretches.
  3. Gain weight slowly to reach the proper goal.

Stretch Marks Have Their Own Life Cycle

Timing is everything in treating stretch marks. It’s essential that you treat them right away to get rid of or minimize them after birth.

In the beginning, stretch marks are red-purple in color and are called striae rubra.

Over time, stretch marks become more silvery-white and blend in better with your skin. This type of stretch mark is called striae alba, and it doesn’t respond as well to creams.

Using Retinol Lotions and Creams for Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

Many lotions and creams for eliminating stretch marks contain ingredients derived from vitamin A, which many women avoid during pregnancy.

Instead, select a lotion with retinol, which triggers collagen production.

You can typically find retinol in face cream, if you have trouble finding it anywhere else.

A dermatologist can also prescribe a cream with retinol for you.

For non-prescription (over-the-counter) stretch mark-minimizing creams and lotions, look for safe products with vitamin C or other ingredients like onion extract, hyaluronic acid, and Centella Asiatica.

Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks

Laser offers the most effective treatment for stretch-mark removal, but it can be expensive. Different types of lasers address stretch marks, based on their stage.

Importantly, wait to have laser treatment for stretch marks after recovering from giving birth.

If you have any questions about stretch marks during or after pregnancy, feel free to contact Joy of Life® today.

We’re an experienced California surrogacy agency who guides our surrogates and intended parents through each stage of the process.

*This article was reviewed for accuracy by Joy Millan and the Joy of Life team. Learn more about us.

Joy Millan

Author Joy Millan

I’m Joy, the founder and CEO of Joy of Life. With a professional background as a fertility clinician, I’ve spent thousands of hours working with surrogates and intended parents alike. As a mother of two, I often wished for more support and a deeper commitment to care for those embarking on non-traditional family-building journeys. This is why I established Joy of Life: to create a more robust, compassionate experience in parenthood for both parties involved with surrogacy. In 2021, I stepped back from daily operations at Joy of Life to fight cancer. Fortunately, the combined 20 years of experience from our incredible team has allowed me to focus on my health & recovery. I continue to provide company guidance and serve as the head liaison for our network of doctors, clinicians and caregivers.

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