14/10/2025
🩷 Stretch Marks in Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Hey lovely mamas-to-be! I’m a skin specialist, and there are a lot of myths floating around about stretch marks (aka striae gravidarum) — so I wanted to share what evidence and experience tell us.
What really causes them
• Genetics plays a big role. If your mum, sister, or woman in your family had stretch marks in pregnancy, there’s a higher chance you might, too. Skin elasticity, collagen / elastin structure — these are partly inherited.
• Other factors are also at play: rapid skin stretching (bump growth, weight gain), skin type, hormonal changes, possibly pregnancy duration, and baby birth weight.
What you can do / supportive steps
• Hydrate & moisturise: Using lotions, oils help with dry, itchy skin, improve comfort, and may support skin barrier. I like Trilogy rosehip Oil — I used it in my first trimester when my skin was very dry, even on my face, and also on my bump.
• Work from within: Nutrition counts. Make sure you get enough vitamins and nutrients that support skin elasticity — think vitamin C (for collagen), vitamin E, zinc, good protein, omega-3s.
• Avoid unnecessary / potentially irritating or toxic ingredients: Gentle skincare, avoid harsh retinoids, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid during pregnancy, strong fragrances or questionable actives.
• Self-care matters: Stress, sleep, hydration inside the body, and gentle massage can help comfort the skin and may assist in keeping skin supple.
What to be realistic about
• Even with excellent care, stretch marks might still happen — because of those genetic predispositions.
• They often fade over time after delivery, becoming less noticeable.
• Prevention is not guaranteed, but you can reduce severity / discomfort.
My personal story
My mum didn’t use any special cream or oil 40 years ago and didn’t get a single stretch mark. So yes, genetics can be powerful. But I still believe self-care, gentle skincare, and good nutrition help alongside genetic factors.
If you’d like, here are some scientific study links on the genetic side — there are several very recent ones! (Please read the comments section).
