Pregnancy Belly
Stretch Marks and Skin Changes in Pregnancy
Source from Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com
Striae gravidarum, or stretch marks are probably the most discussed of the skin changes during pregnancy. Nearly every woman fears them or thinks about them. They appear in 50 - 90 of all pregnant women, usually showing up in the later half of pregnancy. While the majority will be on the lower abdomen they can also be found on the thighs, hips, buttocks, breasts and arms of women.
These are most commonly seen as small depressions in the skin. They tend to be pinkish in light skinned women, and in dark skinned women they will be lighter than the surrounding skin. They reflect the separation of collagen of the skin. While not painful the stretching of the skin may cause a tingling or itchy sensation.
There are some factors that you should know contribute to stretch marks:
- Family (If your mom or sister has them, guess what?)
- Nutritional Status (Well hydrated and healthy skin stretches better.)
- Ethnicity (African American women get them less.)
Well, eventually they do fade after you have the baby, becoming silver lines. There are new techniques and surgeries being explored all the time. Talk to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon if you are concerned.
Mask of Pregnancy
Melanotropin is secreted in greater quantity during pregnancy, this can cause a pigmentation to occur over the nose, cheeks, and forehead of an expectant mom. 45 - 70% of women will experience this beginning in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. Most women use make up to cover this if it becomes a problem. Linea Negra Multiparous women (had more than one child) will often see it earlier. (See a linea negra photo.)
Acne
Think again, while many women actually find that the hormones of pregnancy relieve their acne and leave them with that “glowing” skin of pregnancy, many women find their skin more oily and susceptible to acne break outs. Here’s where the high school remedies come into play… Actually ensure you are drinking plenty of water, wash your face, avoid things that cause you to break out.
Spider Veins
65 of the Caucasian women and 10 of the African American women will experience these, which do usually fade after the birth.
Palmar Erythema
About 60% of Caucasian women will experience this, with about 35% of African American women too.
Other Facts
