What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks are caused by tiny tears in the supportive tissue that lies just underneath your skin and helps the skin stretch. They look like small, depressed streaks of differently textured skin and can be pink, reddish brown, or very dark brown, depending on the color of your skin. At least half of all pregnant women get stretch marks, also called striae gravidarum, usually in the later stages of pregnancy when the abdomen is rapidly expanding to accommodate a developing baby. Some women also get them on their buttocks, thighs, hips, or breasts.
How can I tell if I'll get them?
It's primarily a matter of genetics — that is, how elastic your skin is. "The skin is very elastic, but the weight gain that comes with pregnancy can be pretty dramatic, and sometimes it's more than the skin can handle," explains Alexa Boer Kimball, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. However, women who gain lots of weight rapidly, carry multiples, have a big baby, or have excess amniotic fluid are more likely to get stretch marks than others. African American women are less likely than women of other races to get them.
What can I do to prevent them?
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. Gaining no more than the recommended amount of weight (in most cases 25 to 35 pounds) and gaining it slowly may help reduce your chances of getting stretch marks. There's no proof that any of the creams, salves, and oils that claim to prevent stretch marks actually work. (Keeping your belly well moisturized as it grows may reduce itching, though.)
Will they ever go away?
The good news is that stretch marks usually become considerably less noticeable within about six to 12 months following childbirth. The pigmentation in them fades and they generally become lighter than the surrounding skin (the color will vary depending on your skin color), but their texture will remain the same.
Is there anything I can do to get rid of them later?
If your stretch marks still bother you a year after your pregnancy, talk to a dermatologist about ways to minimize their appearance. Some studies have shown that topical ointments, such as 0.1 percent tretinoin cream (Retin-A) applied after your baby is born, may help lessen stretch marks, though to have much of an effect at all, it has be applied while the streaks are still the same color they were during pregnancy. While Retin-A can improve the cosmetic appearance of stretch marks, it doesn't do much to change the quality of the connective tissue itself and so won't change the texture of the marks or any sagging of the skin around them. (Note: Retin-A is not safe to use during pregnancy and there's no reliable information on the amount excreted in breast milk or its effect on a nursing infant, so it's best avoided while breastfeeding.) There's some evidence that laser treatments can help restore the skin's elasticity and also change the pigmentation so the stretch marks better "match" the rest of your skin. If you're interested, talk to a dermatologist.
Reference Babycenter.com
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancybeauty/1352276.html
