Stretch marks can show up even if you practice proper prevention. After all, your body is literally being stretched to its absolute limits. Do stretch marks fade after pregnancy, though, or are you stuck with them for life?
The good news is yes - stretch marks can fade postpartum, as those deep red or purple lines eventually begin lightening and flattening over time. Eventually, they’ll shift to a pale silver or white color 6-12 months postpartum.1
They may not disappear entirely, but you can do quite a bit to get them to diminish. We’ll share tips on how to fade stretch marks after pregnancy and speak to the importance of prevention. It’s as simple as setting yourself up for success with 8 Sheep Organics stretch mark serum!
Key Takeaways
- Stretch marks are tears in the dermis caused by rapid and severe skin stretching.1
- Stretch marks can gradually fade over a 6-12 month period postpartum, shifting from red/purple to silver/white. 1
- Genetics is one of the biggest factors influencing whether you develop stretch marks (and how they look).2,3
- Centella Asiatica and hyaluronic acid are your best friends for preventing and diminishing stretch marks.2
- 8 Sheep Organics stretch mark cream has both ingredients in clinical concentrations to help you move through each stage of pregnancy gracefully.
What Are Stretch Marks?
They’re known medically as striae distensae, but you know them as stretch marks. These unsightly, narrow lines form anytime the body goes through a dramatic expansion period.
Obviously, pregnancy is a common time to develop stretch marks, but so are growth spurts, rapid muscle gains, or any other fast weight gain. They rear their ugly head anytime the skin stretches faster than its structure can keep up with, and the dermis literally tears.
At a deeper level, what happens is pressure causes collagen and elastin fibers to rupture - and visible scarring forms beneath the surface as the skin repairs itself.1,2
The color of a stretch mark tells you a lot about it. Early stretch marks (striae rubra) are red, purple, or dark brown. It depends on your skin tone. They lose that color over time, though, fading into a faint silvery-white line (striae alba).3
Most pregnant women see them pop up on the belly, hips, and breasts - but really, they can show up anywhere that you’re gaining weight. Upper arms, lower back, thighs, etc.
The Cause of Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
You know already what an extraordinary demand pregnancy places on your body. The collagen and elastin fibers in your skin simply cannot keep pace with your growing belly, especially during the third trimester.
Hormonal shifts going on behind the scenes can make matters worse. Collagen fibers get softened by elevated cortisol levels, so those fibers become more vulnerable to tearing.3
Are Stretch Marks Scars?
Technically, yes - the Cleveland Clinic classifies stretch marks as “a form of scarring.”1 This matters because it speaks to how you address them. The damage is deep within the dermis, so you’ll need ingredients that can penetrate down to that layer.
Why Some People Are More Prone to Stretch Marks
We get asked all the time, are stretch marks genetic? Unfortunately, yes - you may be more prone to stretch marks than others if your mother or grandmother had them.2,3
Other factors at play include how much weight you’ve gained (and how fast you gained it), your skincare routine, your stress levels, and even your ethnicity. Black, Hispanic, East Asian, and South Asian women are more vulnerable, according to the Cleveland Clinic.1
The truth is, though, up to 90% of women will develop stretch marks during pregnancy.3 It’s just a matter of to what degree. That said, do stretch marks fade after pregnancy?
Do Stretch Marks Fade After Pregnancy?
Fortunately, those stretch marks won’t be red and angry forever. They slowly but surely begin lightening postpartum. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this can take anywhere from 6-12 months, at which point they’ll “go away or at least become less noticeable.”1
The thing is, “fade” doesn’t equate to “disappear.” Most stretch marks will stay behind in the form of faint silver or white lines. They’re harder to see to the naked eye than the early versions, but they may not ever completely vanish.2
This assumes you’re not doing anything to treat them, though. There are tons of ways you can support your skin’s natural healing processes in order to fade stretch marks further. There are also professional treatments you could explore.
It All Starts With Prevention!
This is the best piece of advice we have to offer any pregnant woman worried about stretch marks. The sooner you start addressing them, the better chance you have of preventing them in the first place!
Now, this doesn’t do you any good if you’re here hoping to learn how to fade stretch marks after pregnancy. But, if you’re doing research early on in the first or even second trimester, there is still time to get ahead of the issue.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says the most promising products for stretch mark prevention contain Centella Asiatica (gotu kola) and hyaluronic acid.2 The AAD also says that cocoa butter, olive oil, almond oil, and vitamin E don’t make much of a measurable difference in stretch mark prevention or appearance.2
This is what makes 8 Sheep Organics True Belly Serum the best stretch mark cream during pregnancy. It contains both Centella Asiatica and three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to penetrate every layer of the skin for deep, nourishing hydration.
Wondering when to start using stretch mark cream during pregnancy? As early as possible! In a perfect world, women would start using True Belly Serum as soon as they find out they’re pregnant. But even if you’re in the second trimester already, it’s never too late to start.
How to Fade Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
The goalposts move once stretch marks form. Then it becomes a matter of figuring out how to fade stretch marks after pregnancy. Again, we’ll point you towards a stretch mark cream like 8 Sheep Organics not just for prevention but also treatment!
Wait, does stretch mark cream work? Yes! Many women who use True Belly Serum have seen their marks diminish in appearance. The key takeaway is you must use something containing Centella Asiatica and hyaluronic acid. Ideally, both, in clinical concentrations.
You could also consider retinoids (like tretinoin), which the AAD notes can help fade newer marks. The only problem is these products aren’t safe during pregnancy or nursing, so they may not even be a viable option.2
There are also professional treatments worth exploring, including laser therapy and microneedling. You can talk to a dermatologist about how well these treatments could work based on your specific stretch marks.
How Long For Stretch Marks to Fade After Pregnancy?
We know you’re antsy to find out how long for stretch marks to fade postpartum. So, when do stretch marks fade after pregnancy? It depends on what you’re doing to address them. It also depends on your skin’s own healing capabilities. Assume a 6-12 month timeline.
The color should start fading within the first few months. The texture (that somewhat raised or indented feel) takes a little longer to smooth out. You can speed things up by using the right stretch mark products.
It’s worth noting that red, purple stretch marks are easier to fade than lighter ones that have solidified themselves as more permanent scars. This goes back to the importance of early intervention. The sooner you start addressing stretch marks, the better chance you have.
So, don’t wait any longer. Get the organic pregnancy products you need at 8 Sheep Organics!
References
- Cleveland Clinic. "Stretch Marks: What are they, Causes & Treatments." Cleveland Clinic
- American Academy of Dermatology. "Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them." AAD.org
- Oakley AM, Patel BC. "Striae Distensae." StatPearls. NCBI Bookshelf
