Pregnancy Stretch Marks on the Thighs

Pregnancy is the major cause of the stretch marks in women. More than ninety percent of expecting mothers develop such marks. Stretch marks are bluish or purplish colored striations formed on our skin due to overstretching. In pregnant women, abdomen expands as the baby grows in size leading to the formation of stretch marks. Other areas of body affected by these marks are breasts, arms, thighs, buttocks etc. Weight gain is also a contributing factor for the development of such marks.

Importance

Stretch marks which are located on the inner aspect of thighs are formed around 6^th or 7^th month of pregnancy. This is due to the baby’s weight which puts pressure on the mother’s skin, overstretching it, thus leading to tears in the supportive tissue of skin. This, coupled with rapid weight gain during pregnancy increases the risk for the development of stretch marks by many folds. In addition to that, genetics also play a vital role in the development of such marks. So if your sister or mother have stretch marks, you are prone to them as well.

In the beginning stretch marks are reddish, brownish or purplish colored streaks. These marks look gross and you are inclined to hide them by wearing pants instead of shorts etc. But with time these marks become silvery or white in color thus becoming less noticeable. Their final color depends on your skin tone, however they are generally more light-colored compared to the skin next to them. After the birth of baby, it takes 6 to 12 months for the stretch marks to fade into a lighter color.

Preventive Measures

There is no such exercise, cream or lotion which can absolutely prevent stretch marks from developing. But keeping your weight in a healthy range can decrease likelihood of the appearance of stretch marks on the inner aspect of your thighs. Gaining weight is something inevitable for pregnant women but they can consult a dietitian or a doctor to formulate a plan to make this weight gain steady and consistent. Keep your body hydrated by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.

Treatments

If the stretch marks disfigure your appearance, even after they have faded out, then you can consult a dermatologist to get advice for reducing these marks. You can try topical treatments like glycolic acid or tretinoin cream. You can also rub vitamin E gel over the stretchmarks on your thighs.

Vitamin E will help you to get rid of these stretch marks by increasing the rate at which your skin cells are produced. Other option is the laser treatment which can alter pigmentation of these marks and improve skin elasticity.

Expert Advice

Experts recommend using a good moisturizer over the affected skin to avoid dryness and itchiness. Scratching can further disfigure the stretch marks, so abstain from it. If you are going to the beach on a vacation or some other occasion, you would want to hide these gross marks. In this case, you can use tanning products to mask the stretch marks on your inner thighs.