They’re definitely the most talked-about (and for some, feared) pregnancy skin symptom. With that talk comes fact and fiction on what causes stretch marks and what you can do to prevent them.

What to Expect Founder Heidi Murkoff and her daughter Emma Bing sit down with dermatologist and What to Expect Medical Review Board member Dr. Jessica Wu to get to the truth about your “tiger stripes.”

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Key Takeaways
  • Stretch marks are common — and largely out of your control. Hormones, genetics, and how quickly your bump grows all play a role, and every pregnancy is different.
  • Moisturizing helps support skin, but there’s no magic cure. Regularly massaging your skin with pregnancy-safe oils or creams and staying well-hydrated can help keep skin flexible, but no product can guarantee prevention.
  • They often fade. Stretch marks usually become less noticeable after delivery. For moms who want to minimize them further, dermatologist-recommended treatments are an option postpartum.

What are stretch marks and why do they happen? Why do they affect some women more than others?

During pregnancy, hormones weaken the elastic fibers in your skin. As your belly grows, those fibers stretch and snap, like a rubber band, leaving stretch marks.

So the faster your bump grows, the more likely you are to have to deal with stretch marks. Heredity plays a big role in how your skin responds to stretching too, and that’s why stretch marks develop differently for each mom-to-be.

“I don’t have any on my belly, but my thunder thighs have sprouted a few!” says What to Expect Community mom ftmoftwins. “Boo to stretch marks!”

When during your pregnancy do stretch marks appear?

Most moms first see stretch marks around the second trimester, when the skin starts to stretch more. But when they appear depends on how fast — and how big — your baby bump grows.

“I’m only 12 weeks and already have stretch marks,” says What to Expect Community member CareyKent. “Luckily I was never the bikini type!”

What can you do to prevent them?

Dr. Wu recommends massaging your stretch marks with almond oil but says rubbing any other natural oil like cocoa butter or coconut oil on them can help moisturize and strengthen the skin.

‘Start right away!” advises What to Expect Community member maman1216. “I use bio oil every night before bed and I use coco butter stretch mark lotion mornings and then again at night after I put bio oil on.”

Not all skin care products are good for baby, however. Dr. Wu says to steer clear of essential oils that may irritate the skin or be absorbed by it and cause contractions. And though people say they are good for treating stretch marks, retinoids like Retin-A should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Drinking plenty of water can help elastic fibers be more flexible and keep your skin more moisturized, says Dr. Wu, so be sure to stay well-hydrated.

“I have been in the clear, and now that I’m growing faster by the second, here come the stretch marks, ugh!” says What to Expect Community member TaraL777.

Do stretch marks ever go away?

There’s good news for moms wondering what happens next. Stretch marks’ redness will fade after delivery. For some moms, the stretch marks themselves will also disappear (or at least become less noticeable) with the redness, but for others, stretch marks will take on a pale, squiggly appearance.

Have more questions about changes to your skin during pregnancy? The What to Expect app has all the answers you need.

These marks can be a reminder of your body’s amazing work and may not bother you, but for moms who would rather see them go away completely, Dr. Wu suggests looking into treatments after delivery that can help minimize stretch marks. Talk to your doctor if you want to learn more.