Pregnancy stretch marks on the abdomen, caused by rapid skin stretching during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant, you may be wondering how to keep your skin smooth and strong. Or maybe you’ve already noticed stretch marks and are looking for ways to make them less visible. Here’s what you need to know, based on facts – not myths.
Once stretch marks have formed, whether during or after pregnancy, they are permanent. Some claim they can be reduced, but these claims are not supported by solid scientific evidence.
Are you pregnant and looking for ways to lower the risk of stretch marks? Then keep reading.
When do stretch marks appear in pregnancy?
Stretch marks appear when your body grows faster than your skin can adapt, for example, during pregnancy. During pregnancy, stretch marks can appear on the belly, thighs, and even stretch marks on the breast as the skin stretches. But pregnancy isn’t the only cause. Growth spurts, intensive exercise and other rapid changes can also trigger them. Men can develop stretch marks too.
When the skin stretches too quickly, the connective tissue underneath can tear. Once this happens, only limited recovery is possible. That’s why most stretch mark care focuses on prevention and on stopping the problem from getting worse.
Whether you develop stretch marks depends on several factors, such as:
- Your body type
- How quickly your skin stretches
- How much your skin stretches
- Your genetic predisposition to stretch marks
How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
Pregnancy stretch marks develop when your skin stretches faster than it can adapt. This cannot always be prevented, but you can take steps to lower the risk.
The most effective ways to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy include:
- Hydrating your skin daily with a cream that supports elasticity.
- Using Aloe Vera–based creams, since Aloe Vera penetrates deeper skin layers and helps keep connective tissue flexible.
- Maintaining a healthy weight gain, so your skin has more time to adapt.
- Supporting your skin from within by drinking enough water and eating nutrient-rich food
If stretch marks have already started to appear during pregnancy, creams with Aloe Vera can help keep them from worsening and may soothe redness or itching.
What makes ALHYDRAN effective
Many people search for the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy, but it’s worth looking closely at what’s inside and how it works.
ALHYDRAN is a medical cream developed for scar care. Its strong hydrating and soothing effect can also support the skin during pregnancy. By keeping the skin supple and elastic, it may help lower the risk of stretch marks forming and ease common complaints such as dryness, itching or redness. There is no evidence that any cream can fully prevent or remove stretch marks
The key ingredient is pure, fresh Aloe Vera, the most recommended natural ingredient for reducing the risk of stretch marks. In ALHYDRAN, Aloe Vera isn’t just an added extra. It’s the main ingredient, listed first on the label as required by law. (In many creams that claim to contain Aloe Vera, it’s only present in small amounts.)
Because ALHYDRAN contains a high concentration of pure Aloe Vera, it can penetrate deeply into the skin, keeping your connective tissue soft and elastic. This helps lower the risk of stretch marks forming.
Yvette: “I used ALHYDRAN on my belly, to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. After 4 months of pregnancy I started applying ALHYDRAN to my belly every evening. I have always had a very narrow waist and flat stomach. The result, after 9 months of pregnancy, is that my belly grew without itching or stretch marks! I therefore strongly recommend using ALHYDRAN during pregnancy.”
Why existing stretch marks cannot be removed, but can fade?
Once stretch marks have appeared after pregnancy, they are permanent. The underlying tears in the connective tissue do not heal completely. Over time, however, their colour and texture often soften, making them less visible. With the right care you can support your skin and improve comfort. Daily use of a hydrating cream keeps the skin supple and helps reduce dryness, redness and itching. Aloe Vera–based creams are especially suitable, as they enhance hydration and skin elasticity. While no product can remove existing stretch marks, good skin care can make them less noticeable and support healthy skin recovery.
