Why does a dark line appear on the abdomen of pregnant women

For the majority of women during pregnancy, a dark vertical line appears on the abdomen.

And although future mothers realize that in their organism a new life and therefore their body undergoes various changes, this “decoration” of the growing belly, anyway, at least arouses curiosity, and sometimes becomes an occasion for excitement.

The dark belly line is nothing but a manifestation of hyperpigmentation. It is a thin vertical strip that extends from the navel down to the pubic area.

In some pregnant women, the line “grows” up to the level of the ribs. The stripe is always located right in the middle of the abdomen.

Actually, this line is present in every woman, but when she is not pregnant, this line is barely noticeable.

The darkening of the abdominal stripe during pregnancy is due to the increased pigmentation in this skin area.

According to statistics, 90% of women develop a dark strip on their abdomen during pregnancy.

Swarthy women and those with dark hair are most likely to develop this hyperpigmentation.

Why does a dark strip appear on the belly of pregnant women?

The exact reason for this is not known, but it is believed to be due to a natural increase in the levels of the following hormones: melanotropin /hormone that stimulates melanocytes – the cells that form pigment and increase the risk of darkening and the appearance of freckles and spots/; estrogen, progesterone.

Still, there is no cause for concern – the formation of this strip on the belly of the pregnant woman is a sign that the synthesis and release of hormones is taking place completely normally.

When does it usually appear?

The abdominal band in women most often appears at the very beginning of pregnancy and may even be its first sign.

Initially, the line may be light and over time begin to darken. Most often, pregnant women notice the beginning of darkening of the abdominal stripe after 12 weeks.

Also, the dark line on the belly can appear and in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. But in the end, in any case, it is individual.

The gradual darkening of the belly band of a pregnant woman is due to an increase in hormone levels. It usually disappears soon after birth, but in some women, although it lightens, it remains visible. In subsequent pregnancies, the belly band usually appears earlier and is more visible.

How to prevent the appearance of the dark line?

For most women, it disappears by itself after giving birth. Methods to prevent abdominal striae are very limited – pregnant women are advised to be less exposed to direct sunlight, it is advisable to use sunscreen and wear covered clothes when going outside. p>

Unfortunately, even fully following all these recommendations does not give a 100% guarantee that the streak will not appear.

The only thing that can be achieved if these rules are followed is to prevent a strong darkening of the line. Concealing the streak or getting rid of it during pregnancy is not achievable.

It is important to remember that the sun is the main source of vitamin D, which is essential for bone health, growth and development.

Precisely for this reason, it is necessary for pregnant women to observe the balance, not reducing exposure to the sun to a minimum, in an attempt to prevent the appearance of the dark streak, but also not to overdo it with sunbathing.