It is a known fact that over half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks including women of color even though it is not as likely. Stretch marks appear like streaks on the skin and vary in color according to the color of your own natural skin. With light-skinned women, the stretch marks appear pinkish and with darker complexions, the stretch marks tend to be just lighter than the surrounding skin. During pregnancy, stretch marks are usually developed on the hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts, and abdomen. In most cases, around 90 percent of all women have stretch marks somewhere on their body due to pregnancy.

You are probably excited about becoming a new mother, however, the unsightly appearance of stretch marks is causing you worry. The best part is stretch marks will fade with time; however, they will not go away completely. The marks themselves maybe less noticeable, but the texture of the skin will remain different that the surrounding skin.

Stretch marks removal for women of color is pretty much the same as it for anyone else that wishes to rid their body of stretch marks. The only difference is when it comes to laser surgery. In some cases, prior to laser surgery your surgeon may ask that you use a skin bleaching ointment. If your stretch marks are severe, you can always talk with your doctor or your dermatologist for suggestions. A few prescribed topical ointments have had success in fading stretch marks. These ointments contain Retin-A and are commonly known as tretinoin creams.  However, for these creams to work best, the treatment must be used right after pregnancy, but if you are breast-feeding, they are not recommended.

There are preventive measures that help in stretch marks removal for women of color that can be used even after birth that have shown some improvement in helping to fade the appearance of stretch marks. Some of these include Palmer’s cocoa butter, Shea Nut butter, vitamin E oil, castor oil, and other minerals. These can be massaged into the areas where you have stretch marks or even prior to developing stretch marks in the areas that they are likely to develop. This may aid in giving your skin the elasticity it needs so when it does stretch, stretch marks do not develop as prominent.

Remember though, before you apply any type of topical cream or ointment on your body, talk with your health care provider. In some cases, the cream that is absorbed through your skin is not advisable to use while pregnant or nursing.