During pregnancy, there are many transformations in the body, skin, and hair that women need to face due to the hormonal changes experienced during the gestational phase1. Among these changes are skin spots and a mark on the belly known as the linea nigra.

What is Linea Nigra

Do you know that mark that divides the belly in half only during pregnancy? It is called linea nigra or purple line2. The linea nigra is an exclusive mark of pregnant women, as well as other marks such as chloasma on the face, which can also appear during pregnancy. It is estimated that 70–90% of pregnant women have some pregnancy mark such as linea nigra, chloasma, or even stretch marks.

Why Does Linea Nigra and Skin Spots Occur

Hormonal changes are undoubtedly the main cause for the appearance of “disturbances” in the skin of pregnant women. In some cases, it is nothing serious, but in other cases, they can become permanent, leading women to seek treatment to try to restore the skin to its pre-pregnancy condition.

The linea nigra usually starts appearing around 14, 16 weeks, and gradually develops as the pregnant belly appears. At first it is a shadow that darkens until it becomes the typical dividing line on a pregnant woman’s belly. In some women the linea nigra is more subtle, in others the line is very pronounced. The linea nigra can also appear only below the navel, or along the entire abdominal area from the thoracic line to the pelvis.

But How Does the Linea Nigra Appear in Pregnancy?

The linea nigra appears during pregnancy due to increased estrogen and also because of the abdominal stretching needed to accommodate the growth of the uterus and baby. Estrogen raises the production of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone and this hormone, together with abdominal stretching, results in pigmentation accumulating in this dividing area, making the line visible.

Body Parts That May Darken

Because estrogen and melanocyte levels are both very high during pregnancy, some parts of a woman’s body also tend to become darker, such as:

  • Areolas of the breasts
  • Armpits
  • Groin
  • Face

Chloasma Gravidarum

Chloasma gravidarum are also spots from pregnancy, but these appear on the woman’s face due to the very high hormonal levels, and can cause some headaches after pregnancy3. Treatment should be carried out after the breastfeeding period, and always with a dermatologist, using medications to help reduce and in some cases even eliminate the chloasma gravidarum on the face.

Important: During pregnancy it’s very important to care for your skin, whether by moisturizing with oils and creams or by drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet.

When Does the Linea Nigra Disappear

Unlike chloasma, the linea nigra tends to disappear up to 12 weeks after birth without any medication, just with the gradual hormonal drop postpartum. To help the linea nigra fade after pregnancy, exfoliating creams applied twice a week can help renew the skin in the area and make the line disappear more easily.

Taking folic acid throughout pregnancy is also a good tip to prevent the linea nigra from lingering for too long after delivery. Folic acid has properties that may slow and reduce the increase in the melanocyte hormone.

Besides chloasma gravidarum, stretch marks are the most common complaints among women during pregnancy. Taking good care of the skin to keep it elastic is definitely the most effective trick against these most dreaded pregnancy marks. Immerse yourself in a jar of anti-stretch mark cream, and hydrate your body well with liquids and creams. The linea nigra is the most beautiful mark a woman can have on her body—it represents the achievement of a long-awaited moment for many. To me, the linea nigra is a mark of love!

See also: Body Care – Video