They say that children's scars are small "war marks", traces that they have lived and had great fun. Who hasn't shown an old scar from that tree they climbed when they were five or six years old? Or those transparent seams that show that at some point someone had to be treated urgently in the medical guard after a domestic accident while playing? Bumps and scars are part of the stage of childhood life and something similar happens with pregnancy. Who says that pregnancy leaves no traces is wrong.
In one way or another, each woman accounts for the record that has remained in her body after having housed a baby in her womb. Footprints may be invisible to outsiders. But not for us, who know how our body looked before those nine months and how it is now. There are cases in which the traces are internal and appear in the form of circulation problems or waist pain. In other cases they are external and visible. It can be anything from increased cellulite to a flabby, bulging belly. Or sagging breasts after breastfeeding, to which is added the thinner skin in the area. Pregnancy revolutionizes the body, with its hormonal load and with everything that implies carrying a baby in the womb for so many months.
And witness of that passage are the traces on the body. Many women suffer from varicose veins or spider veins because the circulation slows down, something that can hardly be reversed once they appear. In other cases, the problems appear in the form of stretch marks or flaccidity, especially in the abdomen area and despite the many creams that have been used during pregnancy to prevent them. And there is also the linea alba… which was already there before you got pregnant but now it is one of the great witnesses that that body has housed a life.
what is the dawn line
The linea alba is also known as the linea nigra and is, as the word says, a line that can come into view during pregnancy. This does not happen in the case of all women, but pregnancy is a very frequent symptom. It is a dark line that runs along the woman's belly, from the navel to the pubis. As the pregnancy progresses, many women will discover this line that appears out of nowhere and stays there for some time after giving birth.
What is its appearance due to? The most curious thing about this matter is that the linea alba is that it is not a mark of pregnancy but rather it is a line that all women have but that begins to be delineated during pregnancy. As the belly grows and the skin stretches, you may notice this line that is darker in color than the rest of the skin. One of the great curiosities is that most people believe that the linea alba is brown. However, this is not so.
It is a white line with a fibrous condition that goes from the pubis to the navel and that in some pregnancies emerges in the light turning brown. But this line was already in the body before it. Another of the curiosities of the linea alba is that not all women appear during pregnancy. Although there is a large percentage of women in whom this line changes color and becomes visible, it does not always happen. As in all symptoms related to pregnancy and hormonal changes, there are times that they can appear while in other cases they do not.
A curiosity of the case? As is known, among the myths of pregnancy there is one related to the linea alba. There are people who believe that the linea alba in pregnancy allows predicting the sex of the baby. How is this? Well, far from the hormonal revolution, the shape and length of the line would indicate whether a boy or a girl is being expected. Thus, if the linea alba rises above your navel, the baby is a boy, and if, on the contrary, it does not reach the mother's navel, she will be a girl. Little is known about how much truth there is in these myths, but even so, there are people who choose to believe and analyze the format of the linea alba in order to anticipate the mysteries of life. And what do you think about it? Do you believe in these popular myths?
Hormones and pigmentation
When the linea alba appears in a woman, there should be no problem because it is common for it to remain visible until after childbirth. Little by little, and as the hormones return to their normal levels prior to pregnancy, it will lose color until it disappears. This is because it is these hormonal changes that cause this change in pigmentation that makes a hitherto invisible line begin to be seen. Pigmentation can be affected in different parts of the body as a result of hormonal changes and the linea alba is one of them, but it is also common for spots to appear on the face and that is why it is recommended not to expose yourself to the sun so that they do not remain after giving birth.
There are two hormones that take center stage in changes in the dermis: progesterone and estrogen, that is, the two hormones that fight the most during pregnancy. These hormones stimulate the production of melanin, which causes the skin to become more pigmented. And this happens especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, when progesterone levels are high, causing an increase in body temperature. Although the body is a Swiss watch during these nine months and everything has a reason for being, the truth is that this hormonal increase leaves some traces that then take some time to overcome. Fortunately, in the case of the linea alba, over time there will be no traces.
In the most common cases, only a change in the color of this line will be registered, but there are times when some hair may also appear due to the high presence of androgens, other hormones associated with pregnancy that are very present in men. There is no need to worry because, like the line, the hair will also disappear after giving birth and when the hormones return to their normal levels and the body stabilizes.
The moment it appears
Let us now see some additional details: although the linea alba or linea nigra begins at the pubis, its extension is not exact. There are cases in which it ends at the navel while in others it can continue even a little higher and reach the diaphragm area. The best advice if it appears is to go through the pregnancy as if it were not there because there is nothing to be ashamed of, regardless of the extent of it. Just a field of coloration that has been modified for a short period of time.
Also remember that there is no exact time for its appearance, this is another point where there may be differences. In some women it can be seen already towards the end of the third month and in others only towards the fourth month and when the belly becomes larger and the skin begins to stretch more and more. It is generally estimated that the linea alba appears in the second trimester, more precisely between the fourth and sixth months. What is natural during pregnancy are these small variations but if we live them as part of life because, precisely, we are gestating life and nothing can be planned to the millimeter when we talk about gestation...
Finally, if you are within the percentage of women to whom this line appears during pregnancy, remember that changes in the dermis can be very varied and present themselves in many ways. Although there are women who deny this line, there are others who suffer from other types of changes in pigmentation such as the appearance of freckles, chloasma, change in the color of the areolas, spots on the face, etc. In the case of the linea nigra, it can be more pronounced in dark-skinned women due to a greater presence of melanin. Beyond the aesthetic factor, the most important thing is that it does not leave traces in the long term.
How to remove the white line
And if you are worried about the trace that could be left and you do not trust the statistics that indicate that there is no trace of the linea alba, you should know that you can incorporate some habits to prevent the pigmentation from being exaggerated. The first thing is to take care of the sun and use a full-screen sunscreen to avoid sun exposure and thus avoid exaggerated pigmentation in the linea alba. On the other hand, it is recommended to protect the skin from solar radiation during pregnancy. As you know, it is important to always take care of the skin from solar radiation so as not to damage the dermis, always have a cream with a protection factor on hand, especially on days of very intense radiation and in the warmer seasons since then we use less clothing that covers us.
On the other hand, a healthy diet is also important; with abundant presence of foods of plant origin, and especially that are rich in folic acid. This vitamin also helps control pigmentation so it is ideal to take into account. What foods contain folic acid? It is present, for example, in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, carrots, broccoli, and many other vegetables. As you know, good hydration is also very important and water always helps. Aim for an abundant intake of water of no less than 2 to 3 liters daily to help the skin to be elastic and that there are no marks on the skin.
Tips to take care of yourself
But the most important thing is to know that, although for some women it is an unsightly line, it does not have risks for the mother or the baby. This means that there is no need to worry about the health of both, but just have a little patience and wait for the hormones to drop and return to their pre-pregnancy levels.
Finally, remember these tips and always keep them in mind:
- The white line is a mark whose appearance cannot be avoided at this stage, so avoid using whitening creams or any product that aims to eliminate it.
- After childbirth and when the hormonal levels are regularized, the line and the excess hair will disappear without a trace.
- Use sunscreens when sunbathing to minimize it and prevent it from getting darker.
- Always use sunscreen, especially during the hours of maximum solar intensity and if the area is directly exposed.
Remember as we always speak, that if you notice something strange or that catches your attention you should make an appointment with your trusted doctor. Although it is unlikely, he is the one who will be able to check on you to make sure everything is running smoothly.