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Pregnancy comes with a myriad of anticipations and apprehensions as the would-be mother’s body changes to accommodate the thriving foetus. Experts all over the world are showered with questions like, What is the dark line on your belly during pregnancy? The human body follows strange paths, and the purpose behind these is often undiscernible. The linea nigra is one such mystery. It is common knowledge that pregnancy comes with skin pigmentation in most women due to hormonal changes. It occurs as a linear hyperpigmentation spanning from the pubis to the umbilicus. In this blog, we will learn more about this longitudinal line.
What is a Linea Nigra?
It is a dark vertical line that appears on the skin down the middle of the expectant mother’s stomach. Also known as the Pregnancy dark line, it stems from the Latin language, which means “black line”.
Anatomically speaking, it is a streak of connective tissue that is already present on the abdomen. This is an innocuous 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide line that extends from the pubic bone to the belly button or towards the breasts of expectant women. This line usually appears dark brown in pregnant women.
When Does the Linea Nigra Occur?
This vertical line is always present on the human body and is called the linea alba or the “white line”. However, when a woman gets pregnant, it gradually darkens and becomes visible; it is then called the linea nigra. Having a Belly line during pregnancy is normal, and it darkens as the would-be-mother is well into her second trimester, or around week 20, and is more prominently visible in people with darker skin tone since they have a richly pigmented skin as compared to those with a lighter complexion.
Why does the Pregnancy Dark Line appear in Pregnant Women?
Most women who have experienced motherhood have had queries like, Is linea nigra a sign of pregnancy? While it is a common sign of pregnancy. It may be more or less noticeable depending on the skin colour of the mother. The dark pregnancy line appears naturally during pregnancy because of hormonal changes that increase melanin production.
There is no explicit answer to Why does linea nigra appear in pregnancy? But, the unanimous opinion of erudite healthcare practitioners is that the melanocyte-stimulating hormone created by the placenta causes melanin to rise during pregnancy. Melanin is responsible for giving the skin its colour. This increase in melanin causes the skin to darken during pregnancy. The same hormone is responsible for causing melasma and darker areolas. However, it is unknown why only certain areas of the body are affected while others are not.
A fair answer to the question, Does everyone get linea nigra? would be that, linea nigra appears on around 80% of all pregnant women, while its being noticeable depends on the complexion. It can also appear in non-pregnant individuals and children due to certain hormonal fluctuations, medication or underlying conditions. The Linea nigra causes them no harm.
Anxious young would-be mothers often ask, How long does linea nigra last after pregnancy? The general answer to this query would be that this line naturally fades as the hormone levels return to normal after delivery. The line gradually lightens over several weeks or months. In rare scenarios, it does not entirely disappear, leaving some women with a permanent faint linea nigra.
Is a Linea nigra the same as Stretch Marks?
Both linea nigra and stretch marks are common skin changes that occur during pregnancy, but there is a distinct Difference between them. Stretch marks appear when the skin scars due to rapid stretching and thinning, causing the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis to break down. Stretch marks usually appear around the abdomen, breasts, thighs, and buttocks. Although not medically harmful, scars might itch. Various cosmetic treatments are available to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Linea nigra, on the other hand, is a vertical dark line that forms on the protruding abdomen of pregnant women due to increased levels of hormones during pregnancy. This line surfaces during each pregnancy and may vary in appearance each time. The reliable answer to the question Is it harmful during pregnancy? is that it is a normal and harmless physiological change of pregnancy that requires no treatment.
How to Get Rid of Linea nigra?
Linea nigra is the body’s natural reaction to heightened hormones and does not cause any health problems for the mother or the baby. There are no means to prevent it, and even doctors don’t recommend applying medications or bleaching agents on the skin during pregnancy. Eating foods rich in folate or folic acid is one of the Natural ways to reduce its appearance.
The following are a few tips for managing it naturally that can be beneficial for would-be mothers:
- Avoiding sun exposure to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays
- Wearing sunscreen whenever stepping out of the house
- Consuming leafy green vegetables, beans, whole wheat bread, lentils and citrus fruits
Conclusion
To round off, apart from pregnancy, linea nigra is indicative of underlying hormonal imbalances, genetic disorders, or even fungal infections. This may appear in both men and women after rapid weight gain within a short period. Contact a doctor in case you have concerns.