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Once you reach your pregnancy’s second and third trimester, your body evolves and you develop a cute baby bump. Along with the achy body, your skin will change in various ways and you must have noticed a dark vertical line on the stomach (between the belly button and the pubic region).
You must now be wondering what’s that line on your belly.
Well! That line on your pregnancy belly is Linea Nigra.
What is Linea Nigra?
“Linea Nigra” means “black line” in Latin. The Linea Nigra is also known as the pregnancy line and this appears as a dark vertical line on the skin of your stomach during your pregnancy days. The line becomes darker as the pregnancy progresses. It travels from the belly button to the pubic area and then towards the abdomen. Gradually, you’ll see the line affecting the other areas of your body – vaginal skin, nipples, and areola.
What causes Linea Nigra during pregnancy?
Although the exact reason behind Linea Nigra in pregnancy is still unknown among the experts, it occurs due to rising levels of MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), oestrogen, or progesterone during pregnancy.
Furthermore, the oestrogen and progesterone hormones stimulate melanocytes in your skin and give rise to the production of melanin that changes the colour of your skin. The increase in melanin production darkens the skin. At the same time, the increase in the melanin production makes the linea nigra (pregnancy line) more pronounced. That means with the progression of your pregnancy, the linea nigra is more pronounced and visible.
Is there anything that you can do about pregnancy Linea Nigra?
The pregnancy line or linea nigra falls off after a few months of your baby’s birth. It may not be entirely possible to prevent the development of Linea Nigra during pregnancy, but there are a few ways to reduce the pigmentation till such time that you give birth to your baby.
These way-outs include:
- You need to reduce the sun exposure. The UV rays of the sun are harmful to your skin. (The sunscreen should be at least SPF 30). So, ensure that you wear sunscreen and protective clothing whenever you’re going out in the sun to safeguard your skin from its damaging effects.
- Opt for your pregnancy-safe, gentle, and hypoallergenic skin care products to stay away from skin irritation and keep your overall pregnancy skin healthy. Remember, these skincare products won’t be able to reduce pregnancy line or linea nigra.