Content
The nigra line is a dark line that can appear on the belly of pregnant women due to the enlargement of the abdomen, to better accommodate the baby or the enlarged uterus, and the hormonal changes typical of pregnancy.
The black line can be seen only in the lower part of the navel or in the entire abdominal region and treatment is not necessary, as they disappear naturally after delivery due to the regulation of hormone levels. However, to accelerate the disappearance, the woman can exfoliate the area to stimulate cell renewal.
Why and when does the black line appear?
The black line normally appears between the 12th and the 14th week of pregnancy as a consequence of hormonal changes typical of pregnancy, mainly related to the high levels of circulating estrogen.
That's because estrogen stimulates the production of the stimulating melanocyte hormone, which stimulates the melanocyte, which is a cell present in the skin, leading to the production of melanin and favoring the darkening of the region. In addition, the line becomes more evident due to the abdominal distension that happens with the objective of better accommodating the developing baby.
In addition to the appearance of the nigra line, the increased production of the stimulating melanocyte hormone can also lead to the appearance of other parts of the woman's body, such as the areola of the breasts, armpits, groin and face, with the formation of chloasma, which corresponds to the stain dark that can appear on the face. See how to remove the spots that appear during pregnancy.
What to do
The black line usually disappears within 12 weeks after delivery, so there is no need for any treatment. However, the dermatologist can indicate the exfoliation of the skin to clear the region more easily and more quickly, since the exfoliation promotes cell renewal.
In addition, as the nigra line is directly related to hormonal changes, the dermatologist can also indicate the use of folic acid, as it also helps to regulate the increase in the production of the hormone related to melanin, preventing the nigra line from becoming darker or it takes longer to disappear after giving birth. See more about folic acid.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- FERNANDES, Lana B .; MENDONÇA, Carolina R .; AMARAL, Waldemar N. Dermatological changes in pregnancy: literature review. FEMALE. Vol 42. 2nd ed; 2014