Linea Nigra in Pregnancy: When It Appears and Fades
The Answer
Linea nigra—sometimes spelled ‘linea negra’—is darker skin along your belly’s midline, usually from the pubic area to the belly button, sometimes extending above it.
Pregnancy hormones increase melanin, the pigment that colors skin. Typical linea nigra does not harm pregnancy outcomes and needs no medical treatment.
The visible pigmentation is different from the underlying linea alba: the connective tissue band between your abdominal muscles.
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When does linea nigra appear, and why can it look different?
A faint brown line can appear early, or you may notice it later. DermNet describes first trimester appearance, while Cleveland Clinic describes visibility more often around midpregnancy. There is no universal starting week. The line may deepen in color as pregnancy progresses and is often more visible on darker skin.
Not everyone develops a noticeable line. If you had one in your first pregnancy but not your second, its timing and visibility can differ between pregnancies; an identical return is not guaranteed. These general patterns cannot explain your individual reason for an absent line. Do not use its absence to judge pregnancy health.
Although it can appear early in pregnancy, linea nigra also occurs in people who are not pregnant. The line alone cannot confirm pregnancy.
Will the line fade, and can you remove it?
The line usually fades gradually over weeks or months after birth. Some pigmentation may remain, so there is no deadline for it to disappear completely.
You do not need to remove it. There is no specific medical treatment for linea nigra, and bleaching is not a reliable solution. Protect your abdomen from sunlight, which can deepen the color; sun protection does not promise to prevent or erase the line.
Do not use bleaching creams containing hydroquinone during pregnancy. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby warns against these products because they may harm your baby.
When should you show a skin change to your doctor or midwife?
Typical linea nigra causes no symptoms. If you are unsure about an abdominal line, show your doctor or midwife. See a doctor about other changes or dark patches on your abdomen rather than assuming they are linea nigra. A clinician can usually identify the line by looking at your skin, without specific tests. This examination does not confirm pregnancy.
When asking your care team, include:
- Where the line or patch is and when you first noticed it.
- Whether its appearance has changed or you have symptoms.
- What you would like them to check.
For example: ‘I noticed a dark line below my belly button last week. It doesn’t bother me, but there’s also a separate dark patch beside it. Could you look at both?’