When they first appear, they're often a darker hue which depends on your skin tone , raised and itchy. Over time, they fade and sink but can remain visible nonetheless. And while no amount of stretch mark cream, oil or magical potion can prevent or erase them, using a stretch mark cream throughout your pregnancy can help improve skin elasticity and nourish your skin as it grows.
If you've already got a moisturizing ritual, great! Keep it up. If you occasionally slap on some moisturizer when your legs look ashy, pregnancy is a great time to get into the habit of giving your skin a little extra love on the daily. Throughout pregnancy your belly, boobs, hips, thighs and bum will likely need a little extra attention.
All those hormones can affect skin in a variety of uncomfortable ways and keeping it hydrated can help. That said, there's no set date to start using stretch mark cream, but many of the formulas on the market are suitable for use before, during and after. Mostly, it's personal preference.
If you're sensitive to fragrance, you can find plenty of fragrance-free options. Look for formulas with gentle but nourishing ingredients like nut butters cocoa, jojoba oil and shea and coconut oil to moisturize, vitamins A and E which heal and protect the skin, and botanicals like calendula to soothe and calm irritated skin. Most importantly, while retinol can be an effective treatment for damaged skin, do not use retinol during your pregnancy.
Rest assured that everyone has stretch marks. There is nothing you need to do about them if you don't want to, nor should you feel vain if you want to address them. If you're the latter, we've done the research to help you find a formula that works for you. Thicker than regular lotion but not as heavy and greasy as most body butters, Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter is a top-rated favorite among pregnant and postpartum mamas.
The all-natural formula contains organic herbs and oils like shea butter, calendula and olive oil which are traditionally used to help soften skin and encourage skin's natural elasticity. The emollient lotion absorbs quickly and easily, leaving behind a light citrusy scent that's gentle on morning sickness sensitivities and we love the convenience of the pump top for easy application.
I bought a bottle early on in my pregnancy and started using it daily when I was 4 months pregnant. I didn't really start showing until the end of the 5th month, but I wanted to prep for stretch marks as much as I could. I'm currently 8 months pregnant and have ZERO stretch marks. I put it on my boobs too and they have not been itchy in months.
The smell doesn't bother me and there isn't lasting residue like oil. My belly skin hasn't been irritated itchy or hurting from stretching and I give all credit to this butter! Do yourself a favor and buy! From the price to the efficacy to the dreamy cocoa butter scent, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks is a long-time favorite for good reason.
The OG stretch mark lotion which also happens to be Amazon's 1 best-selling maternity skin care product is made from a blend of rich cocoa butter and shea butter to soften, smooth, and plump skin along with the requisite Vitamin E to support moisture retention and help repair damaged skin.
It's also packed with lutein to prevent damage as your skin stretches, and argan, almond and coconut oils to moisturize and pamper your expanding belly. Together, this symphony of powerhouses can treat as well as prevent the stretch marks that come from pregnancy or otherwise! And because it's so wallet-friendly, you can slather it everywhere from your boobs and belly to your butt and thighs without blowing the budget.
Reviewers say: "LOVE this lotion!!! Not only does it deeply moisturize my growing pregnancy belly but it is a perfect all-over moisturizer as well.
I have zero issues with stretch marks and itchiness when I use it. Adarsh Mudgil, MD , a dermatologist and dermatopathologist in New York, told Insider, "Some of my patients swear by the brick of shea butter cocoa butter Doesn't make much difference either way to be honest, as long as you're diligent about using whatever you like.
Stretch marks are easiest to treat fresh, but Serica Moisturizing Scar Formula helps reduce the visibility of marks both old and new. If you're looking to treat old stretch marks, this formula is said to work for a combination of both. Engelman recommended this product to "expedite the healing of both old and new stretch marks," due to the Amazonian Pracaxi oil in it. This type of oil is combined with silicone and phospholipids and claims to improve the appearance of old scars including surgical scars such as C-sections , give a more even skin tone, and moisturize the skin.
One study in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine shows that over a 12 week application period, scars "achieved significant improvements" with Pracaxi oil. If you want to pamper yourself and make your belly skin feel more hydrated and care for, these belly masks are the latest Insta-popular craze worth a try.
You've probably used a face mask before — but your belly deserves the same royal treatment. Trending maternity brand The Hatch created a biodegradable sheet mask, taking prenatal self-care to a new level. The single-use belly mask claims to minimize the appearance of stretch marks, but experts like Dr.
Mudgil say this probably isn't effective enough to reply on that. However, Medical aesthetician, Candace Marino , said that using one is still "a great idea during pregnancy when the skin is changing and stretching. She recommended using the product in conjunction with other creams and oils, rather than instead of it.
She liked the Hatch specifically as it's packed with hydrating ingredients and helps keep the skin conditioned and supported. We tested the products that our experts recommended or products that contained ingredients they found to be helpful.
We looked for items that smelled great, felt luxurious on the skin, and didn't cause any irritation 40 weeks of growing a baby can bring its own irritating moments and challenges without adding any on from products. We also kept an eye towards budget-friendly options, as you'll likely only need the relief for a few months and you may not even make it through a whole bottle of some of the products during the pregnancy.
Although many are also useful in the postpartum period, too. Finally, we looked for products that we enjoyed putting on, as our experts emphasized that whatever you use, it's essential to be consistent. You want skin products to help with moisturizing and elasticity, along with that stretching skin feeling. These might include antioxidants, oils, and vitamins that have been proven to help these issues.
Engelman, Dr. Mudgil, and our medical reviewer Sharleen St. Surin-Lord , MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Visage Dermatology and assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University, all specifically recommended avoiding the following ingredients:. They're technically scars, which happen when the body is healing damage in the deep layers of the skin.
Anyone, regardless of gender or race, can develop them. But studies show they're more common in women and are more visible the darker your skin. Young pregnant people are also more likely to develop them than older pregnant folks. And, not surprisingly, the more weight you gain during pregnancy and the bigger your belly gets, the more likely you are to develop stretch marks. Both Dr.
Engelman and Dr. Mudgil said that stretch marks are largely genetic. However, we do have some power to minimize them. The more pliable and moisturized skin is, the less it will be prone to crack and itch," Dr. It's also helpful to maintain a " healthy weight " during pregnancy, which will minimize the stretching, Dr. Mudgil added. Mudgil said the only cream that's going to help with stretch marks — and only fresh ones, that that — is a topical retinoid, but they can't be used during pregnancy or nursing.
For skin laxity, Ultherapy ultrasound skin tightening works well," he said. Surin-Lord adds that micro-needling is also pretty effective. But in short: if you are looking for serious results, it may be a bit of a wait until pregnancy and nursing have concluded. Engelman, on the other hand, has seen some success in preventing stretch marks with a few products.
Medical aesthetician Candace Marino , who has worked with celebrities to improve their skin, also has faith in some products, such as TFC8 a complex of amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and other molecules naturally found in the skin to help with stretch marks and skin elasticity. Like the others, she also re-emphasized the significance of keeping skin hydrated as it stretches to accommodate the baby.
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You can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Stretch marks are common and absolutely normal for any human. Technically called striae, they indicate a breakdown in the elasticity of the skin as it stretches, explains New York-based dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla.
They pop up when the skin stretches quickly—think during pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss, and puberty—and initially have a purple, pink, or red hue, gradually fading to more of a skin-toned color. Dermatologists unanimously agree that in-office treatments like lasers and light devices are the best solution. That being said, over-the-counter creams with certain ingredients like hyaluronic acid can keep the skin well-hydrated and help it remain more elastic.
Moisturizers and balms with vitamin A—also known as retinoids—can speed up the fading of stretch marks. Look on the packaging for skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, which are good options for preventing stretch marks from occurring in the first place or getting worse, as Mariwalla points out.
That being said, it's just as acceptable to feel like you want to try and do something about them. Together, this combo helps increase elasticity in your skin to help ward off new stretch marks whether or not you're pregnant. And at such a wallet-friendly price, you can slather it on with reckless abandon without having to worry about breaking the bank. Happy reviewers rave about how well it wards off dry, itchy skin, as well as pregnancy-induced stretch marks.
Main Ingredient: Shea butter Application Area: Stomach, hips, breasts Free of: Mineral oil, parabens, petroleum, dyes, artificial fragrance Size: 8 fl. Key Ingredients. Shea butter is a plant lipid that comes from African shea tree nuts and is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It's used to help moisturize, nourish, and soothe the skin. With a blend of organic herbs and essential oils in a creamy shea butter base, this is ideal for expectant moms to slather on the hips, belly, and breasts—and is just as safe and effective to use post-pregnancy, too.
Not only does it help prevent stretch marks, but it also helps soothe itching, a common side effect that comes with them. Try this super-sized tub of deeply moisturizing body butter meant to prevent stretch marks as your baby belly grows. It uses organic sweet almond and olive oils to relieve redness and itching, while rosehip fruit oil helps heal and renew skin.
Main Ingredient: Dimethicone Application Area: Stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts Free of: Mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, sulfates, dyes Size: 5. This paraben-free formula earns points for both helping to prevent new stretch marks from forming and treating existing ones, too.
For prevention purposes, it contains a combination of hydrating hyaluronic acid and dimethicone ; increasing moisture in the skin keeps it more elastic and less likely to tear and scar. Cepalin, a proprietary botanical ingredient, and Centella Asiatica another plant extract known for its outstanding skin-soothing and healing properties help to fade the appearance of any current marks. Main Ingredient: Peptides Application Area: Stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts Free of: Mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, dyes Size: 6 fl.
Main Ingredient: Shea butter Application Area: Stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts Free of: Alcohol, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, phenoxyethanol Size: 8. Pregnant women rave about the preventative benefits of this cream.
At work are avocado peptides , which reinforce skin elasticity, and galactoarabinan say that five times fast , a patented ingredient. Also nice: It comes in a fragrance-free version, too. Credit a combination of PurCellin Oil and vitamin A, which also makes this a good pick for treating scars , too.
Plus, you can't beat the drugstore price tag. As the name suggests, this oil is loaded with good-for-your-skin vitamins. Overall, this works great for stretch marks but also helps keep all skin healthy and youthful. Main Ingredient: 0. Main Ingredient: Sunflower oil Application Area: Stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts Free of: Mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, sulfates, dyes Size: 4 fl.
Understandably, many people prioritize using clean, natural products when pregnant or breast-feeding , which is why this cream earns our vote.
It contains only 10 natural ingredients, is USDA organic-certified, and also totally hypoallergenic.
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