Pregnancy guide > You > Mums to be > Pregnancy beauty > Stretch marks > Anti-stretch mark creams

Anti-stretch mark creams

Advice on what to look for when buying anti-stretch mark cream for pregnancy stretch marks plus the opportunity to purchase a range of stretch mark removal creams.

The development of stretch marks during the third trimester of pregnancy is extremely common, with 75 - 90% of women suffering to some extent (NHS Direct). They develop when the skin is stretched greatly over a short period of time, causing depletion of collagen and elastin levels in the skin and resulting in a loss of elasticity. During pregnancy, stretch marks not only develop around the abdominal area as a result of its rapid expansion, but also appear on the thighs, buttocks and upper arms due to natural weight gain in these areas.

Many women find that the appearance of stretch marks can be minimised by the use of anti-stretch mark creams and moisturisers. The majority of these specially formulated creams are designed to re-hydrate the skin whilst helping to maintain its natural elasticity as it is stretched during pregnancy. Daily moisturisation of the skin both during and after pregnancy not only helps to keep the skin supple by reducing the dryness and itchiness often associated with stretch marks, but additionally, stimulates the skin on a deeper level, encouraging better circulation to the affected areas which in turn helps to further minimise the appearance of stretch marks.

As the development and severity of stretch marks varies so greatly from one individual to another there is no one 'miracle' anti-stretch mark cream that is going to work for everyone. There are however several ingredients which are often included in anti-stretch mark creams that may help to reduce their appearance. Moisturisers which include concentrated amounts of vitamins E and A are popular, as are those which include some form of cocoa as this has also been found to help. Anti-stretch mark creams which contain elastin and/or collagen are designed to penetrate the skin and increase elasticity at a deeper level and again many women find that creams containing these ingredients significantly help to reduce stretch marks.

As a general rule, look for anti-stretch mark creams which are not too greasy and are easily absorbed into the skin, contain natural ingredients, including those listed above and always follow the manufacturers' directions for application of the cream. By massaging anti-stretch mark cream into the skin daily throughout pregnancy and supplementing this with a balanced diet, lots of water and regular exercise, the appearance of stretch marks should be minimised.

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Hi! I've gave birth 4yrs. ago and i got stretch marks on my tummy. I just started using PALMER'S massage cream for STRETCH MARKS 2weeks ago and i already saw the results.This was so amazing! Not so expensive cream yet so EFFECTIVE.
by paovin	3rd Aug 2011, 9:23am

so what one does everyone think is the best x
by naomi22	17th Jan 2011, 2:59pm

ive been using cocoa butter formula with vitamin e collagen &elastin for stretch markz n it workz really good i reccomended it
by mzmimi123	12th Aug 2010, 9:03am

I have previously used, vitamin E cream, Palmers cocoa butter, Bio oil, Body shop stretch mark improver, Derma mum AND Vitamin E capsules and i still have stretch marks on my tummy and on my bum ! There is no scientific research which suggests that ANY of those products will stop you getting stretch marks.. unfortunatly its all up to nature. However, Palmers cocoa butter definitely smells the best and stops all the pesky itching when your skin is stretching, makes your skin feel lovely and is the best priced so i would probably recommened this to anyone who is wanting to buy a cream! This is only my opinion but considering ive been religously putting creams on and trying them all out since i was 4 months pregnant i dont really believe it will help!

by Mummytobex

11th Jun 2010, 5:27pm

with my first pregnancy i used bio oil and palmers stretch mark cream only from 20 weeks on and didn't get any stretchmarks on my tummy at all, only a few on my hips where i didn't put the cream! now i'm 11 weeks and using both creams twice a day but am worried as seem to be much bigger already at 11 weeks than i was with 1st pregnancy! hopefully if i got away with it first time i will again but am worried about it!

by Lilly77

14th May 2010, 4:10pm

I'm 10 weeks and have been using PALMERS COCOA TUMMY BUTTER, so far so good. Using on my boobs as well as they've got MASSIVE! My sister recommended it as she's had 2 babies, used it for both and has no stretch marks, the key i think is to start using it as soon as you know you're pregnant, to allow the skin's elasticity to keep supple as it stretches.
CLARINS TONIC OIL is also very good, i know friends who used this and swear by it, but it's more expensive. I'm going for the PALMERS COCOA TUMMY BUTTER, will let you know how it goes! x

by snowflake72

27th Jan 2010, 9:29am

mama mio creams people!! expensive, but then so are children! worth the money
by kym85	27th Jan 2010, 9:28am

I have just bought Derma Mum - Superior Stretch Mark cream, from Boots. It's a huge tub that costs about £12 but should last forever. It's fragrance free and dermatolocally tested. Would def recommend it.
by ASAP	11th Sep 2009, 3:39pm

im 32 wks, have used Sactuary Mum to Be Collagen Boosting Body Butter, Vitamin E oil from holland and barrett and Palmers massage lotion for stretch marks (i read good reviews on the benefits of them all)...i've used a combination of them all religiously morn & night..no stretch marks at all yet!! not sure which is working so gonna keep using all of them! skin feels really smooth and not at all itchy.

by tashaL

22nd Jul 2009, 9:37am

with my 1st pregnancy from 20 weeks i used palmers coacoa butter on tummy n bum & thighs twica a day and only got about ten in total on my bum n.... calf????? so was happy! am now 35weeks and4 days and have been usin the same cream again but started usin it a bit later,wen i saw a small stretch mark on the side ov my tummy,now i plaster that and bio-oil on simultaniously about 5 times a day,but made no difference theres more appearing each week,am realy gutted!!!

by cherrypip

10th Jun 2009, 10:02am

in response to kshaw9990... im 20 and 7 months pregnant with my 2nd child and havent suffered too bad with stretch marks but do have them on my hips and a few on my belly and boobs and it does get me down sometimes i have always used palmers coco butter stretch mark cream available from boots superdrug anywhere like that thats always worked for me, bio oil is meant to be great but i wouldnt reccommend it, its over priced and really greasy try to moistureise every day and night. but there is never a way to stop stretch marks unfortunately if ur guna get em ur guna get them ... try to think of them as the marks ur baby left... hope this helps x

by chauntelle

28th May 2009, 9:21am

im 7 months pregnant an dive got loads of purple strech marks all over my stomach. im onl 18 and it gets me really down. dose anyone have any advice on what works and what dosent??
by kshaw9990	26th May 2009, 12:40pm

I had some stretch marks on my stomach but the main problem i found was cellulite :( I bought Avon's own brand of cellulite cream and used it every night and every morning for a week and it not only got rid of my cellulite but it got rid of my stretch marks too, hope this helps :)
by HazelT	4th Mar 2009, 9:18am

I am weeks now and have only a few stretch marks on the lower part of my belly, which are really getting me down!!! I have used Bio- Oil and found it to be a real waste of money as its made no difference apart from making the area really greasy... Can anyone think of anything I can use that def works????
by playgirlxtina	17th Feb 2009, 9:44am

i also used bio oil all the way through my pregnancy and found it didnt do anything for me. 6 months ago i started using dr palmers cocoa butter with extra vitamin e, i also bought asda's own brand vitamin e capsules and used the oil from the middle of them and rubbed it over the stretch marks and they have faded a lot since then.
by jennifer21	9th Jan 2009, 9:17am

i have used the palmers stretch mark cream and bio oil throughout my whole pregnancy but as soon as i got to the third trimester they appeared and uite bad i am still using these cream but they dont seem to be helping any advice
by kayleighlouise	10th Nov 2008, 9:50am

hiya.....just found out..i`m preggy..;)) can someone..tell.me what is the BESTt stretch creams .. no matter the price..or the company is made..pls..let me know.. if u heard...or if u used..;)) aaa...and my type of skin is a bitt brown...a bitt latina...(not to much, though) :)) and i heard that the cream i choose should be depending of my skin type??? THANKS...HOPE I HEAR FROM U SOON..:)
by victoritza	10th Nov 2008, 9:50am

i have three kids younger one is 5 months old and i have strach marks on my tummy. advice me to use to fade them
by paw	1st Sep 2008, 8:53am

Iam 3 Months Pregnant and i have got small strech marks all on my chest. I was using bio oil but found it didnt work, does any one have any suggestions Please......
by Clairelou88	15th Apr 2008, 2:44pm

I am in my third trimester and have been using Palmers massage lotion for stretch marks. It isn't too greasy and the cocoa butter smells really nice. It contains Vitamin E, Collagen & Elastin. So far so good I don't have any stretch marks on my tummy. I know I am prone to stretch marks because when I was growing up I discovered some on the tops of my legs. Since using this cream during pregnancy however, I haven't discovered any new marks. I haven't used it every day (as sometimes I forget), but a few times a week since I first found out I was pregnant. I guess we are all different, but this seems to work for me.

by lisac

28th Jun 2007, 1:06pm

Who develops stretch marks and why?
Advice on why stretch marks develop during pregnancy, who is likely to be susceptible to them plus information on stretch mark prevention, treatment and removal.

Stretch mark treatment and prevention.
Advice on the various treatments and preventative measures that can be taken to minimise the appearence of stretch marks. during pregnancy with information on the effectiveness of removal creams.