Cream for Stretch Marks

I used the body shop's olive body butter every night before I went to bed. I didn't get stretch marks where I put it. I didn't realize I needed to put it on my hips and that's where I got the stretch marks.

Palmers cocoa butter formula for stretch marks. You can find it at most drug stores and grocery stores. Very affordable. I used it twice a day from neck to knees for both of my pregnancies and I have 0 stretch marks

Oddly, I did not get any stretch marks with my pregnancy. I used this stuff at the drug stores called Bio Oil and I also used the Mustella 9 month stuff which is very expensive. I used it every day (both products), at least once a day.

There is also a spa place called Marianna's in Boulder. You might call her because she says she can get rid of the stretch marks as long as they are still red... but maybe not when you are still pregnant, I am not sure. Like all spas, the people who answer the phone know nothing, so you would relaly need to talk to marianna. I think she is only there 2 days a week now. She is fabulous.

Good luck!

I think more than any cream, moisturizing from the inside helps to prevent stretch marks. Make sure to drink LOTS of water.

AA,

I've tried a number of belly products during my pregnancies, the best by far is Mother's Special Blend. You can likely get it from your local health food store, or online. It's an oil and worth every penny!

Good luck!

This is probably not what you want to hear, but you can't do much about stretch marks. They are from your third layer of skin, they hypodermic layer, so creams and lotions don't affect that layer. Also, they are very hereditary, so if your mom and sisters got them, you are likely to do so too. Like one other post said, some people are huge and don't get them and others are small and still get stretch marks. As far as the itching goes, lotion does help with that!

Hello & congratulations!!! I have been pregnant 7x and had no help from cocoa butter, etc. My only relief was from RE9 body & serum set from Arbonne, just wish I would have known about it with my first 5 :). In fact I have a friend who is VERY pregnant we got her some & she told me she can't live without it. Keeps her skin from hurting, itching and such. Helps the skin remain supple, pliable and hydrated. Helps with the collagen & elastin in your skin. Give it a try...www.naturallylovely.myarbonne.com Take care, G

As far as I know there is no creams that prevent stretch marks. Vitamin E cream, cocoa butter, and aloe vera cream will help with the itching. I never got stretch marks and I gained so much weight. It depends on your skin type as to whether you will or won't. If you go out into the sun with your stretch marks uncovered, they will become a lot more noticeable.

Website lady "Pregnancy without pounds" has some info on that...I can't remember exact product, but you could email her, her name is Michelle I think.

I religiously used either the pure cocoa butter stick from the Body Shop or the cocoa butter massage bars from Lush. Both worked equally well — I didn't get any stretch marks on my belly!

I just used my regular St Ives collagen & elastin lotion for my first baby. When it itched & I absentmindedly scratched my belly, one of the girls at work would slap my hand & pass my lotion bottle. I got 2 stretch marks w/that pregnancy-tiny little bug antennae coming out of my belly button (actually kinda cute). With my 2nd I was tired, I was lazy & I had a 2 year old so I scratched. A lot. I was also an oompa loompa though (63" tall, 74" wide) by the time I delivered.
I couldn't stand the smell of cocoa butter, which is what most people swear by. My regular lotion worked, as long as I used it. Don't scratch, keep a bottle of lotion near you at all times & lotion when it itches-it probably doesn't matter as much WHAT you use, as much as it does HOW you use it (all the time, basically)
Congrats on your little one!

Hi--
Try taking Omega 3 fatty acids. They are good for the babies brain development and also to help your skin stretch from the inside by giving your body the nutrients it needs. My waist grew 12 inches with my second and I didn't get a single stretch mark. Oh, and that's not hereditary. I got plenty of stretch marks when I went through puberty so I know I have stretch mark type skin.
Good luck!
J.

I used pure Shea Butter everyday when I was pregnant with my son and have no visible stretch marks. I had a couple of small pink lines right after having them, continued to use the shea butter and they went away with a month or so. I DO have stretch marks on the tops of my thighs from puberty...so, as another woman said, I know I have the type of skin that would make stretch marks. I got my shea butter (100%) from a health food store and used it religiously. Good idea to wear old t-shirts or jammies and do it at night too.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

Mary Kay has a day/night system called Cellu-Shape that really helps with cellulite and stretch marks....highly recommended!

I have tried EVERYTHING (shy of plastic surgery) without success. My last baby really did me in on the stretch marks and damaged skin. If you find something here that works, let me know. I thought it was just a lost cause.

Good luck!

Sorry, but stretch marks are genetically linked. Oils and creams may make your skin feel better by keeping it moisturized, but it is the breakdown of internal collagen that causes stretch marks. Nothing you apply topically is going to prevent that.

Best of luck with the rest of the pregnancy.

Cheers,
S. L

Vitamin E oil found at any drug store worked best for me. I have two kids and no stretch marks. I tried the cocoa butter too, but the oil seemed to moisturize more deeply. Good luck!

I was told plain cocoa butter, the hard kind that needed to be heated before use would work best. I used it daily & got a few of the silver thread stretch marks. Now I am pregnant with the second & rubbing lots of stuff in (apricot oil, cocoa oil, ...), I believe two things about stretch marks.

1) Creams help but the most important thing is the rubbing it in. I am a massage therapist & have come to recognize that it isn't so much the type of oil/cream you rub in to prevent stretch marks as long as you keep the area thoroughly lubricated & pliable with lots of lovin' rubbin'. I found it curious that the responder below found olive oil to be the answer, but note that she rubbed it in three times a day! Too often we don't credit the power of touch in healing, & when it comes to stretching skin, a lubricated touch to that growing skin.

2) Part of skin elasticity is hereditary. My Mom had 3 kids, no stretch marks. I have seen women with less stretching & who are diligent with cremes get large stretch marks.

Hope that helps.
K. H.

Yes!! I use plain Vaseline and it is the best for my skin. I am 18 weeks pregnant now(2nd pregnancy) and I put it every night before I go to bed. I had no stretch marks from my 1st pregnancy. Just make sure you use some plain, old T-shirts, that can washed 100 times, so you don't wear nice nightgowns with lots of vaseline:))) Good luck and congrats!!

I used olive oil (the kind you cook with). I have 2 kids and gained over 60lbs (all stomach) with both and never got 1 stretch mark. I started off 125 and gained nothing but stomach so this is proven to work. My mother-in-law suggested it and it worked tremendously. You have to use it at least 3x a day or whenever your itchy.