What's the best way to prevent stretchmarks?

[Sarahlou8]

Hi,

I'm 17 weeks pregnant and I've also got two older children.

I'm one of those very unlucky fair skinned people who is absolutely covered in stretchmarks already so I'm not after anything to minimise their appearance, I just can't see how my skin is going to stretch for a third time!
Some of the marks are a centimentre wide.

My main concern is the itching and soreness. I'm already itching and it's still so early. Have any of you got a miracle cream that works?

Thanks x

[ShowOfHands]

Well, the stretchmarks you can't prevent. It's genetic.

But as far as itching and soreness is concerned, find a good cream now and use it frequently.

I had several I liked. A lovely Boots one with honey, olive and neroli and Lush's Dream Cream were my favourites.

My stretchmarks were terrible but they no longer itched.

[cardamomginger]

I know this is going to be followed by posts disagreeing with me. But I don't think there is a thing you can put on them to prevent them - the stretching occurs at a deep level of the skin that is out of reach of any of these creams or oils. Basically, if you are going to get them you are going to get them. I think a lot of it is genes - my mother had them very badly during puberty and during pregnancy, even though she was always a skinny thing. I'm in the same position as you - very fair skinned, everything (from spots to surgical scarring) takes AGES and then some to fade, got stretch marks to oblivion during puberty, despite not really having much of a growth spurt. And at 21 weeks, even though I am still a size 10 and have only put on 3 kilos, I'm starting to get them on my stomach. I am seriously unimpressed!!! The ones during puberty made me look like someone had slashed me with a knife. It sucks and I really feel for you.
As for preventing the itching, that's another thing. So far I'm finding that E45 cream and lotion is working quite well for me. When I've had itching and sore skin in the past (used to get eczema quite a bit) I used to empty a capsule of vitamin E oil into the E45 and that helped. Don't know if that will see me through the stages when I really do start getting bigger and the marks get worse. Here's hoping!!

[thumbwitch]

I can't give you cast iron guarantees but - make sure you have adequate Vitamin C and essential fatty acids in your diet. THese are needed to keep the collage and skin cell membranes healthy.

My mum and sister both had shockingly bad stretchmarks but I had none - I was the only one taking the vitamin/mineral and essential fatty acids supplements in pg.

This does NOT mean it works for everyone - but it seems to have worked for me.

Never used a cream myself - but if you want a good one, this stuff is brilliant - I've had it for DS since he was about 5m old and it's been excellent for any skin issues he's had. One large pot lasted more than a year, using it as a nappy cream mostly, so although it appears expensive, it's good value IMO.

[nagoo]

I caked myself in palmers cocoa butter, the proper thick greasy stuff in the pot, none of your lotion rubbish. I could crack my sheets after but I didn't itch and did smell nice

[legallyblond]

Honest answer - you can't. I'm afraid its genetic. Once you have them though, I have a friend who says that bio oil + fake tan does actually reduce their appearance...

[WalkTheDog]

Have heard that bio oil works well - not sure if you can use it while pg or just after.

[first1]

I've liberally applied bio oil and mothercare moisturiser this whole pregnancy. Was feeling really smug as I didn't have a single stretch mark until two days ago. I'm due today. Don't count your chickens!

[Lovethesea]

My GP has just prescribed me a cream for itchy skin, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and it's been keeping me awake at night. My itchy skin is all over my body but they might give you something for your bump. It seems to be helping me.

I had the liver tests too to make sure it wasn't OC developing and they are redoing those this week to double check.

[tortoiseonthehalfshell]

only way to avoid stretchmarks is don't get pregnant.

but if it helps; I am very stretchmarked from puberty, and am fairskinned, and I hardly had any from pregnancy at all - just a few purple stripes that showed up on one side of my tummy at about 37 weeks. The older you are, the less you are likely to stretchmark.

[vez123]

I am now over 40 weeks pregnant and have no stretchmarks (touch wood). It might be genetics but what really helped in keeping my skin moisturised and non-itchy is an organic cream from Boots called Derma Mum, I think I only paid about 12 pounds for a huge jar which has lasted me throughout my pregnancy. I also tried other creams and oils, including way more expensive ones but I always feel best after using that one.

[weecasey]

I've been lucky (so far) and don't have stretchmarks from pregnancy with this or DS, but did get some on thighs from puberty. Used olive oil and reckon it's the massaging acion that increases blood flow rather than what you're rubbing in. My cousin got trrible stretchmarks and as been using Strivectin SD cream and they've all but disappeared! She had her lttle girl 7 months ago so it's not an overnighht cure, but does sem to work.

[sunshine2010]

No caffiene, dont eat for two, light exercise (I was walking a lot probably 3 miles a day), then I just used some cream Igot from poundland

[sunshine2010]

Sorry posted before I had finished there. It worked for me and I didnt get any and I am so fair skinned I look like an A4 bit of paper lol).

I also dont agree with tortoiseonthehalfshell as I was only 23 when I was pregnant and didnt get any and I have a friend who had her first at 15 and hasnt got any either.

[Twittle]

Bio Oil is expensive and if you have irritable skin (i.e. eczema) it can cause flare ups or at least it did with me. I find that either Emulsifying Ointment - cheap and you can get it in large tubs from boots is very good although you do go to bed quite greasy and I have also been using Almond Oil which seems to be working at the moment but I am only 30 weeks so time will tell!!!!

[strawberrycake]

sob
I'm due tomorrow. Only THREE days ago did I get my first mark...and I'm now covered. How unfair is that?

[Twittle]

Strawberrycake that is very unfair and now I am getting worried!

[HelenFF]

My mum helpfully said I must be doing something wrong as I got stretchmarks and she didn't back when she was pregnant with me.

She used bio oil apparently, but I've been using a Boots stretchmark oil and tend to believe that if you're going to get them, you get them. Might be I've inherited my skin and its lack of stretchiness from my dad's side of the family.

[ooosabeauta]

Strawberrycake I don't know anyone else who that's happened to apart from me! I was very smug, having liberally applied Palmer's Cocoa Butter for the preceding 39 and a half weeks and avoided them entirely, and then as his head fully descended I got really strong deep stretch marks which have lasted to this day!

I have to say though (and I'm not this accepting about any of my other appearance foibles), but I have grown to really love my stretch marks. You see, they are the only sign that my ds was ever actually growing inside my body, and nearly two years on, I love that!

[thislittlesisterlola]

Burts bees mama bee tummy butter stopped my itching. Gives you nice soft hands too.

[strawberrycake]

I was REALLY good, probably over moisturised. Was starting to get smug, he descended and not only have I got marks but it's f**king painful. I feel the skin is on fire and nothing will soothe it. Spread to hips too for some reason. The hips that are the same bloody size as before. My only hope is that they are very much under the surface, with no indentation or bobbling on the surface so hopefully will fade well.

In a weird way though I'm not too bothered, DH seems to expect it and is unbothered. The fact he always likes my body gives me a surprising amount of confidence. He's just focused on the 'nice bottom' I have, it used to be flat and now it's rounded.

[tillys]

try olive oil- but buy a decent one or you'll smell like a chip shop!!!!

[guineagents]

Getting them at end happend to me too! Not one until LO was 3 days overdue then they just sprang up one after the other all over my lower belly. I could literally count them appearing each day he was late. Awful!! I used palmers before then x

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

strawberrycake me too! No stretchmarks on my belly until 40 weeks - that'll teach me to be smug!

OP Another vote for Dream Cream from Lush - is fantastic

[HarriedWithChildren]

I feel that I've gotten off reasonably lightly after 3pg but I think it's because I've always been a bit flabby and had less to stretch.
Boobs and thighs were already marked from puberty but I slathered my tum from the begining in almond oil or argan oil, from health food shops, pretty cheap, and have none there. Don't know if it helps the itching.
Silly really since no one will ever see my stomach but I can't avoid getting those thighs out every so often, as little as possible.
I've heard of those last mo stretchmarks and I suppose it's no surprise considering how much one grows at the end. Bad luck!

[ladylush]

I used Clarins body oil and didn't get a single stretch mark in either of my pregnancies - yet loads during puberty (not on tummy). Maybe you could look into creams used for skin allergies such as Aveeno cream (has oats so nice and calming).