Stretch Marks

[Jenny95]

Hi everyone. I'm 39 weeks pregnant today & have stretch marks Everywhere!
Anyone recommend any affordable creams/oils to improve or fade the appearance of stretch marks?? HELP!

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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you’ve come across it while searching for advice or information on stretch marks our guide to the best stretch mark cream has been recently updated to reflect current availability and new releases. It includes a wide range of options from oils to butters, cream and balms designed for stretch mark prevention, relief and treatment. It’s been compiled using the advice of skincare experts as well as Mumsnet user recommendations. We hope it’s helpful!

Sorry to be the bringer of doom, but nothing's worked for me so far! However, (although it's a case of shutting stable door after horse has bolted) as a preventative measure, my sister SWORE by Mamma Mio. I used Sanctuary Mother-to-be stuff and that did not work. Quite categorically!

I think that, unfortunately, it's all down to genetics. I've been smothering myself like a turkey in oil but I've still picked up two stretch marks and, at 31 weeks, I still have quite a bit of stretching to go!

I got them when I was 14 when i lost then gained an awful lot of weight in a very short space of time so I didn't really hold out much hope 20 years later.

If it's any consolation, they will fade naturally over time and my old ones are barely noticeable (and it didn't take the 20 years for that to happen either!!)

I was stretch-marked from my breasts to my knees when I had DD. I tried all the lotions, but it made no difference. I had stretch marks from 7 weeks pregnant, though, since I was tiny when I got pregnant and DD was big!

They will fade though, over time! And I believe, if you're really worried, you can get them lasered away.

Lasered? bet thats really pricey!

You bet it is! I'm sorry - I think you're stuck with them. They do fade though - I promise that this time next year they'll be looking a hell of a lot better.

Congrats and I hope things get moving for you soon!

A good moisturiser will help stop them being itchy and painful, but that's about it. They do fade and go silvery though, so they won't be as noticeable as they must be now.

Johnsons baby oil gel after my shower in the morning and coca butter in the evenings. Thats what I do......still have bloody big stretch marks!

Sorry but I think a lot of it is down to genetics. My mum never had than and I was a size 6 pre DS and didn't get one despite growing to the size of a barge.

I am using bio oil and cocoa butter but still have stretch marks. I had none until 33 weeks and in the last 3 weeks i now have quite a few. Lovely shade of purple they are too! I have put on an incredible amount of weight though...

Like the others have said, not much can be done about them really, they will fade in time.

I don't know if it is genetics. My twin sister and I are both pregnant, I'm 31 weeks and she's 32. I've put on 2 and a half stone and have no stretch marks (despite getting lots during puberty), and she's put on one and a half stone and has quite a lot of tiny sretch marks. I expected we'd have similar experiences with stretch marks. There's always time though, I might be on here in 2 weeks telling everyone how I look like a road atlas!

I have my doubts about this genetics line we seem to hear so often too.

True, you can't do anything really to stop them appearing but, as someone else said, a good moisturiser will help relieve the itching and other annoyances. I really rate Phytaoil (which also comes in a lotion). It's lovely and absorbs easily and is all natural unlike Bio Oil. And it contains rosehip oil and vitamin E which really will help the marks fade all the faster. I know lots of people are suspicious of such claims but it works for me and it's worked for my friend who has used it on her post-op scars following breast cancer. Honestly, I couldn't recommend it more. Having said all that, as soon as your little bundle of joy arrives you won't care about it nearly so much either!

I think if you are going to get them you will that's it.

My MW always told me it is partially genetics but things like diet as well and how healthy your lifestyle is in general.

I had loads with my first pregnancy and really big ones too, they have faded but still there, you get used to them, it's not so bad really everyone has them you'll just notice it more now you are looking

Thanks for all the replies everyone, keep them coming!
rockbudgie Where can i buy that Phytaoil??

Yeah I don't think you can make them go faster (the only real way of testing that would be to get a load of pregnant women, and only put cream on one side of their bellies!!!).

Best thing is just accept them as your badge of honer. True, you will never have the flat and perfect belly of a model, but they are a sign of your life and that you are a mother.

I used bio oil and palmers cocoa butter and they helped with itching and also made my skin feel wonderfully soft.

Rafwife - well I thought I was going to get them and didn't!

Or rather, my handful have gone straight to white and aren't very noticable, which is what happened during puberty when I gained weight (probably don't have many new ones because I had so many already!) and is also what happened to my mum.

OP - my sister-in-law got a lot with her first pregnancy and they faded really well over the first year. With her second pregnancy she didn't gain any new ones and it just slowed down the fading process a bit.

You should be able to click on the Phytaoil link on my previous post but failing that you can buy it online at Nutri Centre or in bigger Tescos I think.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

Okay, thankyouu!

Jenny95, there are several stockists for the lovely phytaoil, which I agree with Rockbudgie about entirely, lovely stuff. I got mine from a big tescos, but if you want to try before you buy you can order a free sample here:

www.phytacol.com

I thought I had got away with it, then I caught the mirror at the right angle, they are all under my belly, where I can't see them. Dammit.

Previously I have found Biooil to be good for fading scars and stretchmarks, but it didn't prevent these, which are all in the area of my tummy I first slap the moisturiser on before spreading it. I would add a recommendation for cocoa butter for making you all soft and non-itchy.

Just to throw my hat into the bio oil vs phytaoil ring, I've used both and would go Phytaoil every time. A bit of internetting seems to confirm that the rosehips in the phytaoil are some sort of wonder ingredient for scars and the like.

Does phytaoil actually remove the stretch marks or fade them? what would you rate it out of 10? and can you give me an example of how it made your stretch marks look after using it and how long does it take for the product to work? i've got loads of stretch marks ie: armpits, top & bottom of belly, boobs, thighs. where did you girls get them?

I've had two pregnancies and no stretch marks, I used Bio Oil twice a day from once I started to get big. I rubbed it into thighs, boobs and stomach and drank loads and loads of water. Still do I'm addicted now!

well i used bio oil when i only had a few little ones on my stomach & it was CRAP. loads just ended up appearing not dissapearing

Try Derma Mum Stretch Mark Cream it contains loads of natural oils, vit E etc... Bio Oil gave me a rash and didn't soak in enough on my skin. Also carry on creaming after baby is born, I found this helped mine fade faster.