recommendations for best oil/ other products to prevent stretch marks?

[moulesfrites]

My friend had recommended Clarins Tonic oil but it costs £34! She swears by it though and insists she has never had a stretch mark. I smelt it the other day in the shop and it was lovely but just couldn't bring myself to fork out that much for it!! Has anyone used anything else succesfully?

Also - when do I need to start using it? Am currently 14+2 but no real bump yet - is it best to start early?

TIA

I've been recommended bio oil from several people. It's cheaper if you get it from amazon.

I dont think anything really works particularly its the actual act of rubbing in the mosturiser to aid circulation that helps I think but if prone to stretch marks not alot can do.

Having said that I have been using

sanctuary mum to be body butter

sanctuary mum to be stretch mark oil

palmers cocoa butter

santogen mum to be stretch mark cream

and also use the sanctuary mum to be bath powder stuff in a jar for soft skin

and at 35wks dont have any stretch marks other than ones that were already on thighs.

I use something every night did just use dove and sanctuary normal body butters in first 15wks.

there are no creams that can prevent stretch marks because they occur in the dermis and creams and oils only penetrate the epidermis.

Much as I don't want to, I have to agree with bamboobutton - you can't prevent stretchmarks. But using creams/oils early in pregnancy will make the stretching less uncomfortable and less itchy. And using them after the birth can help reduce the appeareance of any stretchmarks/scars faster.

I swear by PhytaOil - it is all natural, smells lovely and it works! It's only about £10 a bottle (similar price to Bio Oil but much much nicer) and better than that you can get free samples from here at the mo!

Can I ask a thick question? Why are we told to avoid certain essential oils, topical gels (e.g. ibuprofen gels) etc. as to cause problems these must have to penetrate the dermis and get into the blood vessels in the dermis right? If they do then why do creams/oils for stretch marks not penetrate the dermis? Why don't they make some that do?
Thanks for the phytaoil tip rockbudgie I will try that!

Again, I suspect that stretchmarks (or not) are probably preordained, but I love the Mamma Mio range, particularly the Tummy Rub Butter and avoided stretchmarks last time. Fingers crossed for this one.

I too agree with the others that stretch marks are something that you either get or don't - genetic I guess.

However I believe when you are preggers you have to treat yourself - count up how much you would have spent on wine in the last few months and you can easily justify most treats!

I love the Eliabeth Arden 8 hour body cream but that's just me.

And re the natural oil thing - my beautician said that it was something to do with the size of the molecule - organic and natural oils etc are smaller whereas atrificial chemical things are made from bigger molecules and so can't get through.

STARBUCK, its not a thick question, it's a very good one!

Drugs/creams/oils are made up of molecules of different chemicals.
Some molecules are the right size/shape to be absorbed through the skin and into the body, others are just too big/the wrong shape, and can only penetrate the upper layers.

Some drugs/chemicals/oil can go through the skin and build up in the body, hence the need to be carful in pregnancy.
(nicotine patches and topical pain gels would be good examples).

Other Drugs/chemicals/oils are either very poorly absorbed into the body, or not at all.
Examples would be steriod creams (poorly absorbed) and thrush creams (also poorly absorbed).

Don't know much about essential oils but I'd imagine the ones you are told to avoid in preg do absorb into the body.

Sadly I also think not much to be done about stretch marks - except gain your preg weigh as slowly as possible - the more you put on, and the faster you put it on, the more risk there is of the skin tearing in the base layer.

I believed stretchmarks were unpreventable but now...I'm not so sure...my friend slathered herself in the palmers stuff constantly, and got stretchmarks only on her thighs where she had not bothered to apply the cream.

Similar story with my SIL who was on the Bio Oil x3 per day and didn't get 1 and she was BIG. Interestingly she had stretchmarks from growing as a girl (so had the kind of skin that responds that way) and the women in her family have loads so...its worth a try methinks

The Clarins one IS gorgeous- can you drop big hints to loved ones???

Hi there, I'm using bio oil right now, though may give Superdrug version a whirl next time, it's new & their equivalent of the brand. I have no idea when stretch marks strike; is it anytime from when we start growing or in the latter stages - anyone know? L

stretch marks are caused by the layers of collagen underneath your skin stretching - applying a topical cream to the skin layer absolutely won't make any difference whatsoever. The massaging action of applying the cream may help (although medical opinion is still divided on even that), but since the only thing which might help is the massaging motion, there is absolutely no need to do it with anything posh or expensive. EIther you will get stretch marks or you won't - I haven't moisturised my bump and have none at all - I have friends who slathered themselves daily in incredibly expensive "ThisWorks" body oil and who are now covered in purple marks.

Body Shop cocoa butter is fab.

I'm just using a huge tub of Boots aqueous cream that I still had lying about and never got round to using. I use it every night and it's certainly very moisturising.

Am far too cheap to spend big ££ on oils that may not even work. Have not heard of a fail safe way to prevent them.

Almond oil - you can buy a large bottle reasonably cheaply in most health stores.

I agree with the others though - the oils and creams won't prevent stretch marks but your skin will be more supple and you'll feel like you're being pro-active!

It may reduce the appearance and visibility of them though - who knows.

My OH rubs oil on my ever-extending belly every evening and has done since I was around the 8 week mark. The baby seems to love it (or hate it) and kicks away, basking in the attention. It's a nice routine.

TROFOLASTIN cream

It's the only cream that has been clinically proven to work in a placebo controlled trial.

Was recommended to me by a mum and I've been uusing it and it feels really nice (and I haven't got any new stretch marks since using it - I started quite late so had a couple on my boobs before starting but they are fading now).

It can be bought from Pharmamundi online (though they are rather slow to deliver)