Bio oil - is it worth it?

[Squirrel31]

Hi all mums to be! I'm approx 10 weeks now and starting to think about how to manage stretch marks as I have already developed lots of thready red veins! Have you used bio oil and would you recommend? My skin is quite dry and I try and use body shop coconut butter but the smell is making me feel a bit icky x

God that's an awful lot of actuallys...

Apparently stretch marks come from the inside, so they cannot be prevented with bio oil. I slathered myself in the stuff when pg with DC1 and got heaps of them on my tummy. I do moisturise this time, as I think it helps with the itching and stretching, and what harm can it do, however I will not be investing in bio oil this time round.

Must say tho, they faded to almost nothing and can only be seen in a certain light so I was still happy to wear bikinis etc last summer. Waiting for them to come back this time with a vengeance!

Love my bio oil. A friend bought a massive bottle and its amazing, and makes you smell gorgeous! Doesn't completely eradicate them but lessens the appearance and makes them blend into your skin rather than be all pinky purple.

I used it religiously for over a year. It didn't make a blind bit of difference.

Expensive.

Not sure you can actually stop strech marks!

I didn't get any (on 4th pregnancy) and I did oil everyday from my boobs down to my tighs!

But I know plenty of people who did also oil and got bad streach marks!

Also think it helps that I didn't get that big or gain to much weight

Hi OP, I think it doesn't really matter too much what you use, provided it has a decent amount of vitamin E in it, and is suitable to use during pregnancy.

Genetics aside, the best way to avoid stretch marks is to:

• Start using whatever cream you use as soon as possible. You need to keep it hydrated early otherwise it's too late.
• Keep yourself well hydrated
• Avoid excessive weight gain (although there are some people who don't gain much weight but still get huge bumps. Not much you can do about that!)
• Keep eating a healthy diet and take a multi vitamin if you can. It will help with the growth, repair and replacement of cells.

All that and cross your fingers basically!!

Before entering the world of pregnancy I always thought bio oil was good for scars that had already occurred. My job involves seeing lots of people's scars and I've had patients rave about bio oil, even on old scars. However, like several pp have said, it's hard to believe it could prevent them, other than maybe improve their appearance.

I have a bottle of it but can't tolerate the smell (in fact it made me so nauseous in the early days I abandoned it all together) I also feel a weird about putting chemicals all over my belly and that potentially getting obsorbed by the baby.

I'm gonna try a natural/organic oil. Thanks to the pp who recommended almond oil... Love that stuff. Can you get that in supermarkets??

I know i get stretchmarks, i have growing ones on thighs and boobs, fair enough they aren't the red ones just sort of white ones but knowing i get them i've used bio oil twice a day from 5 weeks (boobs really ached so i knew they were growing) now i use 3 times a day purely because i can feel the pressure and tightness of my skin after day at work. I have no marks on my bump only on my hips... where i didn't apply it, i am now to reduce them. brought from amazon as previously said, i would say well worth the money and a bottle lasts ages i'm still on my first 200ml one at 29 weeks.

Ive been using it for a couple of months, and at the very least my tummy is VERY smooth!!! its buy one get one free online at boots at the moment!

I used bio oil throughout both my pregnancies and have a couple of tiny stretch marks ( only appeared during second pregnancy). I used to buy when on offer in boots, every so often they do a buy one get one free on the 200mls bottles

37 + 4 here and no stretch marks yet. I didn't use Bio Oil but instead have been using coconut and almond oils. Both can be purchased at Holland and Barrett or online for cheaper than Bio Oil, I believe.

Ultimately, I think it's all down to genes as to whether you'll get stretch marks or not but I have made it this far so fingers crossed none will crop up in these final weeks!

I found this one in holland and barratt

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-vitamin-e-pure-oil-60083566

It has rosehip jojoba and I think a few other things. It's says to get medical advice prior to using in pregnancy. What do you think?

Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Rosa canina fruit oil, Tocopherol, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Rosa damascena flower oil, Citronellol, Geraniol. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

There's the ingredients

I used bog standard cheap Sainsburys olive oil in the bath everyday (nightmare to clean out though!). Not one single stretchmark! I also used Waitrose Baby's Bottom Butter or Palmers Solid Cocoa Butter for rubbing over said area.
To be honest I wouldn't spend a fortune. Its to do with Genes (I think!).