Stretch mark creams- do they work??

[MoominMoma]

The thread title says it all really! Just wondered if any of them make any difference before I go and shell out money for no reason. Any advice would be greatly received!

I believe not, I'm afraid. Recent research suggests it's down to genetic factors (and things like too much relaxin and too little collagen).

However, no harm in massaging your belly with some nice cream, if you want to.

Dont know is my experience as only a first timer, but i wasnt prepared to risk it so i bought Boots-Mum to be range, body butter is lovely and soft, Smells nice too!!

Used massage oil on bump last time - great for ensuring you dont get itchy skin as the bump grows, but still got stretch marks. Am using it this time round too - again for pre=empting itchy skin (which can drive you crazy).

No, I understand that the damage happens too far down in the skin (I forget which layer now!) for the creams to be effective, but it can't hurt! I used almond oil in both pregnancies because I thought at least the increased blood flow to the area would be a good thing. A bit of bump rubbing never goes amiss anyway does it?

Thanks for your prompt replies, I might have a look round this weekend and get a nice cream or oil to rub in. It will make me feel like I am doing something however futile and will mean I have a lovely soft bump!

Cocoa butter is lovely.

With DC2, do you get new stretch marks or does your body just reuse the old ones?

Well I asked my midwife this when I was having ds1 and she said they made no difference at all.
I got stretch marks from weight gain and loss as a teenager and none from my pregnancy and I was as big as an elephant.

Cocoa butter smells nice but does nothing to prevent stretch marks - doesn't penetrate deep enough.

I used Biotherm's cream-gel when pregnant with DD, and didn't get any stretch marks although had a huge bump.

My mother and women on my father's side all have stretch marks, so I doubt if it's entirely down to genetics.

I used an Arkopharma cream, can't remember where from, but it is still available on Ebay. Don't have any stretchmarks now, although did have some when was at my most heavily pregnant.

I do wonder. My legs got covered in stretch marks when I was a teenager and grew taller and "bigger" very quickly.
However, I religiously put cream on my breast and belly while pregnant and never got one single stretch mark. I used rilastil, which I bought in italy.

I read somewhere about diet helpeing - stuff like olive oil, avocado etc doing trick. fwiw I craved avocado and used clarins stuff and didnt get any

franca - Thanks for the recommendation. We live 15 minutes from Italy and might hop over and buy some soon (I'm 19 weeks pregnant)

this is brilliant

This is great, loving all these ideas. Do you think if I use a little of everyones ideas I will be ok??!! Seriously thanks a lot it has given me a lot to think about (along with everything else!)

I used something called Heaven which came in a lovely cream and oil. Was a bit pricey but smells so good and I haven't had any stretch marks (39 weeks now) but I think that's just luck. I found this great when my bump was feeling really tight /www.heavenskincare.com/

Cote it is sold in farmacia, most of my Italian friends swear on it

At some stage stretch marks were linked to too much hormones in meat.

Gok Wan did a survey about stretch marks on one of his shows. The products included ones that were really expensive (over £100) to cheaper ones. Well Palmers Cocoa Butter got the thumbs up as the best one.I have read in other tatty magazines and shows that this product always gets good reviews. Its a bit like Ponds cream being the best for wrinkles......
I also have used Bio oil. I dont get stretch marks on my bump. However my boobs are covered! Perhaps thats going from a AA to a G cup

Everyone I know who has used Palmer's Cocoa Butter got stretch marks all over their tummies.

Well everyones skin is different.Its good to try a variety to see what works. However I am cynical about stretch mark creams.If your gonna get them your gonna get them no matter what you do.You could try Lymphatic Drainage.

Palmer's was the one I saw being advertised! Bio oil is sounding good as I am not going to Italy any time soon! The shrimp has put paid to that holiday this year!!

Almond oil is also said to be very good.

Creams didn't work for me,

was all smug because at 8 months preggers I didn't have any stretch marks because i had a small neat bump,
then in the last month I expanded hugely and got loads of really big, wide and ugly stretch marks, even though i had used creams throughout.

My friend was huuuge with twins-not one stretch mark. No stretch marks for me either, we both religiously applied Bio-oil every night.

Bio-oil every night did the trick for me... or else I was just lucky. Creams gave me rash.