Do stretchmark creams really work? And is bio-oil so miraculous?

[Picante]

I hate spending money on fancy creams but will get some if recommended by you mners.

There has been another thread on this earlier have a search and look at that one. It had some good reccomendations on it.

FWIW I used bio oil and it doesn't stop you getting stretchmarks but does reduce the appearance after a while.

I hope so as my MIL has very kindly supplied me with a bottle ready for when my bump starts to expand. She had two dcs and says she didn't get any stretch marks, and as she's teeny-tiny to start with, that's pretty impressive!

Unfortunately it's all down to genetics and what skin type you are. My skin is not very elastic so my tummy is like a road map (albeit a faded one!). Bio Oil is recommended for any scars, not just stretchmarks (i hate the way the advert says they are "ugly" stretchmarks!! ) Nothing can stop you getting stretchmarks but there's nothing wrong in rubbing cream on your belly. It'll make it lovely and soft and might even reduce the redness of them too if you use them often enough!

I have used several creams and i've not got a mark yet, i think the key is to find one that when u wake up in the morning u can still feel it as tho u've just moisturised. I think atrixo is really good and I have used bio oil too. Atrixo is less expensive and a great moisturiser but i use bio oil before bed as like people say any mark u may get can b faded by bio oil. It's expensive but worth it and if u use other moisturisers like atrixo during the day it lowers costs. I think if u keep on top of it and moisturise 2-3 times daily it'll really help. They say it's herreditory but my friends mom didnt get them and she did, my mom got a lot n i havent yet with 5 wks to go. My aunty didn't n her sister did, so who knows??? Also another cheap, quick and easy one is when u get out of bath/shower cover ur wet skin in baby oil and pat yourself dry. Good luck xxx

I religiously used oil and cream and got my marks with about 3 days to go and I also got some on my feet after, they looked like pigs trotters - nice

no & no in my experience.

I used cocoa butter (palmer's I think - has a preg belly on it) and didn't get any marks but I agree that it's probably just luck/genes/skin. That said, I'd use it again if I were to have another.

Oh, and, I don't think it was that expensive and easy to find in boots and the like.

My mum and sister both had horrendous stretch marks - I didn't have any.
I did mean to use some kind of oil/cream but somehow never got round to it (I don't use oils/ creams on my bod generally anyway).

BUT I did take an oils supplement daily - the Equazen MumOmega supplement - plus the pregnacare vitamin supplement - plus lots of water - and I think that might have helped. I went to 42+2 weeks before DS was born (after induction) as well; I had put on just under 2 stone. I like to think that the oil supplement and the good hydration helped my skin to cope, plus sufficient vitamin C which is essential for collagen health. But I could be wrong - it might just have been luck!

no and no I'm afraid.

no

get cocoa butter whcih at least s cheap and smells nice

RGPargy is right - if your mum escaped stretchmark-free chances are you will too

I've used Palmers stretch mark cream from the beginning in the hope that I don't get any...33 wks now and so far so good!

Apart from the hope that it will prevent stretch marks, I find it a nice way to connect with baby for a min or 2 every morning when I rub it in, and I'm sure baby enjoys the massage too!

No oil/creams and no strech marks for me. Its all down to luck I believe.

Well I got stretchmarks with ds 1 so I guess there's no point spending the money!

I didn't use any creams and didn't get any stretch marks. It's definitely down to genetics - my mum and grandma didn't get stretch marks either.

I religiously used Bio oil and got my first stretchmark at 36 weeks. I sobbed.

another vote for palmers here. I used the stretchmark cream for the first 20 weeks till it ran out, then I went on to use their cocoa butter oil which smells lovely and is easy to rub in.
I'm due tomorrow and no stretch marks yet

A friend very kindly bought me some Clarins stretch mark cream as a present, I was fine until week 38 and now my belly is liberally decorated with stretch marks. I've got very dry hands though and it works wonders on them!

I've also got some Neals Yard bio oil which says it's for stretch marks, but I'm intending for DH to use that to rub on my back etc when labour kicks off. Unless I have one of those 'don't touch me!' labours!