Stretch Marks in Pregnancy: What Helps and What Does Not
Stretch marks are common in pregnancy, and many stretch mark products promise more than they can deliver. This guide sets out what skin doctors say works, what does not, and how to care for stretching skin day to day.
The short answer
- A stretch mark is a kind of scar. It fades with time but does not fully go away.
- No cream, lotion or oil can promise to prevent stretch marks.
- Products seem to help most on new marks, when you massage them in every day for weeks.
- Keeping skin moisturised will not stop every mark, but it eases the dry, tight, itchy feeling.
- Avoid retinol and retinoid creams while pregnant.
What is a stretch mark?
A stretch mark is a type of scar. It forms when skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The fast change breaks the collagen and elastin fibres that support the skin, and a mark shows as the skin heals.
New marks
Pink, red, purple, reddish-brown or dark brown, depending on your skin colour. They can feel slightly raised and itchy.
Older marks
The colour fades and the mark sinks slightly below the skin. You can often feel a small dip.
Who gets them?
Not everyone does. Hormones seem to play a part, and you are more likely to get them if someone in your family has them. Besides pregnancy, they are common during growth spurts in puberty and with quick weight gain or loss.
What works, and what does not
This is what skin doctors say about the common options. No single product works for everyone, and many do not work at all.
| Option | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid | Some evidence In two large studies it made early stretch marks less noticeable. |
| Centella (pegaga) | Some evidence Products with centella may help prevent stretch marks. |
| Daily massage with a cream or lotion | May help Products seem to work better on early marks, massaged in gently, every day for weeks. |
| Cocoa butter, almond oil, olive oil, vitamin E | Not shown to work In studies these did not prevent stretch marks or make them fade. They still moisturise the skin. |
| Retinol and retinoid creams | Not in pregnancy They may help new marks, but they can harm the baby. Do not use them while pregnant, and ask your doctor before using them while breastfeeding. |
| Laser, microdermabrasion and other clinic treatments | Stronger evidence Done by a skin doctor, these can make marks less noticeable. None of them removes a stretch mark completely. |
| Tanning | Makes it worse Stretch marks do not tan, so a tan makes them stand out more. |
It is not always possible to prevent stretch marks. Keeping to a healthy weight gain is the most useful thing you can do. Ask your doctor what weight gain is right for your pregnancy.
Stretch mark cream, lotion or oil: which should you pick?
They are all moisturisers, and the difference is mostly texture. Because daily use matters more than the type, pick the one you will actually use twice a day.
Cream
Thick and rich. Takes longer to sink in. Suits very dry skin or a cool, air-conditioned room.
Lotion
Lighter, with more water. Spreads easily over a big bump and absorbs fast, which helps in hot, humid weather.
Oil
Feels rich and is good for massage, but it can mark clothes and bedsheets.
What to check on the label
- No retinol, retinoid or tretinoin while you are pregnant.
- A scent you can live with. Strong smells can be hard to bear in pregnancy.
- A texture you like, in a size you can afford to use every day.
- Claims that sound too good, such as "removes stretch marks", are a warning sign.
A simple daily routine
Start early. Products seem to have little effect on old marks, so the time to begin is when your skin first feels tight or the first marks show.
- Apply after your shower. Morning and night is a good habit.
- Cover the areas that stretch most. Tummy, breasts, hips, bottom and upper thighs.
- Massage gently in slow circles until the product is absorbed. Gentle massage may help.
- Keep going for weeks. Results, if they come, take weeks to show.
- Carry on after the birth. Many mums continue for a few months after delivery.
Where Pureen Stretch Mark Lotion fits
We make a stretch mark lotion, so here is a plain account of what it can and cannot do.
What it does
- Moisturises skin as it stretches.
- Helps relieve itch caused by dryness.
- A light lotion that absorbs fast, with no greasy film on skin or clothes.
- Contains sodium hyaluronate, collagen, cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil, rose hip seed oil and vitamin E.
- Paraben-free. 150ml.
What it cannot promise
- That you will get no stretch marks. No lotion can promise that.
- That it will remove marks you already have.
When to see a doctor
- Before you treat stretch marks while pregnant or breastfeeding, check the product with your doctor.
- If you have large stretch marks together with more fat on the chest and tummy but slim arms and legs, a build-up of fat on the back of the neck and shoulders, or a red, puffy, rounded face. These can be signs of a rare condition called Cushing's syndrome.
- If you have spent a lot on products with no result, a skin doctor can tell you which treatments suit you.
Stretch marks: common questions
This guide is general information from the Pureen team. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.