Stretch marks appear most commonly postpartum. But they can also appear during periods of rapid weight gain. In some cases, they appear during puberty. And the cause is similar in all cases: stretching of the skin.
Many mothers experience stretch marks, and some of them would prefer the amazing memories of the pregnancy not to remain visible. So, their most common question is how to get rid of stretch marks.
Today, we will talk about the best stretch mark cream options that help you remove stretch marks, or at least make them less noticeable.
Stretch marks have different color and texture than normal skin. They can range from purple to bright pink, and in some cases, light gray.
When you touch them, you will feel a slight ridge of indentation on the skin. In some cases, they can also feel sore or itchy.
5 Best Stretch Mark Creams
1. Body Merry Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream
Unscented, and cruelty-free, this is the cream you go if you are a fan of natural products that have not been tested on animals. Made from high-quality natural ingredients, the cream is also packed with antioxidants and vitamins. That means not only you are getting cream for removing stretch marks, you are also getting a cream that will nourish your skin.
Gentle on your skin, the cream contains vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, and many more. How it helps your skin? The ingredients support natural production of collagen, helping your skin retain its elasticity. If you have dry skin, you can even use it as a moisturizer.
All you have to do is massage it into your skin and leave the skin to absorb it fully. Suitable for both men and women, you can use it for both prevention and treatment of stretch marks.
PROS
- Unscented
- You can use as a moisturizer
- Spreads and absorbs easily
- Rich in vitamins and antioxidants
CONS
- While it is unscented, the smell of the cream can be hard to swallow
- If stretch marks are a bit old, it doesn’t work as good
2. Erbaviva Stretch Mark Cream
If you want an organic option, this might be the best cream on the market. And the best part is, it doesn’t come for a huge price.
The organic cream feels rich and creamy to the touch but doesn’t feel greasy on the skin.
That is the best thing you could ask in a creamy texture. Absorbs perfectly in a matter of minutes, and allows you to put a cute outfit without any residue staining your clothes.
With natural ingredients like cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil, you are getting a lot of nourishment for the skin.
Help keep your skin hydrated and elastic.
The company recommends you use the cream in combination with their stretch mark oil, but you can get great results even with just the cream.
PROS
- Works for pregnant women
- Absorbs perfectly in the skin
- Does not feel heavy on your skin
- Perfect for women with dry skin
CONS
- The smell is too strong
- The price can be high for some ladies
3. Smooth RX Fierce Stretch Mark + Scar Cream
Let’s start with the good stuff. You can use this cream for stretch marks, but also for acne scars, wrinkles, fine lines or just about any other skin issue. The formula is ideal for use on all skin conditions.
The natural ingredients include organic olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, and aloe vera. All of these ingredients are known for their hydrating properties. Combined together, they deliver a potent formula that can improve skin flexibility and smoothness. Works by repairing damaged skin and breaking scar tissue down. The result glowing skin.
One of the best parts about the cream? It is cost effective. You will be hard pressed to find another formula that comes at this price and does so much for your skin. No matter how big or small your budget is, this cream can fit right into it. No matter if you want to minimize stretch marks, or acne on your face, thighs, buttocks, breasts, belly, arms, and anywhere else on the body, this cream is suitable for you.
PROS
- High-quality natural ingredients in the formula
- Works on scars, stretch marks, acne, and other skin issues
- Very hydrating formula
CONS
- Results do not come quickly, some users report no changes within a month
- For the price, there should be more product
4. Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter, Fragrance-Free
One of the most reviewed and popular products in the United States. With natural ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin E, coconut oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and many more, the formula packs moisturizing forces.
The result your skin feels insanely hydrated. If you want a tested and tried cream, this is it. Now, it might now work for your skin. But chances are higher you will get a good product than a bad. There are more than 3,000 reviews on Amazon, and the cream has an overall rating of 4-stars.
Designed for mothers, both during pregnancy and after childbirth, to keep their belly free of stretch marks. The unscented formula helps your skin recover. And it is safe, there will be no irritation.
PROS
- The formula contains no parabens or phthalates
- Specifically designed for pregnant women
- Helps for prevention and treatment
CONS
- The formula is not as buttery as you would expect
- Does not absorb completely
5. Clarins Stretch Mark Control Cream
Clarins’ cream is unique in a couple of different ways. For starters, the ingredients are not what you usually find in stretch mark cream. This one utilizes crowberry extract, an ingredient that protects and regenerates the elastin and collagen fibers in your skin.
As a fragrance-free cream, it is great for mothers that are sensitive to scented lotions. Helps with stretch marks from puberty, pregnancy, or weight fluctuation. In the same time, provides hydration to your dry skin.
You can also use to fade away uneven skin tone caused by stretch marks or other skin problem.
What you have to remember is that this is not a cream for removing stretch marks. It is more of a minimizing product. And that is why some people give it a poor review.
PROS
- Helps with collagen and elastin production
- Replenishes the skin
- Prevents stretch marks from coming
CONS
- The price is very high
- It is a stretch mark minimizer, not removal cream
Where do stretch marks appear?
Simply put, you can have stretch marks just about anywhere. However, they are most common in the stomach, breast, upper arms, thigh, hips, breasts, and buttocks.
Being scars of disfiguring lesions, stretch marks are not physically dangerous. What they can do, however, is cause problems with your self-image.
Very few women proudly wear their stretch marks during the summer bikini season. They can even cause anxiety, and can even affect day to day living.
Symptoms of stretch marks
Before these lines appear on your skin, the skin will appear thin and pink. And it will also feel irritated or itchy.
Initially, stretch marks develop as wrinkly and raised streaks. They can be red, purple, pink, brown, dark brown, or reddish in color. It all depends on your skin color. Eventually, the streaks fade and flatten, changing to a silvery color over time.
While they can become less noticeable over time, that usually takes years.
Causes of stretch marks
We touched briefly on the topic what causes stretch marks in the beginning. In most cases, that is post-pregnancy. They appear as a result of skin stretching, but also increase of cortisone in your system.
If you didn’t know, cortisone is a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands. Having too much of it will cause the skin to lose its elasticity.
With that in mind, here is a breakdown of all causes of stretch marks.
- Women often experience stretch marks during pregnancy, as the skin stretches in a number of ways to accommodate the developing baby. This continuous stretch is the biggest cause of stretch marks
- When you gain or lose weight rapidly, your skin also stretches. This can cause stretch marks to appear
- Teenagers experience stretch marks due to a sudden growth spurt
- Constant use of corticosteroid creams, lotions, and pills can reduce the ability of your skin to stretch, reduce the elasticity, and result in stretch marks
- Medical conditions like Marfan syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome can also result in stretch marks. That is because they cause the body to produce too much of a hormone that leads to rapid weight gain
Risk groups
There are a couple of risk factors that can contribute to developing stretch marks.
Here are those:
- Being Caucasian or having pale skin
- Family history of stretch mars
- Having a history of delivering large babies or twins
- Dramatic weight loss or gain
- Being overweight
How are stretch marks diagnosed?
You can easily notice the symptoms, and a doctor will do the same thing if you go for a checkup. A doctor will also review your medical history.
If the doctor suspects that the stretch marks are a result of a serious illness, he might also require imaging, urine, or blood tests.
Can you prevent stretch marks?
Sadly, there is no way to completely prevent stretch marks. Even with the regular usage of creams and lotions. What you can do is keep your weight at a healthy range by practicing a balanced healthy diet and regular exercise.
When you are pregnant, ask your doctor how much weight gain is right for you during pregnancy.
Yes, it is normal to gain weight during pregnancy. But you should be careful not to gain too much weight.
A lot of women think that they can eat anything and everything, and expect that their weight will go back to normal after childbirth. That will not happen if you gain too much weight by not eating healthy.
You can also reduce the risk of stretch marks by avoiding yo-yo diets, consuming foods high in vitamins and minerals, aiming for slow and gradual weight gain during pregnancy, and drinking eight glasses of water on a daily basis.
What to look at a cream?
There are many stretch mark removal cream products on the market. It is hard finding the best among them. Luckily, we are here to help you. But as a general rule of thumb, you should also look at the formula and search for the best ingredients.
Some formulas have a lightening agent that will lighten the appearance of stretch marks. You also want a healing agent such a hyaluronic acid that will heal and reduce the appearance of stretch marks from the inside out.
Here are a couple of ingredients you should look in the formula:
- Aloe vera – hydrates and softens your skin, all while unclogging pores. Commonly found in sunscreen products and moisturizers
- Essential oils – give the cream a delightful scent, but also provide deep moisture for your skin
- Collagen – lotions and creams that promote collagen production and increase the skin’s elasticity
- Elastin – similar as collagen, elastin enhancers help to replenish the elastin fibers in the skin, crucial for healing a damaged and stretched skin
How to use stretch mark cream?
The following creams are efficient as long as you use them properly. You can buy the ream, but if you are not using it properly, you will be disappointed by the results.
With that in mind, here are a couple of pointers:
- Use the product on early stretch marks, very few products have an effect on mature marks
- Massage the product into the stretch marks, but do it gently
- Apply the product on a regular daily basis for several weeks. Do not expect overnight results
