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Are you looking for the best stretch mark cream during your pregnancy? I’m always a fan of keeping bumps looking glorious, so I did a WHOLE bunch of research on stretch mark creams, how they work, and when to start using them! I started rubbing stretch mark cream on my bump in my first trimester! I wasn’t showing, and I didn’t have ANY stretch marks to begin with, but I really wanted to get into a good routine of rubbing cream on my belly each day! Avoiding stretch marks is all about PREVENTION (and having the right genes, but we’ll get into that later in the post), so it’s important to start early, and stick with your routine! Get more support from the @mommy.labornurse Instagram community! Join over 550k mamas for tips and solidarity on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum! If you’re curious and/or in a hurry and don’t wanna read this whole article… Pregnancy stretch mark overviewFirst off, what are pregnancy stretch marks?Stretch Marks are streaks (or lines) on your skin resulting from your skin expanding too quickly. This can be due to obesity, growing (puberty), or pregnancy! These streaks are a different color and texture than your normal skin (usually kind of bumpy) and they range from white, pink, purple or gray. They also can be itchy! (Your belly, in general, may become itchy for other reasons) Sometimes you may find that stretch marks (especially when they first appear) will feel sore to the touch as well. (source) Related reading:30+ Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Mama-To-Be! What causes pregnancy stretch marks?Skin stretching! And like I’ve said, there are a few different instances people will develop stretch marks (obesity, growing, and pregnancy). It’s also been proved that an increase in collagen also causes stretch marks to appear. In other words, an increase in cortisone levels can increase the probability or severity of stretch marks by reducing the skin’s pliability. In fact, this is a cosmetic way to reduce the look of stretch marks (collagen injections)! That’s all I’ll say about that subject, but you can read more about collagen and how it affects your skin here! Who do they affect most?Since stretch marks are genetic, they typically affect women MOST who have mothers or sisters with stretch marks. If you noticed you got some stretch marks while you were going through puberty, you’re also at a higher risk for having them during your pregnancy. In addition, stretch marks also affect women of darker complexion more so than lighter complexion. If you have any reason for your stomach to be getting larger, quicker, you’re also at a higher risk for development. This would include twin pregnancies, gestational diabetics, and women who carry more amniotic fluid. Do stretch mark creams actually work?That’s debatable. Yes, I realize that this whole article is dedicated to finding the best stretch mark cream during your pregnancy, but I can’t lie to you guys! Stretch mark creams are marketed to pregnant women as a means of prevention, skin hydration, and overall better skin elasticity. Once you develop stretch marks, however, there is no complete cure. Your stretch marks will unfortunately never go away completely, but you may be able to have treatments or apply creams in hopes that they change their color to white. The only REAL ingredient that may have some benefit in preventing stretch marks is Retinoids (Vitamin A), but it is unsafe in pregnancy because it has been linked to birth defects. (It’s mainly the oral use of Retinoids that’s been linked to birth defects, but the general consensus is to avoid topical use as well) You may, however, apply a vitamin A based cream on your stretch marks once you delivered (even if you’re breastfeeding). With that said, why are so many women interested in the best stretch mark cream during pregnancy? Stretch mark creams still have plenty of benefit to your growing bump, even if they don’t truly help prevent your stretch marks from forming. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to keep your skin nice and hydrated as it’s being stretched, and all stretch mark creams are extremely moisturizing. (It’s even more important to drink lots of water as your bump grows!) They also smell nice, but not overly perfumed like many moisturizing creams that are marketed to the general population. Related reading:10 Mother’s Day Gifts for Expectant Mamas! When to start using stretch mark creams during your pregnancyI started rubbing my favorite stretch mark cream on my bump before it was a bump at all! I actually started in my first trimester, before anything was going through the stretching process. This helped me stay on track, and get into a good routine of moisturizing my bump after bathing. Not only did I rub cream on my belly, but I also applied stretch mark cream in any place on my body I thought might get bigger during my pregnancy. So, it’s a good idea to have that same mindset too, when applying your cream! Not only do you want to moisturize your bump, you also want to keep these areas in mind:
Unfortunately, your bump may not be the only thing GROWING during your pregnancy, so lotion up! Related reading: Third Trimester Must Haves The best stretch mark cream during pregnancyMy favorite stretch mark cream
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