How to Choose a Pregnancy-Safe Stretch Mark Cream
We reviewed the safety and sustainability of stretch mark products from Bio-Oil, Hatch, Palmer's, and other brands to find out which rise to the top
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Stretch marks are a totally normal part of pregnancy—and life. Up to 90 percent of people develop stretch marks during pregnancy, and there’s nothing at all shameful about how our skin changes as our bodies change.
But if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, or you already have stretch marks from pregnancy, it’s understandable that you may be seeking solutions to prevent or treat stretch marks.
Whatever you decide—to prevent or treat stretch marks, or skip it entirely and wear them with pride—is completely your choice. To help you along the way, we’ve gathered expert information about what stretch marks are, how stretch marks form, and tips on prevention and treatment. CR has also partnered with Made Safe, a nonprofit that certifies products for safety and sustainability, to evaluate stretch mark creams and oils to help identify top choices.
What Are Stretch Marks and How Do They Form?
Stretch marks are a type of scar that develops from rapid stretching or shrinking of the skin. According to Helen He, MD, the co-director of Mount Sinai-Clinique Healthy Skin Dermatology Center in New York City, “When the skin becomes overstretched, this outpaces skin regeneration and disrupts the collagen and elastin networks, resulting in these lines that are often discolored.”
Stretch marks can be red, purple, or white. They can also be indented—and itchy. They can form whenever skin is stretching or shrinking: during rapid weight or muscle gain, growth spurts, and, of course, pregnancy.
Can Stretch Marks Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed way to prevent stretch marks, because genetics, hormones, and stage of life all factor in. But there are some actions you can take that may help.
Can Stretch Marks Be Treated?
Treating stretch marks after they’ve formed can be tough. And while some at-home and in-office options may help, be wary of any product or skin care treatment that’s marketed as a silver bullet. Helen He says, “It is important to maintain realistic expectations that while these modalities can improve color and texture of stretch marks, it is often not feasible to completely eradicate them.”
In the dermatologist’s office, He recommends lasers and energy-based devices. It’s most effective to tackle stretch marks when they’ve just formed—typically when they’re still red or purple—but most in-office laser treatments aren’t suitable during pregnancy. Older stretch marks that have already turned white can still be treated with methods that focus on improving texture. Your dermatologist can help you choose the right method for your specific needs.
What to Look For in a Stretch Mark Cream or Oil
Ingredients that offer moisturization and hydration are must-haves for stretch mark products. Both Helen He and the AAD recommend hyaluronic acid and the herb Centella asiatica, two ingredients that limited research suggests may improve the appearance of stretch marks. He also suggests hydrating and protecting ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and ceramides.
While there isn’t enough evidence to demonstrate that some go-to ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, vitamin E, and aloe are effective, they are indeed moisturizing and generally offer positive benefits to your skin. Plus, if you’re suffering from itchy stretch marks, these ingredients may offer relief.
What to Avoid in a Stretch Mark Cream or Oil
Hidden ingredients: We recommend avoiding products that list phrases like “fragrance” and “natural fragrance” on labels. These terms are a commonly seen shorthand for ingredients that are not required to be disclosed on personal care product labels. But some fragrance ingredients like phthalates are associated with health problems. Without disclosure it’s impossible to know whether the fragrance contains ingredients that are safe for pregnant individuals.
Ethoxylated ingredients: Many ingredients in personal care products undergo a process called ethoxylation, where ethylene oxide is added in manufacturing to make other ingredients less harsh. In the process, however, the final product can be contaminated with ethylene oxide, an ingredient linked to cancer when inhaled, and 1,-4-dioxane, a manufacturing by-product linked to cancer in animal studies.
Because these chemicals are contaminants, you won’t find them listed on labels. But you can spot potentially ethoxylated ingredients by looking for the following red flag terms: PEG, polysorbate, phenoxyethanol, and the suffixes “-eth” and “oxynol.”
Ingredients that aren’t safe during pregnancy: Topical retinoids are among some of the most effective treatments for stretch marks. Trouble is, retinoids are not safe for use during pregnancy. You’ll find some retinoids listed on labels with words starting with or containing “retin.” Examples include retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, tretinoin, and retinaldehyde.
Some ingredients you might not expect should be avoided or restricted during pregnancy too. For example, carrot seed essential oil, sage essential oil, and cinnamon bark essential oil are not recommended, according to “Essential Oil Safety,” by Robert Tisserand, an essential oil expert, and Rodney Young, a plant chemistry and pharmacology researcher. And make sure to use products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid and glycolic acid sparingly and infrequently. Check labels for ingredients, and talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Don’t panic: If you’ve used a product with an ingredient that isn’t recommended during pregnancy, don’t panic. Many ingredients with concerns are problematic because of their potential impacts over time. Simply swap your stretch mark cream out for a safer alternative. And remember you can always discuss your concerns with your doctor.
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
Note that while CR and Made Safe recommend Bio-Oil Natural as a top choice, the company’s Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is not a recommendation during pregnancy because of the presence of retinyl palmitate.
Stretch Mark Product Companies Respond
Consumer Reports contacted companies that make products with ingredients of concern and asked them to comment.
Bio-Oil
The company stated that it uses pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil in its Skincare Oil at levels deemed safe for use. The company stated that retinyl palmitate is used at levels well below the maximum concentration deemed safe by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Red Dye No. 17 is used in the product in accordance with the EU Regulations, and stated that cetearyl ethylhexanoate has no known environmental hazards. The company declined to disclose its fragrance ingredients and stated that it has been approved by the International Fragrance Association, a self-regulating industry body that sets standards for fragrance manufacturers. The company did not respond as to whether the fragrance had been evaluated for suitability for pregnant individuals. Regarding ingredients alpha-isomethyl ionone, amyl cinnamal, benzyl salicylate, citronellol, coumarin, eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, limonene, and linalool, the company said each ingredient was selected to align with global safety and regulatory standards.
Earth Mama
The company’s Belly Butter contains borage seed oil, an ingredient that can contain high levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are not suitable during pregnancy. When we contacted the company about the presence of borage seed oil in its product, the company provided technical information from its ingredient supplier stating that the ingredient is not at risk for containing PAs and that the manufacturing process eliminates toxic levels. The company also stated that the ingredient is guaranteed to contain less than 4 parts per billion of PAs. With this information, Made Safe determined the ingredient is unlikely to pose a risk to pregnant individuals.
Mustela
The company responded to our inquiry and stated polyacrylate crosspolymer-6 is not classified for environmental concern in the EU and is biodegradable, not toxic to aquatic life, and not expected to be bioaccumulative.
All other companies did not respond or did not provide the requested ingredient safety information.