The best creams for preventing and caring for stretch marks, according to dermatologists
Stretch marks come in several different forms. We spoke with experts about how to find the best creams to treat them.
Mutha Body Butter
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$95.00
A stretch mark cream may help manage the formation of lines or help improve their appearance after they form, according to our experts. When shopping they recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
Mutha is a line of skin care products formulated specifically for mothers, but Yadav recommends this body butter for anyone looking to nourish the skin. It has a blend of plant butters and oils, including shea, cocoa, mango and avocado, as well as fatty acids and vitamin E, she says. In addition to deeply moisturizing the skin, it’ll also improve firmness, tone and discoloration, according to the brand.
I’ve gone through several tubs of this cream and love how well it eliminates my dry, scaly skin, particularly on my legs. Thicker than a whipped body butter, the formula starts out as a solid and slowly melts into my skin with the warmth of your hands. It also leaves behind a sheen that doesn’t feel sticky once it’s absorbed. One thing to note: While the packaging is hefty and luxurious, it’s prone to showing fingerprints because it’s metallic.
Type: cream | Key ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, vitamin A, vitamin E | Scent: citrus
Formulated specifically for the outer thighs and near the waistline, this Yadav-recommended cream has shea and cocoa butters and squalane, as well as centella asiatica, a Southeast Asian herb that calms sensitive skin. To minimize the appearance and lighten the darkness of stretch marks, it also has a blend of botanical ingredients like soybean oil and calendula extract, according to Maelys. As for usage, it has a warming sensation upon application and you can use it twice a day for best results, according to the brand.
Type: cream | Key ingredients: botanical blend, centella asiatica extract, squalane | Scent: fruity
Next to tretinoin (a retinoid), silicone gel is the next ingredient with the most compelling evidence for stretch marks, says Dr. David Li, a board-certified dermatologist based in Massachusetts. This one from ScarMD has silicone “has been shown to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and prevent the severity of postoperative scar formation,” he says. The gel goes on clear, absorbs quickly into the skin and you can use it on both the face and body, according to the brand. The pointed applicator also makes it easy for targeted application.
Type: gel | Key ingredients: silicones, vitamin E | Scent: unscented
This retinol-infused body lotion also comes recommended by Yadav. “I like that the product features encapsulated retinol, which allows for slower delivery of the active and allows it to penetrate the skin more deeply as well as cause less irritation,” she says. It also has cocoa butter and squalane to repair dryness, smooth skin texture and improve the appearance of crepey skin, according to the brand. You can use the cream morning and evening, but you’ll need to apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 and keep the application areas out of direct sunlight if you use it during the day.
Type: lotion | Key ingredients: retinol, cocoa butter, squalane | Scent: unscented
Li is a fan of this moderately thick bruise cream because it has vitamin C. “Vitamin C may be beneficial for stretch marks as it’s a necessary component of collagen production,” he says. “It can also be helpful to reduce free radicals, especially if the stretch mark is in an area that’s exposed to the sun, as sunlight can worsen the appearance of stretch marks.” Another one of its main ingredients is arnica, which has shown to reduce the appearance of bruises. To use, apply the cream two to three times per day for at least four weeks, recommends the brand.
Type: cream | Key ingredients: arnica, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, coconut oil | Scent: unscented
Stimulating collagen production may lead to firmer-looking skin and an improved appearance of stretch marks. This cream has 20% glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates and stimulates collagen production, says Li, who recommends this formula. “It also has the same concentration of glycolic acid that was previously shown to improve stretch marks in a double-blind controlled clinical trial.”
Because this has an exfoliating acid, it may not be best for dry or sensitive skin types, says Li. To minimize the risk of irritation, use this no more than two to three times a week and avoid immediately following up with tretinoin, as the combination might lead to excess dryness, he says.
Type: cream | Key ingredients: glycolic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E | Scent: not listed
This body oil from Augustinus Bader is made up of a blend of fatty acid-rich oils including grapeseed, sunflower seed and olive. These oils are great at preventing transepidermal water loss (or TEWL) and restoring the skin barrier.
I’ve used this body oil several times and love how soothing the rose and geranium scent is. It also delivers a slight sheen, making it great for days I want my complexion to glow (for instance, when I’m wearing shorts or a dress).
Type: oil | Key ingredients: geranium, rose, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, squalane | Scent: geranium and rose essential oil
When shopping, our experts recommend looking at several factors, including the key ingredients in the formula and the type of product. Below, we highlight their suggestions of things to consider.
Stretch marks, also called striae, refer to areas of skin thinning, discoloration and wrinkling caused by periods of rapid body growth, like pregnancy or significant weight gain, says Li. They can also occur due to an excess of the steroid hormone glucocorticoid. “Glucocorticoids can cause skin thinning and reduce fibroblast (which helps build collagen) activity, thereby making the skin more prone to stretching and not recovering through skin contraction,” he says.
Common places that stretch marks can develop include areas that typically show signs of weight gain and body growth, such as over the buttock near the hips, inner thighs, lower abdomen, breasts and knees. “All stretch marks look like lines on the skin and can be various widths and lengths, but they always run perpendicularly to the direction in which the skin was stretched,” says Yadav.
There are several different types of stretch marks, as outlined below by Li:
When using a formula for stretch marks, you should first consider the active ingredients. “If a formula has humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin in it, then applying it to damp skin can be helpful,” says Yadav. Apply the cream or oil twice a day, or as directed, massaging it in the desired area to promote blood circulation, which helps support skin recovery, says Yadav. After applying a cream or oil, keep the skin dry and avoid any activity that would reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, such as going to the gym or sauna.
There are a few things to consider if you’re using a stretch mark product with any type of retinol. You shouldn’t use retinol-containing formulas if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, says Yadav, as reports have shown that over-exposure to vitamin A can cause birth defects. Also, if you plan on using a retinol cream, introduce it slowly into your routine to minimize irritation. Start by using it once a week on a small patch of skin and build up the amount of product and frequency of use as needed.
If your stretch marks are located on sun-exposed areas such as the shoulders, chest, or knees, it’s important to use sunscreen as the final layer. This is because “stretch marks can undergo hyperpigmentation and worsening discoloration in the sun,” says Li. If you’re of melanin-rich skin, Li recommends opting for a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide to protect against UV rays.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, Rostamian spoke to two board-certified dermatologists and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
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