The best stretch mark cream for pregnancy 2024

Stretch marks can appear out of nowhere when your body is changing shape rapidly, whether that’s during pregnancy or post-birth, or at a time of rapid weight gain or loss.

While they’re partly genetic, and difficult to avoid if you’re prone to getting them, there are lots of stretch mark treatment options you can use throughout pregnancy (some as early as day one after your positive pregnancy test if you're looking for early intervention) to limit their appearance and/or help them to disappear faster - with some even claiming to prevent stretch marks altogether.

The best stretch mark cream will soothe, hydrate and promote healing for better natural skin elasticity - and many are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy. From luxurious oils to lovely-smelling belly butter, we've rounded up the best stretch mark cream, oil and lotion options according to Mumsnet, the UK's largest online network of parents. As well as cross-referencing countless consumer reviews, we also consulted consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, founder of Self London dermatology clinic, to get the lowdown on stretch marks, why we get them and what can be done to treat them.

Here's our guide to the best stretch mark cream for pregnancy 2024.

Read next: Discover the best pregnancy pillows to soothe aches and pains during pregnancy.

Stretch Marks: We Ask the Experts

• We posed the following questions to consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, founder of Self London dermatology clinic:

What are stretch marks and what causes them?

"Stretch marks (or striae) are a type of linear mark or scar which occurs due to damage to collagen and elastin in the deeper layers of the skin.  This can happen due to rapid growth or overstretching of the skin such as in adolescence or pregnancy. Other causes include weight training with quick muscle growth, overuse of prescribed medications such as steroid creams, or medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome.

"Stretch marks are very common and usually occur on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and breasts. They usually start off red or purple in colour when they are new and then over time fade to leave white or silvery marks on the skin. Whilst they rarely causes medical issues, they can be of cosmetic concern to some people."

Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight?

"No, once they have developed they are unlikely to go away with weight loss due to damage to collagen and elastin in the deeper layers of the skin. They will, however, lighten with time."

Can you actually get rid of stretch marks?

"Getting rid of stretch marks altogether is extremely difficult and at best they will lighten over time and some medical treatments may result in mild to moderate improvement very much depending on the extent, severity and location. However, it is unrealistic to think the skin will go back to looking exactly the way it did prior to the stretch marks developing regardless of treatment plan."

- Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist

Does stretch mark cream really work?

"There is little good quality evidence which suggests that OTC skincare can benefit stretch marks, which can be disappointing for many to hear. Ingredients that are worth trying with limited evidence and outcome include: retinoids or vitamin A containing products (but these must not be used if trying to conceive or pregnant) as well as the plant-based ingredient Centella may help. Hyaluronic acid can also improve appearance."

What are the best clinic treatments for stretch marks?

"There are multiple clinic options which can be considered for stretch marks after appropriate consultation and examination. Setting expectations of realistic outcomes as well as recognising often multiple sessions are required to see gradual improvement is vitally important. Clinic based treatments can include microneedling, lasers, radiofrequency or microdermabrasion are more likely to be of benefit than OTC gels and creams. Treatment choice depends on extent and severity of stretch marks, body location, budget, as well as consideration of acceptable recovery time after a procedure."

Does anything actually work for pregnancy stretch marks?

"It is extremely difficult to prevent the formation of stretch marks. Keeping weight in a healthy range and exercising regularly to prevent rapid weight loss or gain can be of benefit but there is still no fail-safe guarantee. Some people are simply genetically more prone to developing these and it is also important to recognise how common they actually are - nearly everyone has them!"

Who gets stretch marks?

Women tend to get them more than men, though men can get them too. They most commonly affect women in pregnancy – particularly in the second and third trimester when your bump is growing most quickly – but also affect children in puberty and anyone gaining weight quickly.

Annoyingly, they can also suddenly appear as you lose weight. Stretch marks are also genetic, so if your mum got them, chances are you will too.

Why use stretch mark creams?

The NHS says that there’s little evidence that any stretch mark creams work and that the best way to reduce your chances of getting them is to maintain a healthy body weight.

That’s sometimes easier said than done though, particularly if you’re pregnant, and it’s understandable if you want to do all you can to prevent them or get rid of them. Most of the lotions and potions on the market claim to work by hydrating the skin and keeping it supple and more elastic. To what extent you can affect what goes on in the dermis, as opposed to the top layer of your skin, is debatable, but it might be a case of every little helps.

Also, there are plenty of benefits to looking after your skin in pregnancy anyway, such as keeping your bump comfortable and reducing that itchy feeling as your skin stretches.

What can I do to avoid stretch marks?

You really can’t avoid them completely. If you’re genetically predisposed to them or you grow quickly, whether that’s putting on weight fast or carrying a baby that grows at a rate of knots, they’re just going to happen. The most important thing is to stick to a healthy diet and try to gain and lose weight at a steady pace as much as possible.

How long do stretch marks take to fade?

How long is a piece of (red and angry-looking) string? Most women say their stretch marks faded within six months to a year of giving birth, but it can take longer. For some women, they may never fully fade.

What is the best cream to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?

There’s definitely more you can do to treat the appearance of stretch marks than there is to prevent or remove them. Creams such as Bio-Oil and Mustela come highly recommended for treating and/or preventing stretch marks - but really it's down to genetics whether you get them or not. And, according to the NHS, only solutions like laser treatments, retinoid and microdermabrasion will completely eradicate stretch marks and, even then, new ones can appear in the same places.

If you’re thinking of going down this route, always talk to your GP first and remember many of those types of treatment won’t be safe in pregnancy.

What natural remedies are there for stretch marks?

While there’s little evidence to back any definite theory here, anecdotally some natural products have been shown to help prevent or fade stretch marks. These include aloe vera, rosehip oil, argan oil, cocoa and shea butter, and coconut oil. The theory behind all these tends to be that they add elasticity to the skin to help prevent the dermis tearing as the skin grows. The key with them all is regular application – twice daily if you can – and giving your skin a good massage at the same time.

What is the most effective cream for stretch marks?

Stretch mark cream is quite a personal purchase - we think as a starting point, and certainly in terms of budget buys, you can't go far wrong with Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion at under £5 a bottle, but the scent may not appeal to all. In terms of stretch mark prevention, Mustela Maternite comes highly recommended by Mumsnet users and comes in an unscented option if you don't like strong smelling lotions. If you're after a belly butter, we like the Mama Mio Tummy Rub.

Which oil is best for stretch marks?

There are lots of oils available that claim to help with stretch marks. Choose one that you like the scent of (or is unscented) and look for ingredients such as olive oil and argan oil that make the skin supple and stretchier. We think Bio-Oil is a good choice and lots of pharmacists and midwives recommend it over any other oil.

When should I start using stretch mark cream during pregnancy?

You can start using stretch mark cream as early as the first few weeks of pregnancy to help prepare and moisturise your skin before it starts stretching. No cream can guarantee you won't get stretch marks, but moisturising and caring for your skin during pregnancy can certainly help ease any discomfort from itching or dryness.

How we chose our recommendations

It’s very difficult to test the efficacy of stretch mark treatments in any scientific way simply because there’s little evidence to say whether they do or don’t prevent them. Even in a testing situation, the fact that someone doesn’t get stretch marks could simply mean they were never likely to get them in the first place rather than that a cream has prevented them.

So we based our recommendations largely on empirical evidence from Mumsnetters about what had worked for them in pregnancy. When looking at treatments to fade rather than prevent stretch marks, it was easier to measure success and identify products that worked.

We trawled the Mumsnet forums for conversations about creams and oils that worked for mums and made careful notes about which had the best hit rate. We then looked at reviews across the media, both in the parenting and beauty sectors, to find out which products were rated most highly by reviewers and which scored best in their testing.

We then collated this list of products with our own to come up with the best stretch mark creams and oils that we think offer something for every taste and budget

About the author

Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content.

Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.

As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things pregnancy and child play related.

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