Stretch mark cream
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- Fragrance-free hyaluronic acid body lotion. Best for: Daily moisture on stretching skin. See options on Amazon
- Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. Best for: People who want a rich, pregnancy-marketed moisturizer. See options on Amazon
What stretch marks are
Cleveland Clinic describes stretch marks (striae) as discolored, slightly sunken, scar-like lines in the skin. They form when skin stretches or shrinks quickly, which causes the elastin and collagen in the skin to break.
Risk factors include pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss, quick muscle growth, growth spurts during adolescence, a family history, some medical conditions, and long-term prednisone use. The Cochrane review notes that stretch marks during pregnancy occur in 50% to 90% of women and commonly affect the abdomen, breasts and thighs.
What the evidence says about creams
| Ingredient | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Topical preparations in pregnancy | No significant difference in developing stretch marks vs placebo or no treatment | Cochrane review |
| Cocoa butter, coconut, olive, almond oil | Do not effectively treat or prevent stretch marks | Cleveland Clinic |
| Hyaluronic acid | Research suggests it may help treat or prevent them | Cleveland Clinic |
| Retinol | Needs at least six months of regular use before results show | Cleveland Clinic |
The Cochrane review included six trials involving 800 women. Pooling five trials with 474 women, it found no statistically significant difference in developing stretch marks between active preparations and placebo or no treatment. Two trials with 255 women found no significant difference in severity, and two trials with 305 women comparing one active preparation with another also found no significant difference. The review describes pregnancy stretch marks as red or purple lines that fade slowly to pale marks.
Pregnancy cautions
Cleveland Clinic advises talking to your healthcare provider before using home remedy products if you are pregnant. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, so skip retinol-based stretch mark products until you have talked with your provider. See our retinol serum guide for more on retinoids.
Palmer's, for example, recommends consulting your doctor before starting any new skincare regimen.
After pregnancy and breastfeeding, if you try a retinoid with your provider's approval, the AAD advises starting slowly, using it at night, and wearing sunscreen every day because retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
What a cream can realistically do
A rich moisturizer can keep stretching or dry skin feeling soft and comfortable, but the evidence does not show it will stop stretch marks from forming. Palmer's says its cocoa butter massage lotion helps visibly improve skin elasticity and the appearance of stretch marks, citing an 8-week in-home trial of 102 women; that is the maker's own panel, not an independent clinical trial, and Cleveland Clinic says cocoa butter does not effectively treat or prevent stretch marks.
If you like using a cream, choose one you will apply consistently and that does not irritate your skin. For everyday body moisturizers, see our body lotion guide and body oil guide.
If you choose a pregnancy-marketed lotion, read what it contains. Palmer's lists cocoa butter and shea butter with vitamin E, lutein and argan, almond and coconut oils, and recommends using it twice a day, morning and evening, starting early in pregnancy or before a significant weight change. Since Cleveland Clinic says several of those oils do not prevent stretch marks, think of it as a moisturizer you enjoy using rather than a treatment.
Fading and treatment options
Cleveland Clinic says stretch marks generally take between six and 12 months to fade and become less noticeable on their own, and that they are not harmful to physical health. Older, deep marks are harder to treat.
For marks that bother you, a dermatologist can discuss in-office procedures such as laser resurfacing, microneedling and dermabrasion, which Cleveland Clinic describes, including their recovery time and side effects. These are not at-home cream treatments.
When to see a doctor
Stretch marks are common and usually harmless. Cleveland Clinic lists Cushing's syndrome and Marfan syndrome among medical risk factors, so ask a doctor about stretch marks that appear suddenly and widely without a clear cause such as pregnancy, growth or weight change, or that come with other new symptoms. For scars from surgery or injury, which are different, see our silicone scar gel guide.
What to look for when you buy
Fragrance-free hyaluronic acid body lotion
Best for: Daily moisture on stretching skin
Cleveland Clinic lists hyaluronic acid among remedies research suggests may help treat or prevent stretch marks.
Watch out: Evidence is limited; ask your provider during pregnancy.
See options on AmazonPalmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
Best for: People who want a rich, pregnancy-marketed moisturizer
Palmer's lists cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E and suggests use twice a day.
Watch out: Cleveland Clinic says cocoa butter does not effectively prevent or treat stretch marks.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- Do stretch mark creams work?
- A Cochrane review of six trials found no significant prevention benefit from topical preparations in pregnancy.
- Does cocoa butter prevent stretch marks?
- Cleveland Clinic says cocoa butter does not effectively treat or prevent them.
- Can I use retinol for stretch marks while pregnant?
- No. The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy.
- Do stretch marks go away?
- Cleveland Clinic says they generally fade over six to 12 months but may not disappear completely.
- What treatments work for old stretch marks?
- Laser resurfacing and microneedling are options, done by a clinician; older, deep marks are harder to treat.
Sources
- Stretch Marks (Striae) (my.clevelandclinic.org), Cleveland Clinic
- Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 23152199)
- Retinoid or retinol? (aad.org), American Academy of Dermatology
- Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion for Pregnancy Stretch Marks (palmers.com), Palmer's