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Stretch marks are a perfectly normal and shame-free part of pregnancy, but that doesnt mean theyre exactly welcome.
Original image byGlamourcontributor / Gabrielle Langdon
This causes the collagen and elastin in skin to rupture.
As the skin heals from these ruptures, scars form.
Over a period of weeks to months, the redness improves, leaving behind skin-colored, shiny-appearing marks.
Its derm-approved by both Dr. Zeichner and Dr. King, and received glowing reviews from more than one mama.
Its ultra-nourishing formula melts into your skin, keeping it hydrated between applications.
In doing so, you wont be missing out on the original body oils benefits.
Fortunately, this one also comes dermatologist-recommended.
These ingredients keep the skin soft and supple so it can stretch more easily, says Dr. King.
Best of all, it doesnt contain harmful additives such as parabens and phthalates.
And its hypoallergenic, she adds, which means its a good option for all skin types.
And Dr. King isnt the only one who loves it.
This is a favorite ofAzadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, for treating stretching skin too.
She recommends the product because its safe both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
I have my patients massage with Bump Butter nightly, she says.
One such patient is Lilly Ghalichi Mir.
It also helped reduce the appearance of my old stretch marks and improved my skin quality.
Its a dermatologist favorite, and Dr. King recommends it for its preventative benefits.
Witch hazel extract is included for its anti-inflammatory benefits as well.
Its also fragrance-free for those who cant stomach scents during pregnancy.
Its made from 99% naturally derived ingredients.
These ingredients keep the skin soft and supple so it can stretch more easily.
This budget-friendly butter has an appropriately rich and creamy texture but is still readily absorbed into the skin.
Its fragrance-free, too, although not all users love its nonsmell smell.
This effect is likely due to its soothing blend of natural butters and oils.
This butter was the end result of her efforts.
It melts on contact with your skin and feels very luxurious.
Just a few years back, it had a 1,000-person wait list.
Fortunately, you could now order it on Amazonand just about everywhere else you look.
It not only hydrates the area to (hopefully!)
stave off stretch marks from all this expedited growth, but it also soothes the itching.
A 2016 study showed that cica significantly improves skins hydration and reduces moisture loss, she says.
Additionally, itincreases collagen production, which can help improve skin firmness over time.
This rich and hydrating belly butter balm is a dream come true for my skin.
Navarro says the balm feels both luxurious and comforting, with a texture that is rich but not greasy.
Like all Dezi Skin products, this balm is fragrance-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Its recommended for use twice daily during pregnancy and at least once daily postpartum.
Lanolin is the same ingredient found in sheepswool to give it its waterproof quality.
It does the same job on the skin, keeping hydration in and preventing water from leaking out.
The proprietary lanolin from the brand is described as being three times purer than medical-grade lanolin.
In sum, its 98.8% natural and has been designated by dermatologists as safe for sensitive skin.
And although its fragrance-free, its not without a lanolin-forward scent, which could be described as earthy.
I went through several tubes of it during my pregnancy, says mother-of-two Jamie Han.
My skin would drink this up and it never felt too greasy.
According to some users, it has an almost Vaseline-like quality that transforms into an oil upon tool.
I would recommend orgift this product to any expecting mom, she says.
Additionally, it includes four different essential oils, two of whichlavenderandfrankincenseare specifically touted for their skin-and-scar-healing properties.
It deeply nourished my skin with its buttery texture.
The scent combination of helichrysum and frankincense was truly serene, she says.
As is true of other pregnancy phenomena like morning sickness, not everyone is equally affected.
Is it possible to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy?
Like all scars, stretch marks are permanent, and unfortunately there is no foolproof way to prevent them.
But massaging products into the skin may help reduce the risk of stretch mark formation, says Dr. King.
This is especially important if you have a family history of stretch marks.
If your mom got them during pregnancy, you may be more likely to develop them yourself.
