Stretch mark cream: which one is more effective?

Before presenting to your attention a peculiar rating of creams for stretch marks, it should be recalled that stretch marks on various parts of the body are a strip-like atrophoderma - striae.

That is, these are scars at the site of excessive stretching of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and the subsequent destruction of the reticular layer of the dermis that provides strength to the skin. This occurs due to the depletion of reserves and insufficient production of fibrillar proteins - collagen and elastin. And during pregnancy, this process is also affected by hormones.

Many people try to stop and even reverse atrophoderma using stretch mark cream. It is difficult to assess the degree of benefit from using external products, but their manufacturers promise high efficiency.

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Which stretch mark cream is best?

In all likelihood, you want us to name the best stretch mark cream… It is impossible to do this – even if we wanted to – because the sensitivity to any cosmetic product is individual. Instead, we will characterize the most famous external stretch mark remedies and will definitely present the composition of the stretch mark cream for each brand.

So, what should be included in a stretch mark cream so that the skin receives the nutrients it needs, the synthesis of collagen and elastin by the fibroblasts of its reticular layer increases, and unsightly stripes on the skin disappear? Dermatologists name the main conditions for effectiveness - the presence of amino acids in the cream ("building blocks" of proteins), vitamins (A, C and E), collagen, minerals, as well as active nourishing and moisturizing components (olive oil, cocoa butter, various essential oils, etc.).

Let's not forget about the availability of dermatological agents for the treatment of postoperative scars, which can be used for atrophoderma. First of all, this is Contractubex gel (Merz Pharma, Germany) with onion extract (cepalin) and the anticoagulant heparin. Among its indications, in addition to scars and contractures of joints and tendons, stretch marks after pregnancy are also indicated, although, as noted in the official instructions for the drug, no one has studied how it affects pregnant and lactating women.

However, it is known that when using heparin externally, a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood must be excluded, and this often happens during pregnancy (when women have a significantly increased volume of circulating blood). And heparin, including Contractubex, which contains it, can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding only for strict medical reasons.

You can also find its analogue from the same manufacturer in pharmacies - Mederma gel, which contains onion extract, but does not contain heparin.

Stretch Mark Creams Made in France

Most manufacturers of stretch mark creams focus on the needs of women who are preparing to become mothers or have just become mothers. But this does not mean that this or that stretch mark cream cannot be used by those who have stretch marks for other reasons, such as a change in body weight.

Let's start with Vichy, or rather with the Vichy Vergetures Action Integrale cream, which is positioned as a dual-action stretch mark cream: it corrects existing atrophic scars and reduces the likelihood of new ones forming by moisturizing and nourishing the skin. How does this cream nourish the skin, that is, what does it consist of? It will name only a few components: cyclopentasiloxane (silicone), glycerin, stearoxy dimethicone, propylene glycol, vitamin E, lecithin, centella asiatica extract, shea butter (karite), soybean oil, as well as hydroxyproline, isoparaffin, methyl and propyl parabens.

Oil of the tropical plant Centella asiatica contains essential oil, which contains flavonoids (including rutin, which should not be used in the first three months of pregnancy), terpenoids, tannins, phytosteroids.

Another French cream for stretch marks with dual action is Mustela Vergetures Double Action, which contains Japanese pagoda tree extract, sunflower and soybean oil, cocoa butter, white lupine bean oil extract (Lupinus Albus), beeswax, avocado fruit acids, shea butter and vitamin E (tocopherol).

You'll notice that both products contain soybean oil and shea butter. Shea butter (Bytorospermum parkii) contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linoleic fatty acids, which help hydrate and soften the skin. It also contains several types of phytosterols, one of which, β-sitosterol, is similar to estrogen and is thought to help promote collagen production in women. This same plant steroid is found in soybean, flaxseed, and wheat germ oils, which are included in the stretch mark cream.

Reduces the size and discolors existing stretch marks and cream Elancyl - Elancyl Concentre vergetures (Pierre Fabre Laboratories, France), which contains vitamin C and fibrillin, stimulating collagen synthesis. The manufacturer warns that this product is not suitable for pregnant and lactating women. For expectant mothers, there is another cream for stretch marks - Elancyl Creme prevention vergetures with safflower oil and vitamin E.

Galenic Elancyl – the same as simply Elancyl; Pierre Fabre Laboratories has nine brands, including Galenic, Elancyl, Avеne, NaturActiv, Klorane, A-Derma, etc.

Clarins Oil body oil with hazelnut, rosemary, mint and geranium oils, as the manufacturer claims, reduces the appearance of stretch marks in pregnant women. Hazelnut oil softens, smoothes and moisturizes the skin, and geranium essential oil stimulates lymph flow and relieves swelling, and also promotes the regeneration of damaged epidermis. The question arises about mint (menthol) and rosemary, since they stimulate blood flow to the place of application...

Also, to solve the problem of stretch marks, Clarins produces Stretch Mark Minimizer cream - with extracts of bearberry and centella. Bearberry contains glycoside arbutin and phenolic carboxylic acid that lighten increased pigmentation.

Lierac gel – Phytolastil gel from the French company Lierac – contains a plant complex for retexturing the epidermis damaged by stretch marks: extracts from alchemilla (cuff), ivy and horsetail. This is Lierac’s know-how, and the company’s biochemists convince consumers of their products that the flavonoids of these plants help activate the biosynthesis of collagen and elastin.

Common ivy (Hedera helix) has organic acids, tannins, vitamins, phytosterols, glycosides (rutin) in its biochemical arsenal. Phytotherapists consider pregnancy a contraindication to the use of preparations containing the extract of this plant.

Thalgo cream from the French company Thalgo la Beauty Marine fights stretch marks thanks to the presence of vitamin E, centella asiatica extract and wheat germ oil

Stretch Mark Creams Made in Italy

The Italian company BetaFarma offers pregnant women Mammacoccole cream - a cream against stretch marks with dual action. It contains oat beta-glucan, flaxseed extract and vitamin E.

Chicco Mamma Donna Intensive Anti-Stretch Marks Cream is a preventative measure against skin overstretching during pregnancy and to tone up loose skin on the abdomen after childbirth. Its active ingredients are rice bran and wheat germ oil (they contain phytosterols), sweet almond, vitamins E and PP.

GUAM is a series of cosmetics based on the extract of brown seaweed, produced by Lacote (Italy). Cream against stretch marks on the body with hyaluronic and glycolic acids and macadamia oil - GUAM Crema Smagliatu. Hyaluronic acid does not need any comments, but the properties of glycolic acid should be noted. This hydroxy acid prevents hyperkeratosis, and also, due to its low molecular weight, can penetrate into the intercellular space of skin tissues.

Manufacturers also include tropical macadamia nut oil in the composition of stretch mark creams, as it has a high content of fatty palmitic acid, which softens the skin well and retains moisture in it.

Cream for preventing stretch marks and reducing existing ones - Collistar Intensive Anti-stretch marks has as its main ingredient the Elastin-Plus complex developed by Collistar specialists, which helps restore damaged collagen fibers and stimulates collagen synthesis. This "unique" complex includes vitamins, hyaluronic acid and shea butter.

Pharmacies sell hypoallergenic Italian cream Rilastil, which contains olive oil, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin E and, again, shea butter.

Stretch Mark Creams Made in Germany

The anti-stretch mark cream Sanosan (Mann & Schroeder GmbH) is supposed to restore the elasticity of the skin and thus prevent stretch marks from appearing. And this is within the power of its ingredients: vitamin E, hibiscus seed extract, chitosan and jojoba oil.

The anti-stretch mark cream StriaSan (NAWA Heilmittel GmbH) is available in two versions – StriaSan Pre (for use during pregnancy) and StriaSan Post (for combating stretch marks after childbirth).

The famous German company Bayer produces Bepanten, a children's product that prevents so-called diaper dermatitis. And for stretch marks in expectant mothers, there is Bepantol emulsion with olive oil, glycerin and centella extract.

Bubchen produces children's cosmetics, and for moisturizing the skin of women during pregnancy and lactation, it produces a liquid cream with aloe vera for stretch marks with sunflower and palm oils, glycerin with the addition of almond, rosehip, jojoba, and shea butter - Bubchen Mama Pflegelotion.

Contractubex and Mederma gels from Merz were mentioned above.

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Stretch Mark Creams Made in the USA

Nourishing body cream Mangosteen (100% Pure) is supposed to moisturize, soften and nourish the skin due to the action of antioxidants contained in its composition - vitamins A and C - and extract of the fruits of the mangosteen tree (Garcinia mangostana), growing in the tropics. These fruits are rich in vitamins, and their peel contains xanthonoids - phenolic organic compounds, which, for example, our St. John's wort contains. In places where mangosteen grows, tea from the peel is used to treat diarrhea, bladder infections and even gonorrhea. And ointments from crushed peel are used for skin rashes and inflamed wounds.

Avent Nourishing Massage Cream (Philips AVENT Indulgent Body Cream) contains papaya and shea butter.

And for massage against stretch marks, ET Browne Drug Company produces a cream with collagen against stretch marks with vitamin E, cocoa butter, shea butter and the Bio C-Elaste complex – Palmers Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks. The Bio C-Elaste complex consists of collagen and elastin (in the form of protein serums), centella extract, almond and argan oils (rich in oleic and linoleic fatty acids).

The cream against stretch marks from Amazing Creams & Lotions Rejene (Rejene Anti stretch mark cream) contains rutin, moon bean extract (Phaseolus Lunatus), as well as palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide, which activate certain genes in scar tissue of the skin and thereby activate the regeneration of damaged epidermal cells.

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Creams for stretch marks of Russian production

Cream for the prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy - gel Mama comfort, in addition to hyaluronic acid, extracts of brown algae, green tea, horsetail, nettle, meadowsweet and ivy, contains the biologically active complex REGU-STRETCH patented by DSM Nutritional Products, LLC. This is a combination of synthetic palmitoyl tripeptide, panthenol and extract of the common horehound (Marrubium vulgare) plant.

Stretch mark cream with pomegranate - Hendel's Garden emulsion. Its base (caprylic triglyceride obtained from coconut oil) contains the following components: pomegranate extract (rich in vitamins and helping to lighten pigmentation); rapeseed oil (Brassica Napus Seed Oil), containing fatty acids; walnut oil; robusta coffee extract; jojoba and shea butter.

Dr. Bio body cream claims to help improve skin elasticity. It contains snail mucus extract (which contains glycolic acid and collagen), olive oil, ginkgo biloba leaf and birch bud extracts, and rowan juice.

Evinal cream contains placenta extract, and Clearvin is classified as an Ayurvedic cosmetic, and its ingredients include neem oil, sesame oil, petroleum jelly, as well as turmeric, Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), etc.

The Russian-made Mumio Organics stretch mark cream with mumiyo also contains lanolin, retinol acetate, lavender oil, eucalyptus, menthol, and chamomile extract. Note that lavender essential oil is added to creams not only for the scent: the monoterpene alcohols in its composition promote the penetration of all other useful substances into the epidermis.

Many of the above mentioned remedies can be replaced by a combination of palmitic acid ester with cetyl alcohol – cetyl palmitate. It is part of a cream that used to be made from spermaceti extracted from the head of sperm whales. The current Spermaceti Cream for Stretch Marks can also help, in any case, its ingredients soften the skin and restore its elasticity. And this will not hurt with atrophoderma.

Stretch mark creams from other manufacturers

Aloe Vera Cream for Stretch Marks by Vitabiotics (UK) – Pregnacare. In addition, this product contains vitamin E and beta-carotene, calendula flower extract, essential oils of lemon, lavender, primrose, orange blossom, allantoin, panthenol, soy protein hydrolysate (containing amino acids).

Toitbel silhouette, or more precisely, Silhouette cream from the Swiss manufacturer ToitBel, is based on the previously mentioned Registril complex, and thanks to almond oil, the skin receives additional nutrition and hydration.

Weleda Stretch Mark Oil – Weleda Pregnancy Body Oil (Switzerland) – contains a mixture of sweet almond, arnica, geranium and orange oils.

Bio Oil cosmetic oil for scars, stretch marks and dehydrated skin is produced by the transnational company Cederroth (headquartered in Sweden). This is a suspension based on the PurCellin Oil complex, consisting of vitamins A and E and essential oils of chamomile, calendula, rosemary and lavender. The oil is easily absorbed and softens the skin, improving the appearance of scars and stretch marks, making pigment spots less noticeable.

It's Your Body Stretch Mark Cream from the international retail chain Mothercare has in its formula the same essential oils of sweet almond and shea butter, which prevent the skin from drying out.

Baby Teva, an Israeli brand of cosmetics for children, also produces oil for stretch marks in pregnant women. This is BT Natural Belly butter pregnancy based on cocoa butter with the addition of shea butter.

Anti-stretch marks body cream during pregnancy Maternea (Anti-stretch marks Body Cream) is produced by the Bulgarian cosmetic company Lavena. The active substances included in the Regestril complex, according to clinical trials, increase the restorative capacity of the extracellular matrix of the skin and promote the production of collagen and elastin by fibroblasts. The Regestril complex includes Bio-Bustyl (biotechnological bacterial filtrate with growth factors and peptide lipids), cocoa butter, rice bran, coconut, soybean, almond, jojoba, peppermint, lavender, shea butter, kigelia fruit extract (African sausage tree) and horse chestnut.

Cream with collagen against stretch marks, made in Thailand - PasJel Precious Skin - contains vitamin E, olive and castor oil, jojoba oil, cucumber seed extract, hibiscus flower extract, etc.

Body Shape is a massage cream Body Shape Firming Cream made in Malaysia with brown algae extract.

Chinese creams for stretch marks on the market of products for this purpose are represented by AFY Gold Snail cream (Golden Snail) based on snail mucin; it is often called simply AFY cream. The composition of the cream is enriched with green tea extract and allantoin.

Cream 911 (GreenPharmCosmetic, Ukraine) – balm 911 No Scars – contains extracts of chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow and oils of Alexandrian laurel, black cumin and milk thistle as active components. Milk thistle flavonoid silymarin is contraindicated during pregnancy.

As you can see, choosing the right stretch mark remedy for you is not that easy. However, collagen synthesis in our body is a much more complex process... We hope that you will be able to choose the best stretch mark cream for yourself.