Stretch mark phobia

It shouldn't be taken for granted that stretch marks are to be dreaded and avoided. While telling a friend about my stretch mark cream research, she said, without a trace of irony, "So wait you don't want stretch marks?" I looked at her like she had just offered me a recreational lobotomy.  Turns out she finds them sexy. She also finds pregnant women sexy in general - so go figure.

That's all fine and well, but I for one am looking forward to many future days of stretch-mark-free public semi-nudity, etc., so I did my research, and feel like it might be worthwhile to share it on the interweb.

Disclaimer: Don't trust me. I'm getting a PhD in a SOCIAL science. 



There are a few things that are sure to help you with avoiding stretch marks (SMs):
• Have good genetics: good luck with that. ([1], [4])
• Be older: teenagers get the worst SMs (ha! sucks for them!) ([2], [3], [4])
• Be small and stay small: this one's a little counter intuitive to me, but apparently thinner women are less likely to get SMs. And, more obviously, the less weight you gain in pregnancy the better. Try to have a smaller baby while you're at it, too! ([2], [3], [4])

There are some things that are good for you anyway and MIGHT help:
• Vitamin C: eat lots of oranges or whatever! Higher blood Vitamin C levels are associated with a lower incidence of SMs ([5])
• Drink water: we're supposed to do this anyway. It could help. Hydration, you know! ([6])
• Massage: one study found massage with an ointment to help. BUT - the control group received neither massage nor ointment, so it's hard to know which worked! ([8])

THE FAMOUS CREAMS
Everyone has some family secret cream that's supposed to definitely prevent SMs. Considering what a gold mine for cosmetics companies this is (I would pay out the ass for something proven to work!) I was surprised to find a dearth of research on the topic. This probably means that there simply is no topical miracle solution, but that sure as hell won't stop me from lathering up several times a day! (Heck, at least I'll have soft skin)

So here's a guide I've compiled to help you choose a topical cream or oil. Whatever you use, use it frequently, and start EARLY (1st or early 2nd trimester), well before the stretch marks have a chance to show up.

Ingredients to look for:
• Almond oil: one study found regular application to reduce your chance of getting SMs by 90%. If this were really true I feel like it would be better known, but it's worth trying. ([7])
• alpha-Tocopherol: the easiest form of Vitamin E for humans to absorb! A great antioxidant, it is also fat-soluble, gets into those cells and prevents damage ([9], [10]). Two studies found positive results testing creams that included alpha-Tocopherol among other ingredients. ([8], [11])
• Panthenol: a provitamin of B5, it seems to just be a super-moisturizer. It was an ingredient in a cream tested by one study that found positive results ([8])

Ingredients that may be helpful:
• Collagen: not just for the lips! Naturally produced by your body ([12])
• Elastin: you're already producing more of this because you're pregnant. It's the stuff that makes your ligaments all stretchy (or, elastic, if you will!), but has the same effect on your skin ([13])
 - Collagen and elastin are almost certainly important in preventing stretch marks, but the question remains as to how effective topical application of them is. They were ingredients in a cream tested by one study that found positive results ([11])

Ingredients that probably aren't helpful:
• Cocoa butter: WHAT?? GASP!!! This is the #1 recommended solution on the street, but studies show it doesn't do crap ([14], [15])

Ingredients that might be AWESOME... or might kill your fetus:
• Gotu Kola: also known as centella asiatica, this little studied Asian medicinal herb was the number one ingredient in a cream tested by one study that found positive results ([11]). It's also reportedly used to prevent pregnancy and induce miscarriage when taken orally ([16], [17]). There's no evidence that it's harmful to the fetus when applied topically... but... um... I'm not risking it!

*Thanks to an anonymous reader for suggesting I write this up!