2 weeks Ago By Georgia Day
If you’ve not had stretch marks before, the chances are you know plenty of people that have. Despite them being such a common skin issue, the tell-tale red, purple or silver lines can still be problematic for those that have them on their body . “Stretch marks, also known as striae distensae, are a really common and harmless skin concern,” says Dr Clare Kiely, consultant dermatologist and co-founder of The Skin Diary .
“They form when the skin has been stretched too quickly, which damages collagen and elastin in the dermis. This causes inflammation in the skin, which leads to scar formation (linear scars). Stretch marks are usually caused by the likes of puberty, pregnancy, rapid weight changes and medical conditions.
Essentially, the skin can’t keep up with the rate of growth or shrinkage, which causes visible tearing at a dermal level. This can appear red or purple in colour at first, which is due to the tiny blood vessels in the skin breaking. Over time, they fade to a more silvery-white colour.
” While the explanation for stretch marks is simple, the emotions attached to them can be complex. Commonly occurring during periods of huge physical and emotional change such as pregnancy and rapid weight gain and loss, while some see them as a badge of honour, others see them as unwanted and unattractive. While it’s virtually impossible to remove stretch marks completely, there are ways to minimise the appearance of them while at the same time support skin health and hydration.
Read on to discover Vogue ’s pick of the best stretch mark creams as well as everything you need to know from the experts. Vogue ’s pick of the best stretch mark creams at a glance: Best stretch mark cream for calming redness: Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert Cream , £42 Best stretch mark cream for improved elasticity: Cowshed Mother Stretch-Mark Oil , £14.40 Best stretch mark cream for itchiness: Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil , £17.
14 Best stretch mark cream for very dry skin: Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm , £21.75 Best non-fragranced stretch mark cream: Naydaya Body Saviour, £37 In this article: Do stretch mark creams actually work? What ingredients should I look for in a stretch mark cream? Why do stretch marks occur? Is there any way of preventing them before they appear? Can a regular body cream help? Is there anything else lifestyle related that can help prevent them? Once they appear, can stretch marks ever disappear completely?.
