TRIPLE PASTE MEDICATED OINTMENT SKIN

How We TestedĪrmed with our expert information, we researched the top creams on the market in terms of popularity and user reviews to determine which products to test. That means 'products with perfumes, added fragrances, or those that strip too much natural hydration from the skin, such as soaps with sulfates,' are out.

TRIPLE PASTE MEDICATED OINTMENT SKIN

Ingredients to AvoidĪvoid 'any products or ingredients that have potential to increase inflammation, especially when pregnant and skin is often increasingly sensitive,' says Nazarian. Vitamin E creams are up for debate and should be discussed with your provider before using. She took it during her pregnancy, but you should talk to your OB-GYN before taking any supplement.Ĭreams with vitamins B and C, AHA/BHA, azeleic acid, and hyaluronic acid are considered safe during pregnancy. She also advocates for a good antioxidant supplement like Heliocare, which contains 240 mg of leucotomos fern extract, which she says has been shown to support healthy skin in combination with sunscreen to keep collagen fibers healthy. Nazarian says that 'In terms of products, there are some great OTCs.' And that she also likes 'products that are naturally anti-inflammatory which have potential to minimize damage to collagen fibers that lead to stretch marks,' like those with Vitamins C and E. Dyer also says you should use products that contain hyaluronic acid which can tighten the skin and reduce inflammation to improve skin texture and help fade stretch marks over time.ĭr. Cocoa, shea, and jojoba butters are thick, well-tolerated moisturizers that penetrate deeply into the skin, helping to keep it supple and healthy.ĭyer has personally used Burt’s Bees Belly Butter and Bio-Oil during her pregnancy and has said she's had “zero” stretch marks. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that is thought to help with wound healing. Vitamin A helps the healing process and also assists with collagen production and pigmentation. To help minimize the appearance of the stretch marks that you already have, Dyer notes that you should look for healing ingredients in effective stretch-mark prevention creams like vitamin A(but not while pregnant or breastfeeding) and vitamin E, along with cocoa, shea, and/or jojoba butters. She adds that 'Although studies have not shown it to have absolute effectiveness,' she still suggests that people ' apply liberal moisturizer to their skin and to massage skin when pregnant, anticipating that their risk for developing stretch marks is higher.' Ingredients to Look For (And according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, all supplement and cream forms of Vitamin A, which includes retinoids, are also unsafe for pregnancy.) Retinol, however, is unsafe for use during pregnancy. Nazarian says that in the early phases of developing stretch marks, vascular laser treatments and topical retinoids can help minimize the redness. And while not everyone gets them, they're extremely common. 'It's seems that some people have a genetic predisposition that makes getting stretch marks more likely-but you still need to have the appropriate situation-which is rapid growth of some sort,' says Nazarian. Skin expert Laura Dyer MSHS, PA-C, a dermatology and aesthetic specialist in New York City, tells Best Products that unfortunately because of how stretch marks form, we're more susceptible to getting them during pregnancy because of how fast our bellies grow. You can get them any time you gain weight, and teens sometimes get them if they have a particularly speedy growth spurt during puberty. 'Stretch marks are thought to be due to rapid skin expansion (such as from weight gain), and breaks in connective tissue and collagen found deep underneath the skin, says Board-Certified Dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, M.D., F.A.A.D.

Best Multipurpose Product: Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil.

Most Improved Texture: TEREZ & HONOR Advanced Silicone Scar Remover Gel.

Best Collagen Cream: Body Boost Milk & Honey Stretch Mark Removal Cream Butter.

Best for Fast Results: Body Merry Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream.

Best Overall: Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy.

They're easy to use, and they can really help. These super-moisturizers can help reduce the appearance of the stripes that formed during pregnancy, a puberty growth spurt, rapid weight gain or from bulking up if you're a bodybuilder. However, many of us, myself included, don't love the look of them, and that's where stretch mark creams come in. They're nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing you need to cover up.

Up to 90% of people have them somewhere on their body.

If you have stretch marks, you aren't alone.

Triple paste medicated ointment