Can you really get rid of those lines on your belly with a natural pregnancy stretch mark cream?
Mainstream doctors say no. This is especially true if you live in the United States. That’s because alternative medicine, in general, is often frowned upon by many conventional physicians.
All Natural Stretch Mark Cream
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Despite the fact many new mothers are happily using anti-stretch mark creams, the official party line is that they don’t work.
Because I’m not in the position to give medical advice (since I’m not a doctor), or make any sort of medical claims that a certain product will help with stretch marks, I advice you to do your own research.
The authority site Web MD quoted a dermatologist from Tulane who insisted there’s no home remedy for stretch marks. “There’s not a cream, lotion or ‘Mommy balm’ that can do that,” she stated.
Although this site discourages women from using natural stretch mark products, on another page, in the answer section, it does give its stamp of approval to laser surgery, or even plastic surgery, which carries potentially serious risks.
Natural Pregnancy Stretch Mark Cream
While these experts dismiss stretch-mark creams, many women swear by them. There are also many before and after pictures circulating on the Internet, which offer compelling testimonials.
Although there aren’t many studies looking at stretch mark creams, I did find one. It ran in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. The authors found that a product containing a chemical called hydroxyprolisilane-C, rosehip oil, gotu kola and Vitamin E did indeed reduce these marks, once they had appeared, and prevented new ones from forming. These investigators used this cream on a group of pregnant women, and compared the results to women who’d been given a placebo.
Natural Stretch Mark Cream for Pregnancy
Many women don’t need this sort of scientific sanction to begin attacking their stretch marks. They’re busy whipping up on their own body butters, made with time-tested plant-based remedies. You can also find a number of all natural commercial preparations, designed to erase these badges of motherhood.
On this site I like to present different options to help people live healthier lives, without chemicals, or potentially unnecessary medical procedures. I’m horrified to think that some doctors would not hesitate to recommend plastic surgery, but discourage the use of a natural stretch mark cream. (Why don’t they suggest trying something like this first, before undergoing the knife?)
However, if you’re planning to use any cream to prevent stretch marks, don’t forget to ask your doctor if it’s okay to use while pregnant or nursing.
You also have to be careful when shopping for a stretch mark cream. There are a number of popular products, which look like they’re made with healthy, all-natural ingredients. And they are, except that they also contain chemicals.
Organic Stretch Mark Cream Pregnancy
That’s why on this page you’ll see Organic Belly Balm shown below, made by the Honest Company. It’s formulated in the United States, with organic ingredients. These include sunflower oil, natural beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, Vitamin E, basil, calendula oil, rosehip oil, tamanu oil, lavender oil, apricot kernal oil and aloe vera.
Organic Belly Balm is made without any of the nasty additives we often find in personal care products. There is no sodium lauryl sulfate and it doesn’t contain hormone-disrupting parabens. This all-natural cream is not tested on animals, and is suitable for vegans.
Honest Company Organic Belly Balm
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Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks
- Talk to your health care provider about your optimum weight gain during pregnancy. It’s rapid weight gain that causes stretch marks.
- Explore the use of moisturizers, which contain natural ingredients such as shea butter, designed to nourish and soothe the skin. Although many doctors say there’s no evidence this helps, there is now one scientific study showing at least one anti-stretch mark cream did diminish these pregnancy stripes.
- Although there’s probably no proof this will help, try to eat Vitamin C rich foods, in order to help boost your natural collagen production. This substance is what keeps your skin firm and toned.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use herbal remedies, unless under the direction of a health care professional.
I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.
