Medically reviewed by Dr. Balaji Krishnan, MBBS · Updated September 2026
How to choose
Pick a rich cream or oil you will actually apply twice a day. Useful ingredients: shea or cocoa butter, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, centella (cica), and gentle plant oils. Fragrance-free is better in pregnancy as skin can be sensitive. Start early, from the first trimester or at the first sign of tightness, and massage into belly, hips, thighs and breasts. Older white marks respond less than new red or purple ones. Read the label in pregnancy: avoid retinoids, and when in doubt show the label to your obstetrician.
Who really needs this
Pregnant women, teenagers in growth spurts, people with rapid weight change and bodybuilders. If marks are painful, intensely itchy or accompanied by a rash in pregnancy, see your doctor, as itching in pregnancy can sometimes signal other conditions.
![Preg Test Card [pregakem Card]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmpvappfddarnayczatim.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fproduct-images%2Fpharmacy%2Fpreg-test-card-pregakem-card-rm6ef3102c.webp&w=3840&q=75)
