Pregnant and postnatal women not getting ‘best practice’ for treating stretch marks

Generally considered to be a harmless side effect of pregnancy, new research shows that stretch marks and scarring actually cause one in two women significant ongoing psychological issues.

Pregnant and postnatal women are also feeling dissatisfied about the advice given to them by health professionals about how best to avoid or treat them.

This frustration is echoed by midwives and practice nurses who are concerned about the lack of official ‘best practice’ guidance to help them treat stretch marks.

The research carried out by Bio-Oil found that women suffer from negative self-confidence as a result of the marks and affected the way they dressed.

More than a fifth also tried to hide them from their partner for years afterwards.

Though the worries of getting stretch marks affect 26 per cent of women, 66 per cent were given no advice about them by any healthcare professional during pregnancy.