Retinoid creams should not be used during pregnancy. If you are considering retinol or another vitamin A treatment for stretch marks, check the exact product with a pharmacist or clinician. Breastfeeding is another reason to ask before starting, rather than assuming that anything used on your skin is automatically suitable.
That can be confusing when the same ingredient appears in a search result about treating stretch marks. The missing detail is often who the treatment is suitable for.
Why does retinol appear in stretch-mark advice?
Retinoids come up in discussions of treatments for existing marks. That does not make them a pregnancy prevention routine. The NHS stretch-mark guidance mentions treatment options and specifically advises against retinoid creams in pregnancy.
There are two separate questions: could a treatment change the appearance of a mark, and is it appropriate for you to use now? An encouraging answer to the first does not settle the second.
Be careful with a product recommendation lifted from an article about general skincare. It may have been written for adults who are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding.
Check the actual bottle
“Body lotion” describes the format, not the ingredients. An ordinary-looking tube can still contain an active treatment. Read the full product name and ingredient list, and keep any prescription label with it.
If you are unsure, take a clear photograph of the front and back to show your pharmacist. Include the strength if one is printed, where you apply it and how often you use it. “The purple serum” is understandable at home, but not very useful for checking a formula.
Do not judge suitability from words such as natural, clean, gentle or professional. They cannot replace advice about the actual ingredient and your circumstances.
What if you used retinol before knowing you were pregnant?
Stop using the retinoid and speak to your pharmacist, GP or maternity team about the specific product and exposure. Keep the packaging so you can give an accurate account. If it was prescribed, contact the prescriber too.
An online article cannot assess that individual situation. Reading accounts of other people’s pregnancies is unlikely to give you a reliable answer either.
There is no need to buy a replacement stretch-mark treatment before you have had that conversation. You can pause the cosmetic part of the routine.
Can you restart retinol while breastfeeding?
Ask before restarting. Tell the clinician whether it is a prescription medicine or cosmetic product, the area you want to treat and whether the baby could touch that skin. The American Academy of Dermatology advises checking stretch-mark treatments with a doctor during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Do not apply a general body product to the nipple or areola unless it is intended for that use and you have appropriate advice. A baby’s contact with treated skin is part of the question, not an afterthought.
What can you do about stretch marks in the meantime?
Keep body care simple. Use a suitable moisturiser for dry skin, avoid products that sting or irritate, and choose comfortable clothes. You can care for your skin without trying to treat every visible line.
If the appearance of marks bothers you later, a dermatologist can discuss realistic options and timing. You do not have to make that decision while pregnant. Our guide to how pregnancy stretch marks fade explains what change over time can look like.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If anything about your body or your baby concerns you, ask your GP or midwife.
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