Consumer Preference of Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Stretch Marks: Systematic Product Search

Pengyi Zhu,Benjamin K P Woo,Andrew Fung

doi:10.2196/18295

Abstract

Background Striae distensae, or stretch marks, are a common and distressing condition affecting females two-and-a-half times more frequently than males. Despite the numerous products available for stretch mark prevention and treatment, there have been few studies that consider consumer product preference. Objective The aim of this study was to determine which products were preferred by consumers for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks based on product vehicle and product ingredients. Methods In January 2020, a search was conducted on internet retailer Amazon for products related to stretch marks. The top products were identified as those with 100 reviews or greater and a rating of 4 or higher. The products were classified as either stretch mark–specific or non stretch mark–specific. Price, rating, type of vehicle, and specific ingredients of both product groups were compared. Vehicle-type and ingredients in both product groups were compared with two-tailed two-sample proportion tests to determine if certain vehicles or ingredients were more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products. P<.05 indicated statistical significance. Results Out of over 10,000 products, 184 were selected as the top products according to the review and rating criteria of which 117 (63.6%) were stretch mark–specific and 67 (36.4%) were non stretch mark–specific. Oil was the most common vehicle (131/184, 71.2%) while vitamin E was the most common ingredient (58/184, 31.5%). Oil, as a vehicle, was more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products than in non stretch mark–specific products (P=.001). Olive oil (P=.02) and cocoa butter (P=.08), Centella asiatica (P=.01), and shea butter (P=.003) were the ingredients more likely to be found in stretch mark–specific products than in non stretch mark–specific products. Conclusions This study demonstrated that there are many products available for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks and identified specific ingredients in the products preferred by customers. There are few studies investigating the effectiveness of the major ingredients in the stretch mark products that are preferred by consumers. Future studies can focus on the effectiveness of the ingredients found in the products that are preferred by consumers.

Highlights

Striae distensae, more commonly known as stretch marks, are a common and disfiguring dermatological condition in which the layer of dermis becomes scarred
This study demonstrated that there are many products available for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks and identified specific ingredients in the products preferred by customers
There are few studies investigating the effectiveness of the major ingredients in the stretch mark products that are preferred by consumers

Summary

Introduction

More commonly known as stretch marks, are a common and disfiguring dermatological condition in which the layer of dermis becomes scarred. Striae distensae occur two-and-a-half times more frequently in females than in males [1]. Striae distensae are more likely to develop during pregnancy (striae gravidarum), with obesity, with Cushing syndrome, during adolescence, with steroidal drug use, and after surgery [2]. Studies of hormonal changes occurring in pregnancy, during steroid use, and in Cushing syndrome contribute to the understanding of the development of striae distensae; increased steroid levels cause increased protein catabolism and decreased production of collagen by fibroblasts resulting in less elastic fibers in the matrix of the dermis [1,6]. Stretch marks, are a common and distressing condition affecting females two-and-a-half times more frequently than males. Despite the numerous products available for stretch mark prevention and treatment, there have been few studies that consider consumer product preference

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Discussion

Conclusion