Is Centella Asiatica safe during pregnancy?
Soothing 'cica' extract. AAD notes centella products may help prevent stretch marks.
PregnancyGenerally safe
BreastfeedingGenerally safe
EvidenceLimited
What the sources say
AAD says researchers have found that products containing centella or hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks, while cocoa butter, olive oil, almond oil and vitamin E have not. Topical centella in skincare has no pregnancy concerns identified in sources; oral gotu kola supplements are a different exposure and were not reviewed. Evidence is limited.
Also listed as
asiatic acid, asiaticoside, centella asiatica extract, centella asiatica leaf extract, cica, gotu kola, madecassic acid, madecassoside, tiger grass
Sources
- AAD: Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy (Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2012)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.