Hi,

I'm sure this gets topic gets brought up everytime there are a new cycle of pg people!! If you want to find a history of what people have said in the past, try the search function on the forum header. You should find lots to help you.
As for my opinion - I have read there is nothing you can really do to prevent them as you are genetically disposed to getting them - a bit like cellulite. I think creams will help the skin retain moisture, and maybe will stop it stretching so badly, but when you think about what is happening to your body, its no wonder!!
There are lots of ways that people claim to help them - aromatherapy oils, rubbing clockwise rather than anticlockwise, cocoa butter etc, but I think its just one of those things!
I do know why they go red - but in this preggie brain moment, I cant think of it.
HTH,
Fi