Stretch marks are lines or streaks that appear on the skin, often caused by sudden growth or weight gain. While they usually fade over time, many people seek treatments to improve their appearance. Here are some options:
-
Retinoid cream: Derived from vitamin A, retinoids such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin. However, tretinoin can irritate your skin.
-
Hyaluronic acid: Applying hyaluronic acid to early stretch marks may make them less noticeable.
-
Laser therapy: A skin doctor or plastic surgeon can use lasers or other treatments to help fade stretch marks. Pulsed dye laser therapy is a painless blast of light used on new, red stretch marks. The light’s energy calms blood vessels under your skin that could cause the marks. Ultrasound works a lot like radiofrequency treatments. The procedure sends sound waves deep into your skin to heat and tighten and jumpstart collagen production.
-
Microdermabrasion: This treatment uses tiny crystals to rub off the top layer of your skin. One study showed that it helped fade new, reddish stretch marks.
-
Self-tanner: While tanning can make stretch marks more noticeable, a self-tanner can camouflage stretch marks - both early and mature ones. However, a self-tanner cannot get rid of stretch marks.
Its important to note that no single treatment works for everyone, and many products don’t seem to work at all. Additionally, many creams and lotions claim to prevent, reduce, or remove stretch marks, but there is very little evidence that they work. If you decide to try a cream, lotion, or gel to fade your stretch marks, be sure to use it every day for several weeks and take the time to massage it into your skin. These products may work best on newer stretch marks.
