A Topical Treatment That Really Works – Using Retin-A To Treat Stretch Marks

When I was pregnant with my first child, I tried my hardest to prevent stretch marks by using all of the cocoa butter and vitamin E creams I could find. But it was no use. I had horrible, reddish-purple stretch marks across my whole abdomen…I looked like a striped beach ball!

Stretch marks are not just limited to pregnancy however. They can be caused by rapid weight fluctuations (weight loss or weight gain), growth spurts, overzealous exercising…and there is no way of telling who is going to get them. Whether or not you get stretch marks will be determined by how elastic your skin is. The supportive tissue underneath your skin isn’t as “stretchy” as it is in some people, then the tissue can develop micro-abrasions (very small tears) that change the color and the texture of your skin. So, unfortunately, it is all genetics! If other members of your family are stretch mark prone, you probably will be too. (Gee, thanks Mom!)

Up until a few years ago, none of the topical cream treatments for stretch marks were particularly effective. However the introduction of Retin-A on the market (.01 percent Tretinoin cream) to combat acne led to discoveries for other off-label uses for the cream. The biggest treatment to hit the news was Retin-A’s results on reducing wrinkles, but it also works wonders on stretch marks!

If the stretch marks are a year old or younger (still red in color) you can apply Retin-A to speed the fading process (the Retin-A helps constricts the blood vessels in the area making the marks less read) and to shrink the stretch marks somewhat. Retin-A won’t make the marks go away completely, but they will make them significantly less noticeable!

If you are pregnant or nursing, doctors warn not to use Retin-A. It has be proven unsafe to an unborn baby, and may become absorbed in to a nursing baby’s milk.

Retin-A may not be covered by your insurance for medical reasons…talk to your doctor about your coverage so you don’t receive an unpleasant surprise in your pharmacy bill!

Also, keep in mind that while Retin-A is the best topical treatment of stretch marks on the market, it won’t get rid of them completely. The best option for significant reduction to almost-complete removal of stretch marks is a dermatological laser treatment designed to stimulate new elastic fiber and collagen grown in the marked areas!

Faith Harper is a freelance writer in Houston, TX. She can be reached at WredenHarper@aol.com,