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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough they may be a cosmetic concern, stretch marks are harmless and often fade over time. They don't require medical treatment. If you do seek treatment for stretch marks, know that treatments are only partially effective and won't remove the stretch marks completely.
The following treatments are among those available to help improve the appearance of stretch marks. None has been proved to be more consistently successful than the others.
- Tretinoin cream. Some research has shown that tretinoin cream (Retin-A, Renova) may improve the appearance of recent stretch marks — those that are less than six weeks old and still pink or red in color. Tretinoin should never be used during pregnancy. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild collagen, making the stretch mark look more like your normal skin. Tretinoin can irritate your skin. This treatment isn't effective on older stretch marks.
- Pulsed dye laser therapy. Used at wavelengths of light that are nonwounding (nonablative), this type of laser therapy remodels underlying skin (dermis) by stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin. Pulsed dye laser therapy is most effective when stretch marks are new, but it may still be effective on older stretch marks. This type of treatment may alter skin color on darker skin tones.
- Fractional photothermolysis. Like pulsed dye laser therapy, this nonablative laser treatment uses wavelengths of light to stimulate new growth of collagen and elastin. The difference is that it causes partial (fractional) damage to small dot-like areas within a targeted zone. Because most of the treated area remains undamaged, the skin heals quickly.
- Microdermabrasion. This type of treatment involves a hand-held device that blows crystals onto skin. These crystals gently abrade or "polish" the skin's surface. Then, a vacuum tube removes the crystals and skin cells. Microdermabrasion gently removes the skin's topmost layer, which may result in new skin growth that is more elastic. This therapy is an option for older stretch marks.
- Excimer laser. The excimer laser does nothing for collagen or elastin growth. Instead, its aim is repigmentation by stimulating melanin production. If it works, the old and lighter streaks become similar in color to the surrounding skin, and therefore less visible. This is often used for older stretch marks.
Work with your doctor to choose the most appropriate treatment. Factors to consider include:
- Age of the stretch marks
- Convenience of treatment — therapies differ in length and frequency of sessions
- Cost — these options are cosmetic and usually not covered by medical insurance
- Your expectations — most treatments, at best, are only partially effective
- Elsaie ML, et al. Striae distensae (stretch marks) and different modalities of therapy: An update. Dermatological Surgery. 2009;35:563.
- Papoutsis J, et al. Physiological skin changes induced by pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199649567-2/0/1528/0.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Osman H, et al. Cocoa butter lotion for prevention of striae gravidarum: A double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008;115:1138.
- Morelli JG. Diseases of the dermis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199649567-5/0/1608/0.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Karen JK, et al. Skin changes and diseases in pregnancy. In: Wolf K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y,: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2954133. Accessed May 4, 2010.
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