Stretch marks develop when a person's skin gets pulled so tightly that the skin looses its elasticity and becomes stretched out of shape. Often seen as a bane of pregnancy, stretch marks may also occur as a result of medication and other health conditions. Talk to your doctor before using medicated ointments to prevent or treat stretch marks, especially if you're pregnant or on other medication.
The Facts
Also called striae, stretch marks often first show up on your skin as streaks of bright red or purple skin that gradually lighten and whiten in appearance over time. According to MedlinePlus, stretch marks may appear on the buttocks, hips, thighs, abdomen and breasts. The rapid abdominal enlargement that occurs with pregnancy causes stretch marks in many adult women. The Mayo Clinic states that other causes of stretch marks include sudden weight gain, growth spurts during puberty, using corticosteroid medication and diseases affecting your adrenal gland. Possible treatments include topical ointments, laser therapy and microdermabrasion.
Features
Phyllis Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of the book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," suggests that you look for topical ointments that contain cocoa butter or elastin cream to prevent stretch marks. Balch states that you can create your own all-natural stretch mark cream by blending olive oil and aloe vera gel with powdered vitamin E and A. If you have fresh stretch marks, you may want to look for solutions that contain tretinoin; according to Dr. P. Kim Phillips, a practicing dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, tretinoin may be able to rebuild the damaged collagen, which could help lighten the appearance of your stretch marks.
Time Frame
Generally, the sooner you use ointment for stretch marks, the more likely you'll be able to minimize the effects of the stretched skin. If at all possible, apply stretch mark ointments on your skin during the stretching process. Although this may not be possible in every situation, expectant women certainly get a heads-up that their skin may stretch and can apply ointment regularly throughout the duration of pregnancy. Dr. Phillips states that the majority of stretch marks respond to treatment most successfully before they're six weeks old.
Considerations
The sheer volume of stretch mark ointments and creams available for purchase may leave you wondering which ones can really help. Steer clear of those that promise to remove your stretch marks completely. Dr. Phillips notes that regardless of what type of stretch mark treatment you choose, it can't completely take away your stretch marks. If you're on a tight budget and have had your stretch marks for more than two months, you may want to wait to see how much they disappear on their own rather than investing in expensive ointments that most likely won't affect the appearance of your striae.
Warning
Consult with your doctor regarding what ointments may be safe for you to use to prevent or treat stretch marks based on your specific health situation. Dr. Phillips warns that ointments containing tretinoid may harm unborn babies, so never use them if you're pregnant or may get pregnant.
References
- MedlinePlus: Striae
- Mayo Clinic: Stretch Marks--Causes
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch, CNC; 2006
- Mayo Clinic: Stretch Marks--Treatable But Not Reversible
