Stretch marks are difficult to deal with for any reason, whether they developed from rapid weight gain, muscle growth or pregnancy. However, you can treat these marks with various creams to improve the look of the skin. The results of creams such as Retin-A or alpha hydroxy-based treatments vary, but most share at least some visible effects.
Reduced Redness
A reduction in skin redness is one of the first signs that your stretch mark cream is working. Much of the time the marks themselves, often called striae, look purple or red. However, by using creams, you can speed healing and reduce the irritation associated with stretching of the skin and encourage new skin to grow.
Reduction in White or Silver Lines
Older stretch marks might just appear as white or silvery lines on the skin that look slightly indented. By using creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids, you'll encourage the top layers of skin to slough off faster, revealing new skin beneath. This also stimulates collagen production, which can make these unsightly marks less noticeable.
Smoother Skin Texture
Many stretch mark creams can improve the look of your skin's texture as well. These creams work to exfoliate the skin and reveal healthier, fresher skin underneath. This can improve the texture of your stretch marks over time, making them less noticeable and removing the mottled appearance they can sometimes take on.
Fuller Skin
Using stretch mark creams can also work to fill in the skin. This occurs when you use a cream that contains a collagen booster such as soy. The idea is to buff away dead skin cells then stimulate new tissue growth. This works to fill in indented spaces left by stretch marks over time.
