Stretch marks occur when the skin is forced to stretch beyond the capacity of the elastin and collagen within it. They appear first as red or purple marks and later fade to a white or grayish tone. The breasts are a common site for stretch marks because they expand during puberty, during pregnancy and at other times of weight gain. Stretch marks are a challenge to get rid of because they form not on the surface but in the dermis, which is the middle layer of skin between the epidermis and the subcutaneous layer. Topical treatments have a tough time reaching them. Nonetheless, a variety of products to treat the condition are available to those looking for a remedy.
Tretinoin
Tretinoin cream is available under the brand names Retin-A and Renova. It is a prescription medication. The cream can help to make stretch marks less apparent, but only if they appeared recently, as in six weeks ago or less, according to Dr. P. Kim Phillips, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic. Tretinoin helps the body to rebuild collagen. One big disadvantage is that tretinoin is not for use during pregnancy.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Alpha hydroxy acid comes from plants and is sometimes called "fruit acid." Manufacturers often sell nonprescription products containing the acid with claims that they can improve the appearance of stretch marks. The idea is to remove cells from the top layer of skin, allowing new cells to take their place and create smoother skin. In a 2004 review published in the journal "Skinmed," Dr. Marcia Ramos e Silva and colleagues examined evidence for several uses of alpha hydroxy acid, including glycolic acid for stretch marks. Findings show that the acid is "safe and effective" and causes "minimal irritation," causing significant changes to the skin upon histopathologic analysis. Such creams could be a boon to women who suffer from stretch marks on the breasts, since they have limited treatment options. Unlike marks on the abdomen, which can be taken away via a tummy tuck procedure, those on the breasts are not amenable to surgical removal.
Bio-Oil
Researchers in 2009 studied the effectiveness of a product called Bio-Oil, sold in 17 countries, including the United States, and published the results in the medical journal "South African Family Practice." Among the 20 women studied, all Caucasian, at the University of Limpopo they found that the nonprescription oil "significantly improved the appearance" of stretch marks on the abdomen by both subjective and objective measures over the course of 12 weeks when applied twice a day. Unfortunately, it is not clear exactly which of the product's ingredients led to the improvements. Possibilities include retinyl palmitate, tocopherol acetate, glycine soja, Calendula officinalis and bisabolol. The study was funded by Union-Swiss Pty Ltd, South Africa, which makes Bio-Oil. The company promotes the product for use not only on the abdomen but also on the breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs.
