Those unsightly purple or red stripes on your skin are known as stretch marks, and though they are perfectly normal, they can be annoying. Stretch marks often develop during pregnancy or after weight or muscle gain or loss. They typically minimize to fine white lines on their own within six months. But some over-the-counter and prescription creams may help eliminate them faster.
History
The Mayo Clinic has long maintained that over-the-counter anti-wrinkle creams, which typically contain cocoa butter, vitamin E and glycolic acid, "aren't harmful, but they probably won't help either," in terms of reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
However, in recent years, drugstores have started selling creams containing retinyl palmitate, a derivative of Vitamin A. A 2008 study published in the "British Journal of Dermatology" by Rachel Watson and colleagues found that creams containing retinyl palmitate promote skin repair, so these creams may help reduce stretch marks.
Process
Once absorbed into the skin, some retinyl palmitate compounds convert into the antioxidant retinoic acid (tretinoin). The Mayo Clinic concedes that retinoic acid does improve stretch marks by inducing cellular repair. A study published in 1996 in the "Archives of Dermatology" by Sewon Kang and colleagues found that retinoic acid creams greatly reduce the appearance of stretch marks in 80 percent of patients.
In addition to over-the-counter creams containing retinyl palmitate, prescription creams containing retinoic acid (such as Retin-A) are also available. Although the over-the-counter and prescriptions creams work similarly, the prescription creams are more potent and probably more effective.
Considerations
Creams containing retinoic acid or retinyl palmitate can dry skin out, and according to the Cleveland Clinic, dry skin does not heal itself as effectively as hydrated skin. As a result, drink water and moisturize the skin surrounding stretch marks when you are using anti-wrinkle creams.
Side Effects
Retinoic acid--and to a lesser degree, retinyl palmitate--can cause redness, peeling, and skin irritation. Talk to your doctor if you break out in hives or if your skin starts to blister, because this could indicate an allergy to retinoic acid.
Warnings
Pregnant women should never use prescription retinoic acid creams due to the link between tretinoin and severe birth defects. Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before using over-the-counter creams containing retinyl palmitate.
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