Stretch marks occur due to an interruption in the production of collagen, one of the proteins that make up the skin. They appear after periods of rapid growth and usually show up as red or purple linear indentations. Stretch marks on the breasts are a common occurrence for girls going through puberty as well as pregnant women. Hormone fluctuations cause an increase in breast size and leave behind stretch marks.
Step 1
Apply a moisturizing lotion with vitamin E and cocoa butter. An over-the-counter cream should be massaged into the breasts daily to make stretch marks less noticeable.
Step 2
Receive a prescription for a tretinoin cream. If the stretch marks are less than a couple of months old, you may be able to remove them with a tretinoin-based cream. Brand examples include Retin-A and Renova. As long as the stretch marks have a red color, daily use of the cream can help fade them. This treatment option is not appropriate for pregnant women.
Step 3
Meet with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to discuss microdermabrasion. During microdermabrasion, abrasive crystals will be applied to the breasts and then vacuumed off to remove the top layer of skin. This procedure can fade the stretch marks by promoting new skin growth. Multiple treatments may be required.
Step 4
Consider more aggressive treatment options. Laser therapy procedures can be used to remove stretch marks on the breasts. A pulsed dye or excimer laser is often employed for stretch mark removal. Pulsed dye lasers focuses concentrated light on the skin to promote new elastin and collagen growth. An excimer laser affects the pigment of the skin. It can remove the color from the stretch marks to make them less noticeable.
Tips and Warnings
- Stretch mark removal procedures are for cosmetic purposes and insurance companies are not likely to pay for treatment.
