Why Some People Almost Always See Results When They Use Retin-A For Their Stretch Marks

By Tiallana Hirano

There have been a lot of misinformation on the Internet about Retin-A for stretch marks. This has confused many people like you into thinking that Retin-A is not an effective treatment for stretch marks. It is this lack of knowledge that poses to be a problem. I hope this article will clear whatever confusion you have about this vitamin A derivative.

What is Retin-A

Another name for Retin-A is Tretinoin or retoinic acid. Basically, it is a derivative of vitamin A in acid form. Usually, dermatologists use it to treat acne, wrinkles, and sun damaged skin. Today, 0.1% Retin-A is being used to reduce stretch marks.

How Effective Is Retin-A In Treating Stretch Marks

Does Retin A work for stretch marks? This is an interesting question that most people ask. The fact that many dermatologists are recommending Retin A to their clients as a stretch mark treatment shows that it does work. The question you should ask is “will it work for me?”.

In Mexico City, 20 women with abdominal stretch marks due to pregnancy participated in a small scale study. They applied 0.1% Tretinoin cream daily for 3 months. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of 0.1% tretinoin in reducing the appearance of stretch marks.

Another study to test the effectiveness of topical 0.1% tretinoin  cream was conducted in University of Michigan Medical Center. It involved 22 subjects. 10 subjects were using tretinoin every day for six months. The results were satisfactory. In that test, the subjects experienced 14 percent and 8 percent in reduction of length and width of their stretch marks respectively. It also showed that new stretch marks seemed to respond better to tretinoin.

How Does Retin-A Reduce Stretch Marks

Why can Retin-A make stretch marks less noticeable? Just like any exfoliating method, this vitamin A acid removes the outer most layer of the epidermis which is known as stratum corneum. This will cause the skin to produce new collagen in the dermis. Stretch marks will be less noticeable as the new collagen replaces the damaged ones.

For new stretch marks that are red in color, Retin-A makes the blood vessel narrower. This will reduce the redness which is associated with red stretch marks.

What Are Some Concerns When You Get Rid of Stretch Marks with Retin-A

Although Retin-A can help your skin, but there are several concerns that you should be aware of.

• From the discussion forums, many people think that Retin A makes their skin worse. What they don't understand is that when you exfoliate your skin, it is normal for your skin to peel, turn red or become flaky. These effects are not permanent, and you can use a good moisturizer to keep these side effects under control. With some patience, you should see improvement in less than 6 months.
• You should not use glycolic acids or vitamin C together with Retin-A. Any combination will nullify the effectiveness of Retin-A.
• Without your doctor's knowledge, you should not attempt to use retoinic acid when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. You don't want to take any risk as there is a possibility of the acid passing on to your child. And nobody, not even the medical community has an idea how it may affect your child.
• After using Retin-A, your skin will be extra sensitive to the sun. You can either stay indoor most of the time or apply sun block when you are out of your home.

When Can You See The Results with Retin-A

Just like any treatment for skin problems, you need to be patient. Retin-A is not going to promise you quick results. As mentioned before, it may take up to 6 months before you see noticeable improvement.

Most people make this mistake thinking that by using more often than prescribed, they will see faster results. However, what happens is that their skin will turn red or peel at a faster rate. All hell breaks lose when they think Retin-A is responsible for all the side effects. In actual fact, the problems lie not in the product but in the way they use the product.

Remember that you should only use Retin-A when your stretch marks are new. Once the reddish or purplish streaks turn white, applying this vitamin A derivative will be a waste of time. Most of all, be patient and follow the direction as prescribed by your dermatologist.

If your skin can't tolerate Retin-A or you are not happy with the results, then you definitely need something natural which is gentler on your skin or something more effective. I suggest that you find out more about Trilastin SR if you really want to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.