Retin A – The Solution for Stretch Marks?

Retin A or Tretinoin as it is more widely known, is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A, and is used to treat a wide variety of skin conditions. An area where there are particular benefits for the use of Retin A is stretch marks.

Stretch marks, or striae distensae, form on the skin when the connective tissue below the surface of the skin is stretched and eventually torn due to rapid expansion of the body, mainly caused by weight gain or pregnancy. Additionally, these marks can be cause by significant weight loss, puberty and hormone changes, or significant muscle gain such as that which occurs when engaging in weight lifting or body building.

Many sufferers of this form of scarring are having some success in healing and regenerating the skin using Retin-A. Stretch marks are believed to be particularly affected by this treatment, as it helps boost collagen production, and rapidly increases the turnover of new skin cells.

Retin-A stretch marks formulations are typically stronger than those used for other skin disorders, so depending on where you live, you will most likely need a prescription to obtain Retin-A or a similar Tretinoin based treatment. The strength of Retin-A you are prescribed will depend on the severity of your striae scarring and the opinion of your doctor or dermatologist on how strong of a treatment you require.

If you decide to try Retin-A as a stretch marks solution, there are some factors you need to be aware of. Firstly, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, this treatment should be avoided, and your doctor most likely won’t prescribe it for you in this situation. This is because it is believed there could be detrimental effects on your unborn child, and it is also unknown whether Tretinoin is passed to the child during breast feeding. For these reasons pregnancy and stretch marks should not be treated with this method.

Retin-A stretch marks formulations may also initially cause skin to flake off and the treated area to become irritated. This is normal, but if the skin does not become conditioned to the treatment and ‘settle’ or stop flaking after a week or so, you will need to see your doctor or dermatologist to evaluate whether you need a weaker formulation or to stop the treatment altogether. You may also experience sensitivity to sunlight, and so it is recommended you avoid direct sunlight on the treated area, or use a strong UV protection sunscreen on the treated areas in situations where sunlight cannot be avoided.

Sharon from Oamaru Pharmacy Ltd (www.pharmacy-nz.com) Talks about RoC skincare Products included the new RoC Retin-ox Plus the first pure retinol skincare product they have been able to stock in new zealand.
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