How to remove stretch marks on breasts

Stretch marks can appear on the breasts as a person’s
body changes shape due to pregnancy or other events.
Stretch marks are common and do not pose a health risk,
but some people seek to remove them.
Home therapies and medications may help remove stretch marks, but
there is little evidence to show that many of them work. Treatments aim to
do this in various ways, including
:
stimulating collagen production
increasing pigmentation and decreasing redness by reducing
vascularization
improving elasticity
increasing
 skin hydration
managing inflammation
In this article, learn about why stretch marks occur and get some tips on
removing them

1. How to remove stretch marks on
breasts
Medically reviewed by Reema Patel, MPA, PA-C — Written by Jennifer Huizen
— Updated on July 12, 2021
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Stretch marks can appear on the breasts as a person’s
body changes shape due to pregnancy or other events.
Stretch marks are common and do not pose a health risk,
but some people seek to remove them.
Home therapies and medications may help remove stretch marks, but
there is little evidence to show that many of them work. Treatments aim to
do this in various ways, including

:
stimulating collagen production
increasing pigmentation and decreasing redness by reducing
vascularization
improving elasticity
increasing

skin hydration
managing inflammation
In this article, learn about why stretch marks occur and get some tips on
removing them.
TypesHome remediesMedical treatmentLaser therapy
Microdermabrasion and microneedlingOther treatmentsRisk factors
PreventionSummary
Types
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2. Tara Moore/Getty Images
Some terms for describing

stretch marks depend on their cause:
striae gravidarum: pregnancy-related marks
striae distensae: marks due to stretched skin
striae atrophicans: marks due to thinned skin
Others describe their appearance:
striae rubrae: red
striae albae: white
striae nigra: black
striae caerulea: dark blue
Most stretch marks have a veiny or branched pattern. In the earliest stage,
marks often look red, pink, or purple, but in time they may change to
become thin and pale.
The way stretch marks appear depends partly on the person’s skin color.
For example, on darker skin, stretch marks may appear as dark or light
streaks compared with the surrounding skin.
Why do breasts get stretch marks?
Stretch marks develop when the skin stretches. These changes cause the
connective tissues, such as collagen and elastin fibers, to break and leave
marks. They often affect the breasts, thighs, and abdomen, which are
areas that change shape more quickly than other parts of the body.
The breasts are particularly prone for the following reasons:
Hormonal events, including pregnancy and puberty, cause changes
in shape.
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3. Breast surgery, for example, to reduce breast size or remove
cancer, can lead to stretch marks.
Changes in weight can affect breast size.
When these changes happen, the skin may need to adjust quickly, and
stretch marks can develop.
Genetic factors

may also make some people more likely to develop
them.
Some at-home therapies may help reduce the visibility of stretch marks,
although they rarely disappear completely. Here are some home
remedies that may help.
Massage
Massage may help reduce stretch marks on the breasts by boosting
circulation in the breast tissue and stimulating cell and tissue growth.
To massage the breast:
use the fingertips
apply gentle pressure in a repetitive, circular motion
repeat daily
Some research

has suggested massaging with almond oil may be
ficial, but it was not clear if the almond oil or the massage made
most difference.
Topical products
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4. Therapy, including topical treatments, aims to

:
increase the production of elastic fibers and collagen
reduce inflammation in pale streaks
reduce redness, swelling, and irritation in red streaks
improve hydration
Home-use products that researchers have investigated include:
almond
cocoa butter
olive oil
silicon gel
vitamin E
Limited research

suggests almond oil and silicon may help, but there is
not enough evidence to confirm they work. Studies have not shown that
cocoa butter or olive oil have any impact.
Many products on the market combine these and other ingredients, but
there is no scientific evidence to support their use.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) gives the following tips
that may improve the effectiveness of products:
Use them early, as older stretch marks may not respond as well.
Massage the product into the skin, as this may improve its
effectiveness.
Use the product every day for several weeks, as it can take time for
improvements to show.
A range of stretch mark products can be found online here. But it is worth
noting that there is not enough research to show that any of these
remedies are effective.
Exfoliation
Some people use exfoliating products to remove layers of damaged skin
and encourage the regrowth of healthy tissue. There is no evidence that
this makes a difference.
What about tanning?
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5. The AAD notes that tanning will not remove stretch marks and may make
them more visible, as they do not tan. Tanning can cause skin damage. A
tanning cream may camouflage the marks temporarily.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend or prescribe medicated
products to help with stretch marks.
In one study, tretinoin creams with concentrations greater than 0.05%
reduced pregnancy-related stretch marks by up to 47%. Tretinoin is a
retinoid. Another retinoid, retinol, may also help reduce the visibility of
marks.
Other ointments and creams that may help include:
silicon or collagen-based gels
creams containing hyaluronic acid
creams with at least 20% glycolic acid
creams with at least 10% ascorbic acid
Topical products aim to stimulate collagen production and cell growth and
improve skin elasticity and hydration. Side effects may include minor skin
irritation and increased light sensitivity.
Laser therapy is one treatment that evidence suggests may work. In
studies, laser therapy has consistently reduced the visibility of stretch
marks by 50–75%. Laser therapy uses beams of light to break up scar
tissue and stimulate damaged tissues.
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Laser and light therapy
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6. It aims to:
improve blood flow to the area
energize surrounding cells, including collagen-producing cells
stimulate the immune system
improve lymphatic drainage to reduce inflammation and pain
One type of laser therapy, laser lipolysis, aims to remove

stretch marks
by destroying fat cells, but there is a lack of evidence proving its
effectiveness.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery estimates that a person
will need up to 20 sessions of laser therapy over several weeks to see a
20–60% reduction in the appearance of stretch marks. Costs can vary
widely, and insurance does not usually cover it, according to
stretchmarks.org.
A 2016 review found that laser and light therapies were effective in
reducing early scars and promoting collagen and elastin production in
older scars.
There is some evidence that microdermabrasion and microneedling may
help remove stretch marks not related to pregnancy.
In microdermabrasion, a specialist uses equipment that blows and then
vacuums abrasive substances onto an area of skin.
Microneedling involves damaging skin in order to trigger a healing
response that will produce new collagen and elastin.
A 2020 study reviewed the effectiveness of up to 3 monthly treatments of
microneedling on stretch marks in 25 people, some with light and some
with dark skin. After 1.8 treatments, the marks reduced by at least 50%

.
The result was better on areas with thicker skin, such as the buttocks,
compared with the breasts.
Microdermabrasion and microneedling
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7. Risk factors include:
pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
some health conditions, such as anorexia nervosa and chronic liver
disease
weight changes
the use of treatments such as steroids, some antibiotics, birth
control, and treatments for epilepsy
endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome and Marfan
syndrome, which involve hormone changes
a family history of stretch marks or conditions that cause them
a younger age during pregnancy
smoking
treatment with steroids
rapid muscle development due to sports training
Some prescription and home treatments claim to reduce the risk of
developing breast stretch marks, but there is currently not enough
scientific evidence to show they work.
A 2013 study concluded that a combination of hydroxyprolisilane C,
rosehip oil, Centella asiatica extract, and vitamin E reduced the risk of
breast stretch marks during pregnancy by 30%

in people who had not
had pregnancy-related stretch marks previously. Those who developed
stretch marks had less severe marks than those who used a placebo.
Additional preventative options with some clinical evidence include
regular use of:
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8. cocoa, shea, or coconut butter or oil
olive oil
bitter almond oil
vitamin E oil
A range of skin care products for stretch marks is also available for
purchase online.
Stretch marks can appear on the breasts during puberty and pregnancy,
when a person’s body shape changes, or as the result of various health
conditions and treatments.
There is no guaranteed way of removing stretch marks, although some
therapies may reduce their visibility. Many treatments sold for use at
home do not have scientific evidence to support their use.
Anyone who has concerns about stretch marks should speak to a doctor
or dermatologist who can offer suitable advice about safe and effective
treatment options.
Last medically reviewed on July 12, 2021
DermatologyPregnancy / Obstetrics
Summary
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9. An effective way to deal with stretch marks!
The ingredients in Revamin Stretch Mark help:

clearly lighten stretch marks and reduce their visibility.
increase skin elasticity and firmness.
maximally nourish and soften the skin.
effectively prevent the formation of new stretch marks.
Click on the image for more information