# Recommend a product to reduce stretch marks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867 "2003-06-10T14:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/1 "2003-06-10T14:32:17Z")
I have been losing weight lately, and am now getting stretch marks on my thighs!! I already had a few, but now they’re all over. I would prefer not to have wrinkly-looking legs during the first summer in a couple of years that I can wear a bikini!! Please recommend! Coconut oil, Mederma, Lanolin, Baby lotion - what should I use? Only a few of them are deep and purple - most are just little grooves that need to go away. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/2 "2003-06-10T16:46:12Z")
BioTherm’s [Biovergetures](http://www.biotherm.ca/_ca/_en/catalog/ExperienceProduct_VarList.aspx?productcode=039352&categorycode=AXE_BODY_CARE%5EF1_COR_Body_Treatments%5EF2_COR_Firming%5EF3_COR_Firming&vname=name&) is good. I’ve used it - it works well. (Even if your stretch marks aren’t from pregnancy. NeoStrata’s [Smooth Lotion](http://www.neostrata.com/neostratapro/npo_prd_dis.asp?c=e&n=2040) is also a nice choice. Finally, you can buy just plain old Vitamin E oil and slather that on, but it’s pretty messy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/3 "2003-06-10T18:59:04Z")
I have some stretch marks on my arms from doing weights. Do you think that would work there too? ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/4 "2003-06-10T19:08:09Z")
Yeah, and I have 'em on my knees from growing too quickly as a kid. Would it work, even though I’ve had them for years? ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/5 "2003-06-10T19:38:07Z")
My wife used “Nivea” lotion and that worked great. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/6 "2003-06-10T20:03:18Z")
Well, all products work better if you apply them as soon as the marks appear; however, any product with an AHA or Glycolic Acid will improve the look of the skin, irrespective of how long you’ve had the marks. I have my SO use the BioTherm on his arms/back becasue of weight-lifting induced marks and it’s very effective. He uses a body moisturizer on his back with Glycolic Acid in it because of very dry skin - it too works very well, but for a different problem. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/7 "2003-06-10T20:10:16Z")
I spoke to my dermatologist about stretch marks and she said that any effect they have is from the massaging in of the product which potentailly breaks down the tissue in the stretch mark. She said that dermabrasion is the only medically proven method. YMMV but she did go to school for this after all. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/8 "2003-06-10T20:26:22Z")
Your dermatologist is correct in that the only way to completely, totally, 100% remove stretch marks is dermabrasion. I have heard that lasers will work also. Or surgery. Obviously, I’m suggesting things that are effective on a smaller scale. FWIW, both AHA’s and Glycolic Acids remove the top layers of skin - just like dermabrasion. They’re just: 1. Much, much cheaper. 2. Much, much less invasive - we’re talking about cream here. 3. Much, much easier - at home, in the bathroom, in the morning or before bed. Obviously, if someone has stretch marks that they want totally, completely 100% gone, they should consult a surgeon. For everyone else the topical solutions are effective for increasing the fade time and minimizing the appearance. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-product-to-reduce-stretch-marks/180867/9 "2003-06-10T20:32:15Z")
That would be decreasing fade time, of course.