How do I Treat Stretch Marks on Teens?

A teenager may develop stretch marks because her body is rapidly growing. These marks are the result of the skin stretching and tearing. They are usually seen in the thigh area, buttocks, hips and breasts. If your teenager has stretch marks, she is not alone. Stretch marks are fairly common, but luckily there are ways you can help your teenager treat the stretch marks. You may not be able to completely eliminate them, but certain treatments are effective in reducing their appearance.

Instructions

• 1

  Use a glycolic or vitamin C treatment cream. Glycolic acids and vitamin C exfoliate and increase collagen production, thus enabling new skin to form and eliminating early stretch marks. You can buy these over the counter or speak to your dermatologist.

• 2

  Use a tretinoin product, such as RetinA. According to the Mayo Clinic, tretinoin products may reduce the appearance of new stretch marks. These products exfoliate the top layers of skin and help produce collagen, which is necessary for healthy skin. You will need to speak to a dermatologist about treating your teen's stretch marks with tretinoin, as it is only available by prescription.

• 3

  Invest in a chemical peel. This is done at a doctor's office and consists of a chemical solution being applied to the skin. The solution basically peels off the top layer of skin and helps in the formation of new skin cells. A chemical peel may not remove stretch marks completely, but it will fade them significantly.

• 4

  Get a pulsed dye laser treatment. This treatment targets the dermis, which is under the surface of the skin. It basically wounds the scars, and allows the skin to create more collagen and elastin, a necessity for healthy skin. It works best on newer stretch marks like the ones teens have. This treatment is performed by a doctor and may change the color of darker skin tones. You must also take into consideration that your teenager will probably need a series of treatments, so discuss the details with your doctor.