Have you recently lost weight or been in the gym gaining some serious muscle? Then you might have noticed a few stretch marks on your body. Some men think of stretch marks as warrior scars, while others can’t stand the sight of them, which leads to consulting with a dermatologist for stretch mark treatment. But what if you don’t have the funds or refuse to spend the extra money on professional advice? You look into home remedies or try out stretch mark creams to help fade the lines over time. Luckily, here at Spy.com, we know a thing or two about how you can heal your stretch marks from the comfort of your home.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks (Striae) are scars found on areas of tension like your arms, hips, buttocks, and stomach. This scar tissue develops when our skin stretches and shrinks abruptly, causing collagen and elastin, which supports our skin, to rupture. Once your skin heals, this allows for stretch marks to appear. However, stretch marks don’t form on everyone’s body. A factor that plays into the role of their development is hormones.
Typically, stretch marks develop for men in times of weight loss or gain, growth spurt, or weight training. Stretch marks may appear in different sizes and colors like red, purple, light brown, and dark brown depending on your skin color. As time progresses, these lines tend to fade as they sink beneath the skin.
Are Stretch Marks Curable?
Stretch marks are not curable, but there are several treatment options to help minimize their appearance. “Topical retinoid medications such as Tretinoin have been shown in research trials to improve the appearance of stretch marks and can be a fairly well-tolerated and cost-effective treatment option,” said dermatologist Calvin Williams, MD, FAAD.
Related Stories
There are over-the-counter products to help heal the marks too. Aim for creams and ointments that contain healing properties, including vitamin A and hyaluronic acid. “There is a lot of anecdotal evidence for the use of Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter to the areas. Some patients have reported that Bio-Oil has helped them as well,” says Williams, MD, FAAD. Remember, stretch mark creams will only lighten the scars on your skin. They will not remove them altogether.
How We Chose the Best Stretch Mark Treatment Options
After talking to a certified dermatologist and conducting further research, we narrowed down our top stretch mark treatments to help minimize stretch marks on men. When choosing the products, we took into consideration ingredients, customer reviews, and prices.
1. Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy
BEST OVERALL
Mederma is one of the most recommended brands to help minimize stretch marks simply because it gets the jobs done. The clinically approved formula is designed specifically to improve stretch marks. One of the main ingredients of the cream is dimethicone and hyaluronic acid, both known for their healing properties of scars. Did we mention the cream is a triple-action formula that promotes cell renewal and collagen formation?
2. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
BEST MOISTURIZER
One of the most common treatments used to help heal stretch marks is Bio-Oil. So it would be a downright disservice not to feature the product in our roundup. It’s formulated with Vitamin A oil that improves the formation of collagen and assists with skin renewal. The oil also promotes skin elasticity and helps even out skin tones. You’ll find the oil as a great daily moisturizer, and it’s gentle to use on all skin types. As far as your stretch marks, this product will fade them out over time, so no need to panic if you don’t notice improvements instantly.
106,000+ REVIEWS
3. Strivectin Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks & Wrinkles
MOST VERSITILE
While this formula from Strivectin can minimize your stretch marks, it’s also an anti-wrinkle cream. The multi-purpose cream is packed with several hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, aloe vera, and Vitamin E. All ingredients are good moisturizers and will help reduce the appearance of your stretch marks over time. To see maximum results, be sure to use the product on cleansed skin in the morning and night.
4. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Tummy Butter
BEST VALUE
Palmer’s is a classic brand loved by many, and their tummy butter is top tier. It’s made of cocoa and shea butter, both hydrating and moisturizing ingredients that will provide instant support to your scars. This product will fade out those dark lines and spots on your skin over time, so be sure to use it daily.
5. Evereden Nourishing Stretch Mark Cream
BEST PREVENTION
We can all agree that stretch marks are not the most flattering. So why not go for a cream that will treat and prevent future scars? This nourishing cream from Evereden instantly begins the repair process of your skin on its first use by relieving tight, itchy skin, an effect of stretch marks. Also, it will brighten up dark stretch marks, thanks to one of its active ingredients, Turmeric. And we can forget about the rosehip oil that enhances collagen.
6. Trilastin Maximum Strength Treatment Stretch Mark Cream
BEST FORMULATION
Have you been trying several stretch mark treatment creams but none of them are doing their job? Maybe, you should give this maximum strength topical a try. Trilastin will promote the natural regeneration of collagen and elastin while providing your skin with the proper vitamins to help reduce stretch marks. It’s a quick-absorbing formula that instantly hydrates your skin. The cream treats all types of stretch marks, and you will see results in as little as three weeks.
7. Botanic Tree Simply Organic Stretch Mark Removal Cream
MOST ORGANIC
In need of a stretch mark cream that will treat your scars and provide instant moisture to your skin? Well, you love this organic stretch mark removal cream from Botanic Tree. It’s an all-natural formula that is safe to use on any skin type and will remove the most stubborn stretch marks. Whether your lines are from weight loss or mass muscle gain, you are bound to see results. The cream is also good at preventing future warrior scars.
8. Body Merry Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream
BEST INSTANT RESULTS
If you’re looking for a stretch mark cream that will provide you with the fastest result, go with this option for Body Merry. The formula includes a blend of cocoa and shea butter, sunflower oil, and glycerin. It also contains several oils and vitamins that promote skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This cream is an excellent moisturizer, so it’ll improve dry skin as well. Expect to see noticeable results within two weeks.
6,000+ REVIEWS ON AMAZON
The Best Retinol Creams and Serums To Smooth Out Your Wrinkles