Interventions for the Treatment of Stretch Marks: A Systematic Review
Stretch marks are a common disfiguring skin condition that can have a deep psychological impact on affected patients. Although there are a variety of treatments available, no consistently effective therapies have been established. In this systematic review, we evaluate 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and safety of currently available therapies for the treatment of stretch marks. Due to the limited number of patients and high or unclear risk of bias in the studies included in this assessment, the evidence from this review is insufficient to provide clear guidelines for practice. Therefore, more high-quality RCTs are needed.
Practice Points
- Given the negligible reported side effects, tretinoin cream 0.1%, a cosmetic oil formulation, onion extract cream, or the combined use of Active A and Active B could be considered for the treatment of stretch marks, though the evidence is insufficient.
- High-quality, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed in the future.
