First, a disclaimer: Because a stretch mark is the result of the collagen and elastin under the skin cell layer rupturing, there isn’t really anything that can “undo” them once they’re there. Plus, clinical research studying how effective topical treatments are in eliminating or preventing stretch marks is minimal. The good news: That doesn’t mean there aren’t topicals that can help minimize its appearance. The best OTC cream products can help brighten the color of your marks and shrink them. We had the founders and board-certified dermatologists of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Conn., Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD, and Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD, weigh in with their insight on the best products for healing and disguising stretch marks—and what key active ingredients are at work to make it happen.
