title: Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves early stretch marks.
abstract: METHODS
  Stretch marks are disfiguring lesions usually caused by excessive stretching of skin. We investigated the response of early, clinically active stretch marks to topical 0.1% tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream. In a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study, 22 patients applied either 0.1% tretinoin (n = 10) or vehicle (n = 12) daily for 6 months to the affected areas. Patients were evaluated by physical examination monthly and by analysis of biopsy specimens of stretch marks obtained before and at the end of therapy in comparison with untreated normal skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 months, patients treated with tretinoin had significant improvements in severity scores of stretch marks compared with patients who received vehicle (P < .05). After 6 months, eight (80%) of the 10 tretinoin-treated patients had definite or marked improvement compared with one (8%) of the 12 vehicle-treated patients (P = .002). Targeted stretch marks in patients treated with tretinoin had a decrease in mean length and width of 14% and 8%, respectively, compared with an increase of 10% (P < .001) and 24% (P = .008), respectively, in patients who received vehicle. There were no significant differences in various measures of quality and quantity of dermal collagen and elastic fibers in stretch marks when tretinoin and vehicle treatments were compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of tretinoin significantly improves the clinical appearance of early, active stretch marks. The processes that are responsible for the clinical improvement remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Voorhees
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003895:Desmosine / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D003895:Desmosine; D014212:Tretinoin; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin