Stretch marks, also known as striae, are common occurrences during pregnancy. Due to your rapid weight gain, the skin becomes overstretched, and indented lines appear that obtain a reddish or pink color. Although you may have seen cocoa butter creams advertised to reduce stretch marks, they are not likely to work, according to the Mayo Clinic. You should wait until after you have given birth to seek out treatment options for the blemishes.
Step 1
Make an appointment with a dermatologist. At-home creams and lotions are not likely to approve effective, and you should instead set up a consultation with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Step 2
Receive a prescription for a topical retinoid cream. If the stretch marks developed less than six weeks ago and still have a red color, a retinoid cream applied to the marks can rebuild collagen to remove the markings. Keep in mind that a retinoid cream should never be used during pregnancy and should only be applied after giving birth.
Step 3
Inquire about microdermabrasion treatments. This noninvasive procedure involves abrading the surface of the skin by vacuuming crystals off of the skin. This can promote new skin growth in the area of the stretch marks. Multiple treatments may be required to prove successful.
Step 4
Undergo laser therapy. Laser therapies are typically performed on older stretch marks and those that have not responded to less invasive treatments. A pulsed dye laser stimulates collagen and elastin growth at the site of the stretch marks while an excimer laser removes pigment from the stretch marks. You may need more than one session to remove pregnancy-related stretch marks.
Step 5
Wait it out. You can allow time to fade the stretch marks naturally. Although they may not completely go away, they will be less noticeable than when they first developed.
Tips and Warnings
- Your insurance company is not likely to pay for any treatment methods to remove stretch marks because it is a cosmetic issue.
