Stretch marks, also known as striae, are a skin condition that commonly affects pregnant women. Due to the rapid weight gain during pregnancy, the skin is overstretched and the elastic fibers weakened. They appear as red or purple indentations on the breasts and/or abdomen of a pregnant woman. After giving birth, a woman can consider procedures available to remove the stretch marks.
Step 1
Receive a prescription for a tretinoin cream. Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A and can be applied topically to stretch marks that still have a red color and are less than six weeks old. The solution stimulates collagen growth to diminish the appearance of stretch marks.
Step 2
Wait it out. Although stretch marks do not completely disappear, they do have a tendency to fade over time. According to the Babycenter website, stretch marks are much less noticeable six to twelve months after giving birth.
Step 3
Make an appointment with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. If the stretch marks do not fade with time or after topical treatments, more aggressive options can be considered. Microdermabrasion and laser therapy are options for older stretch marks. During microdermabrasion, crystals are blown onto the skin and vacuumed off to abrade the surface. The top layer of skin is removed to encourage new growth. If a pulsed dye laser is used, concentrated light is focused on underlying skin to stimulate new collagen and elastin growth. Excimer lasers affect the pigment in the stretch marks and cause them to appear the same in color as the surrounding skin. Multiple sessions of each treatment method may be required.
Tips and Warnings
- To reduce the chance of developing stretch marks, gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. There's no evidence that supports the use of creams as a way to prevent pregnancy-related stretch marks. Keep in mind that unless otherwise advised by your doctor, you should not use any treatment method on stretch marks while still pregnant or breastfeeding.
