That extra 20 pounds is bad enough, but now you have freakish lines on your hips. Anytime you rapidly gain weight, such as during pregnancy and growth spurts at puberty, your skin has to stretch to keep up. Collagen and elastin fibers in your skin can break, causing discolored lines that begin red and eventually turn white. Stretch marks are tough to remove, but there are several treatments to minimize their appearance and color until they are virtually undetectable.
Retinoid Cream
Prescription retinoid creams can improve the appearance of stretch marks by 14 percent when used consistently for six months according to oprah.com. Apply the cream twice a day as soon as you notice stretch marks. New stretch marks can be reduced in color, but older, white ones are harder to disguise. Retinoid creams can still soften the hard texture of an old stretch mark.
Pulsed Dye Laser
Pulsed dye laser treatments send nonwounding waves of light into your skin to stimulate collagen and elastin growth. This therapy works best on new stretch marks, but it can fade older ones, the Mayo Clinic says. The lasers feel like a pinch or rubber band snapping against your skin. They can leave bruises for several days. As of 2010, the average cost was $300 to $750 for each treatment and most women need two to six sessions, according to oprah.com.
Fractional Photothermolysis
Older stretch marks need more aggressive laser therapies. Nonablative lasers spur new collagen growth by damaging dots of skin within the stretch mark region. The skin signals new collagen and elastin growth in the entire area to heal the dots, says the Mayo Clinic. This treatment is more painful than pulsed dye lasers. Take ibuprofen and use a topical anesthetic. The best results can improve stretch marks by 50 percent. As of 2010, the average treatment cost $500 to $750 each. Most people need four to five treatments, according to oprah.com.
Microdermabrasion
Use microdermabrasion for old, white stretch marks. Tiny crystals break up the outer layer of skin, which can signal your body to grow new skin. The therapy works if your body grows new, more elastic skin to cover the stretch mark.
Moisturizers
Keep your skin hydrated with lotions and body oils design to improve your skin's natural defenses. Olive oil, cocoa butter, lavender oil and aloe vera help keep skin supple and elastic, preventing stretch marks. They also help skin repair itself, reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Diet
Essential fatty acids help your skin build new cell walls and improve collagen production. Eat salmon and other fish high in EFAs, avocados, seeds and nuts. Add fruits with Vitamins A, E and C and foods with the minerals silica and zinc. These vitamins and minerals build collagen, preventing new stretch marks while improving existing ones, according to ayushveda.com. Also, drink a lot of water to keep skin naturally hydrated from the inside out.
