Stretch marks, which are known to doctors as striae, are tears in the skin that heal as scar-like streaks. Stretch marks appear most often after pregnancy, weight gain or a growth spurt, and usually occur on the stomach, legs and buttocks. Stretch marks do not pose a medical concern, and do not need to be removed. If you dislike the appearance of your stretch marks, however, some treatments are more effective than others.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion may be the ideal solution for older stretch marks, says the Mayo Clinic. Microdermabrasion is a procedure that is usually performed in a dermatologist's office. During a microdermabrasion procedure, the dermatologist aims a device that blows small crystals at the stretch marks. When the procedure is complete, the crystals are sucked away from the skin with a vacuum device. The crystals rub the top layer of skin away, and the new skin that grows is smoother and more resilient, says the Mayo Clinic.
Tretinoin Cream
The Mayo Clinic recommends tretinoin cream as a first defense for newer stretch marks. Tretinoin cream is the most effective on pink stretch marks that are still slightly painful, says Melvin L. Elson, M.D., medical director of The Dermatology Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Tretinoin cream helps rebuild collagen in the skin, which may make the stretch mark blend in with your normal skin. Tretinoin cream is not effective on older stretch marks. Pregnant woman should not use tretinoin cream, because it can cause birth defects.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy may be effective for stretch marks that are more than several months old. Pulsed dye laser therapy helps rebuild collagen on the skin, and may require several weeks of healing time. Fractional photothermolysis, another type of laser therapy, also helps rebuild collagen, but only targets very small dots of the skin. Fractional photothermolysis requires a shorter healing time than pulsed dye laser treatments, says the Mayo Clinic. An excimer laser stimulates the growth of melanin on the skin, which will help disguise the stretch marks and make them look more like your normal skin. Laser treatments may require more than one treatment to be entirely effective.
