Stretch marks have multitude causes, the two most common being obesity and pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic adds that the use of medications, such as corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills, or certain diseases, such as Cushing's disease, can be an underlying culprit for these embarrassing streaks. KidsHealth points out that stretch marks are a normal aspect of puberty for both boys and girls, as this is a time in their life when they gain weight and grow at a rapid pace. While there is no way to completely remove them, stretch marks can improve and fade over time.
Step 1
Buy over-the-counter lotions and sprays. KidsHealth recommends the more natural route by using sunless tanning products, such as lotions and sprays. These are available in local department stores and tanning salons. Although a temporary fix, these products may help cover up the stretch marks, making you feel more comfortable in your skin for the time it lasts. The site warns that these products do not work in regular tanning beds due to the fact that stretch marks do not tan.
Step 2
Apply makeup that matches your skin tone. While this may be a solution more appropriate for girls and women, KidsHealth explains that matching makeup to the tone of your skin can make the stretch marks almost invisible. The negative aspect to this treatment is that most makeup is not water resistant, so if you plan to be in the water quite a bit, this may not be the best option for you.
Step 3
Talk to your doctor about tretinoin cream. This treatment option is for people whose stretch marks are less than six weeks old and still pink or red in color, according to the Mayo Clinic. When it does work, it helps to rebuild the collagen in your skin, a protein in the body that helps provide the skin with strength and flexibility. The Mayo Clinic warns that you should not use this cream if you are pregnant.
Step 4
Use dye laser therapy. This type of therapy changes underlying layers of skin, stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin, another type of protein in the skin that provides elasticity. Again, this therapy appears to be more effective on newer stretch marks, but, unlike tretinoin cream, it has a mild effect on older stretch marks as well. It may change the skin tone on those with darker skin tones.
Step 5
Speak to your doctor about microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a treatment method that is effective if you have older stretch marks. During this procedure, the doctor uses a hand-held device and blows crystal onto your skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. He then removes these crystals, along with skin cells from the topmost layer of skin. The goal of this treatment is new skin growth that is more elastic, thus reducing and improving the appearance of stretch marks.
