Stretch marks, or striae, are characterized by the National Institutes of Health as irregular bands or streaks of skin. They often develop when the skin is stretched to the point where its elastic fibers weaken, which then prevents it from bouncing back to its normal color or texture. Weight gain is by far the most common cause of this condition, but you may also develop irregular banding or streaking from medications, diseases and rapid growths in height.
Step 1
Apply a thin layer of tretinoin directly onto the stretch marks, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. Daily application of this prescription retinoid rebuilds the underlying layers of collagen damaged by the stretching of your skin, which minimizes the appearance of pink to reddish stretch marks that are less than six weeks old.
Step 2
Undergo microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion buffs away the surface layer of the irregular tissue associated with stretch marks, according to the Mayo Clinic. This encourages the growth of new skin cells that are not only more elastic, but similar in color and texture to the rest of your skin.
Step 3
Fade stretch marks with a chemical peel, advises the Cleveland Clinic. With a chemical peel, an acidic agent is applied to the affected area to burn or peel away the epidermal layer of the skin. This makes way for the growth of new skin that is less streaked or banded.
Step 4
Schedule a pulsed dye laser therapy session to help to remove the stretch marks. Pulsed dye lasers stimulate the production of collagen and elastin within the underlying layers of the skin. This can help to even-out newer stretch marks, making them less noticeable. Fractional photothermolysis laser therapy can be used for this same purpose.
Step 5
Ask your dermatologist about excimer laser therapy. The Mayo Clinic explains that this form of laser treatment stimulates the production of melanin, the compound responsible for pigmentation. With the additional melanin, lighter stretch marks can take on a color closer to the rest of your skin, making them less noticeable.
Tips and Warnings
- Sometimes, you won't need to do anything to remove the stretch marks, advises the National Institutes of Health. When the weight is lost and the skin is no longer stretched, the markings can fade away on their own. To help prevent stretch marks from forming, try to maintain a healthy weight for your height. Watching your diet and taking part in daily exercise can often help with this. Stretch mark creams rarely provide their purported results. It's best to stick with proven methods of stretch mark removal.
