Stretch marks are long, reddish streaks that appear on the skin when it is stretched beyond its regular capacity. They form in the middle layer called the "dermis" and they are caused when a lot of weight has been gained in a short amount of time and a hormone called "cortisone" gets released. The main areas that tend to appear are the butt, thighs, breasts, hips and stomach. The treatment for stretch marks focuses on improving their appearance and making them less noticeable.
Step 1
Get zapped with a pulsed dye laser. Collagen and elastin promote the elasticity of your skin. With a pulsed dye laser treatment, the middle layer of skin wear the stretch marks are located gets hit with a wavelength of light. Collagen and elastin are stimulated and the underlying layer of skin gets remodeled.
Step 2
Get the color of your stretch marks changed. Melanin gives skin its color. An excimer laser treatment can be used to stimulate melanin in your skin. This in turn can make the stretch marks less visible by blending them in with the color of your surrounding skin. If your stretch marks are older, this can be a good option.
Step 3
Talk to your doctor about tretinoin. Tretinoin cream is a prescription topical formula that can be applied to your stretch marks. The end result is they look more like your normal skin because collagen is stimulated. Tretinoin cream works best on stretch marks that are six weeks old or less.
Step 4
Get blasted. Microdermabrasion is a procedure where tiny aluminum oxide crystals are blasted onto the top of the skin. The top layer is removed and the crystals and skin cells are then vacuumed off. New skin growth is then promoted.
Step 5
Get a tummy tuck. If you have stretch marks below your navel, a tummy tuck can be done. This is known medically as an "abdominoplasty" and it can not only get rid of stretch marks, but it can also tighten up your stomach muscles. A surgeon makes an incision on your lower abdomen, muscles are repaired, fat and skin is removed and stretch marks disappear.
