Also called striae, stretch marks are discolored indentations on the skin that usually resemble lines or stripes. They often occur where skin has stretched rapidly, such as when women are pregnant, people become overweight or adolescents experience growth spurts during puberty. Although stretch marks are a harmless cosmetic condition that typically fade with time, certain treatments may help reduce their prominence. Yet, all are about equally effective, according to MayoClinic.com, and none can remove stretch marks entirely.
Topical Treatments
Various topical products that you rub into stretch marks, such as creams and lotions, are available with and without a prescription. For example, if your stretch marks appeared recently, applying a cream that contains the drug tretinoin may help improve their appearance, states MayoClinic.com. The medication has a better chance of succeeding if the stretch marks became visible within the last six weeks and if they are red or pink. Tretinoin works by repairing the connective tissue in skin called collagen, which helps stretch marks resemble normal, undamaged skin. However, MayoClinic.com cautions against using tretinoin if you are pregnant. Expecting women should discuss preventive treatments for stretch marks with a qualified health-care professional before their breasts and stomach start getting larger and become prone to developing stretch marks, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments for stretch marks include excimer laser, fractional photothermolysis and pulsed dye laser therapy. Excimer laser treatment helps stretch marks gain a more normal color by stimulating production of melanin, the compound responsible for the color of hair and skin. In contrast, fractional photothermolysis and pulsed dye laser therapy help reduce the visibility of stretch marks by stimulating skin's collagen and elastin connective tissue to grow. Skin is more likely to heal rapidly with fractional photothermolysis, and while both excimer laser and pulsed dye laser therapy may work on older stretch marks, an excimer laser is a more common approach in such cases. The success of laser treatments depends on your age, diet and skin color, although your insurance may not cover the charges for such cosmetic procedures, says the Cleveland Clinic.
Skin Removal Treatments
Procedures that remove a portion of the outermost layer of your skin may help make older and newer stretch marks less noticeable. Options include chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. For instance, microdermabrasion involves using an instrument that blows crystals over the surface of your skin. The crystals gently scrape off skin cells, which a vacuum sucks off, encouraging new skin to replace the removed outer layer. As with laser treatments, your age, eating habits and natural skin color will influence the effectiveness of treatments that remove a section of skin. Your insurance coverage also may not apply to such procedures because they are generally considered cosmetic in nature.
