Stretch marks are known clinically as "striae." They appear on the skin as long red, purple or pink colored lines that do not have any texture. They are caused when the skin gets stretched beyond its normal capacity and the center layer called the "dermis" suffers scarring. The main cause of this damage is excessive weight gain that takes place in a short amount of time. The stomach is especially prone to stretch marks in women who just gave birth due to their vastly expanding belly. Regardless of how they appeared on your stomach, there are several steps you can take to get rid of them.
Step 1
Stimulate collagen with a cream. Collagen is a substance that is found in all the connective tissue in the body. When it comes to the skin, collagen helps give it elasticity and suppleness. Tretinoin cream is a prescription formula that you can use on your stretch marks. Its main function is to promote collagen and cause the stretch marks to become less noticeable by blending in with your regular skin tone. This treatment is only effective on stretch marks that are 6 weeks old or less.
Step 2
Stimulate melanin in your skin. Melanin is a substance that gives your skin its color. An excimer laser treatment can be utilized on your stretch marks if you have had them for a long time. A laser is shot on your skin, and melanin production is promoted. This, in turn, changes the color of your stretch marks back to the original color of your skin, and they appear less noticeable.
Step 3
Stimulate collagen with a laser. Collagen and another skin substance called "elastin" can be promoted by way of a pulsed dye laser. With this treatment, collagen and elastin get stimulated in the dermis to remodel the damaged skin. The stretch marks then fade away. This treatment is most effective on new stretch marks, but it can work on old ones as well.
Step 4
Get your skin blasted. Microdermabrasion is a treatment in which fine crystals are blasted against your skin with a wand. The topical layers of skin cells are removed and siphoned off along with the particles. New skin growth is then promoted, and the stretch marks disappear.
Step 5
Get a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck is known medically as an "abdominoplasty." In this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen where he repairs damaged muscles and removes skin and fat. As a result of this, your stretch marks disappear as well.
