Stretch marks, also called striae, are small red, white or purple lines that appear on the skin due to growth, pregnancy or weight gain. They appear most often on the thighs, buttocks, breasts, arms and abdomen, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stretch marks on the abdoment can be unsightly and embarrassing for some people. Although there are a variety of stretch mark creams and lotions on the market claiming to remove stretch marks, the most permanent and effective treatments are surgical procedures performed by a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon.
Step 1
Try tretinoin cream on recent stretch marks. Consult your dermatologist about a tretinoin cream if your stretch marks are less than six weeks old, advises the Mayo Clinic. A thin application of tretinoin cream every day on the affected area can help stretch marks fade away, but is not usually effective on stretch marks you have had for longer than six weeks.
Step 2
Get dermabrasion or microdermabrasion for stretch marks you have had for several years or more. Your dermatologist can apply a rough tool to your stretch marks that will buff away the top layer of skin. Microdermabrasion is less drastic, but will have more subtle results. Dermabrasion removes the entire top layer of skin, which requires a longer healing time, but will produce better results.
Step 3
Consider pulsed dye laser treatment for old or new stretch marks. A dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can use a nonablative laser--which does not harm the top layer of skin and requires virtually no healing time--to trigger extra elastin and collagen to develop on the skin, making the area appear smoother and tighter.
Step 4
Consult your doctor about fractional photothermolysis laser treatment. Fractional photothermolysis will require slightly more healing time than pulsed dye laser treatment because it will wear away a small amount of the skin, although the procedure is so exact it will only target a small, specific area of the skin.
Step 5
Stimulate your body's production of melanin with an excimer laser treatment. Melanin provides pigment to your skin, which will fill in the areas that are different in color, like the purple or red area of a stretch mark. An excimer laser is effective on older stretch marks and helps the area blend in with the rest of the skin.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid over-the-counter stretch mark creams and lotions that promise to get rid of stretch marks.
- Get several opinions before deciding on a doctor and a particular stretch mark procedure.
