Stretch marks are small tears on the skin's surface that can occur when skin stretches due to pregnancy, a growth spurt or weight gain. Stretch marks may look pink or red in appearance and can be painful when they first occur. After several months, stretch marks fade and appear white or purple. According to the Mayo Clinic, stretch marks cannot be removed entirely, but topical treatments and dermatological procedures can reduce the appearance of both older and newer stretch marks and make them less noticeable.
Step 1
Allow your stretch marks to fade naturally. New stretch marks will fade and become less noticeable with time, reports the Mayo Clinic. After a year, stretch marks will no longer fade. If the stretch marks are still bothersome, consult a dermatologist.
Step 2
Rub sunless tanning lotion on the afflicted area. Sunless tanning lotion will blend the stretch marks with your skin, making them less noticeable. Sunless tanning lotion is temporary and must be applied every few weeks to continually camouflage stretch marks.
Step 3
Apply tretinoin cream to new stretch marks. Tretinoin is a topical prescription medication that is made from vitamin A. Stretch marks that are six weeks old or newer will respond better to tretinoin treatment than old stretch marks. You can get a prescription for tretinoin from your dermatologist.
Step 4
Consult a dermatologist about a fractional photothermolysis procedure. While performing fractional photothermolysis, a dermatologist uses a laser to stimulate the growth of elastin and collagen in the skin. Elastin and collagen will rebuild new skin cells in the afflicted area. Additionally, fractional photothermolysis requires almost no healing or recovery time.
Step 5
Ask your dermatologist about microdermabrasion for stretch marks older than several months. During a microdermabrasion procedure, your dermatologist blasts the skin with an abrasive material that wears away skin cells. When these skin cells heal, your stretch marks will be less noticeable.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid over-the-counter lotions that promise to remove stretch marks. They are ineffective, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Consult a doctor if your stretch marks are causing you pain, before or after your procedure. Do not use tretinoin cream if you are pregnant.
Things You'll Need
- Sunless tanning lotion
- Tretinoin cream
