When it comes to cosmetic treatments, stretch marks (striae) prove to be one tough customer for even the most skilled dermatologist. Stretch marks occur when the dermis (the middle layer of skin) is stretched beyond its capacity during weight gain or pregnancy, resulting in rippled bands of pink, red or purple on the abdomen, hips, thighs, breast and upper arms that fade to white over time. "Essentially, stretch marks are a scar that has formed from the inside out, rather than scarring that occurs when skin is externally wounded," explains skincare expert Paula Begoun, who notes that if you buy a stretch mark cream, you're likely to be wasting your money, as very few of these topical products work. During the formation of stretch marks, the elastin in the skin is irreversibly damaged. This makes your solutions for stretch marks limited, with many resulting in only slightly noticeable improvement.
Laser Treatments
A series of laser treatments are the most effective solution for stretch marks, although Dr. Brian Zelickson, a dermatologist who contributes to "The Patient's Guide to Stretch Marks" cautions that there's no procedure that will make your skin look completely normal again. Pulsed-dye laser treatments are more effective for new (red, purple or pink) stretch marks, while fractional laser therapy works best for older (white) marks. Laser treatments can reduce redness, diminish the appearance of white marks and improve the texture of the skin so that they are less noticeable compared to the rest of the skin. Recovery time is short, and side-effects include temporary swelling and redness that can last for several days.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is mentioned by Mayo Clinic experts as another treatment for older stretch marks. During this procedure, a dermatologist uses a device that blows tiny crystals onto the skin, which gently abrades the epidermis, encouraging new skin growth. However, Dr. Eric Bernstein states in "The Patient's Guide to Stretch Marks" that microdermabrasion has a negligible impact on stretch marks and does not personally recommend it.
Topical Solutions
There are a limited number of topical creams that can marginally improve the appearance of stretch marks. One is prescription tretinoin cream, such as Renova and Retin-A, say experts at the Mayo Clinic, which may be of benefit to stretch marks that are less than six weeks old and still pink or red in color. Bernstein adds that creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids are also helpful. When used along with topical steroids, these products may reduce inflamed red marks. Other than these topical solutions, Bernstein states that there's no benefit to using stretch mark treatments that contain ingredients, such as aloe vera, Vitamin E, cocoa butter, shea butter, grapefruit seed extract and other oils.
Chemical Peels
Skincare expert Paula Begoun indicates that a series of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels can be helpful in reducing the appearance of stretch marks, if used at the proper concentration and used by a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon who knows how to apply them properly. Chemical peels can encourage the growth of new collagen and elastin. But like microdermabrasion, chemical peels will likely be modestly effective, says "The Patient's Guide to Stretch Marks."
