Stretch marks are those long, narrow bands of discoloration that can cause unsightly grooves in the skin. They’re basically a type of scarring from when the skin is required to stretch quickly, such as frequently seen during pregnancy or with rapid weight gain.
As the skin is forced to stretch beyond its limits, the elastin and collagen giving shape to the skin break down, and the support structure beneath the skin collapses. As the body heals the skin, stretch marks can appear.
Stretch marks can also occur during puberty, with its accompanying growth spurts or during weight training if muscles are developed too quickly. So stretch marks can affect both men and women and can occur at almost any age.
As stretch marks first appear, they generally show up darker than your skin, and depending on skin color, can be dark or reddish brown, red, pink or purplish in color.
Over time, their color usually fades to a whitish or silvery color, and the band tends to sag beneath the level of the rest of your skin, forming a slight groove or depression. They’re seldom painful, but they can be unsightly, and for some people, they cause a great deal of embarrassment.
Is it Possible to Get Rid of Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are scars, and as such are considered permanent and will never completely go away. There is an abundance of promising claims from manufacturers of “stretch mark creams” and other potions and lotions, but the harsh truth is that few, if any of those creams, will be very effective, especially on older stretch marks.
Sadly, the same is true of many suggested home remedies. They’re simply unable to undo the damage caused by stretch mark scarring.
If you tan, stretch marks may become even more noticeable. A self-tanner may help to camouflage them, but it will not get rid of them.
Having said all that…
How Can I Get Rid of Stretch Marks?
There is hope if you’re dealing with stretch marks you’d like to get rid of. Today’s technological advancements have provided treatment solutions that can significantly diminish their appearance.
There are some topical prescription medications containing certain ingredients that have been shown to help diminish the appearance of both early and more mature stretch marks. Two such ingredients are hyaluronic acid and tretinoin, which is a retinoid.
Another option for making stretch marks much less noticeable is by choosing the in-office procedures offered in many dermatologists’ offices. Some of these procedures are:
In order to achieve optimum results, your dermatologist may use a combination of treatments, including some of which may not be listed here.
Benefits of Stretch Mark Treatments
There are a number of benefits in choosing a stretch mark treatment to diminish the appearance of stretch marks on your body. Some of these benefits are:
- No surgery, so there are no incisions, sutures or additional scarring
- Almost zero downtime in most cases
- Treatments are brief and virtually pain-free
- Stretch mark discoloration is blended into the surrounding skin, vastly minimizing the appearance
Final Notes
Having stretch mark treatments done too early may require additional treatments down the road. Most doctors will recommend you wait until you’re certain you’ve had your last child before seeking stretch mark treatment.
If your stretch marks appeared after excessive weight loss, it’s recommended you maintain your goal weight for about a year before undergoing stretch mark treatment.