How to get rid of stretch marks

Stretch marks are among the worst things that could happen to your skin. Alas, they are very common and can appear almost everywhere. The only thing we can do is learn what stretch marks in fact are and the possible ways to deal with them.

Stretch marks appear when the body changes its shape very quickly. It means that stretch marks develop when you lose or gain weight fast. All of these unexpected changes cause the middle layer of the skin to tear on the most strained places. If you’re a woman, now you see why stretch marks appear mostly on your tummy, hips or breasts. If treated timely and properly, however, stretch marks are very likely to disappear. Chronic stretch marks are more difficult to deal with, but not impossible. So here is what you need to do to get rid of stretch marks:

Timely treatment is successful treatment: you should take action as soon as you notice the appearance of stretch marks. The earlier – the better.
Massage it out! – massage does a great job in improving skin texture. Massage the affected area four times a day using moisturizers with key ingredients shea butter, cocoa butter or essential oils, and you will see the result for sure after a couple of weeks. There are also endermologie procedures, in which endermologie machines are used to massage the skin. A good, deep massage expels toxins and triggers the production of collagen and elastine.
Tanning – natural sun tan and self-tanners help to visually reduce stretch marks. Before applying the self-tanner it is better to exfoliate the skin.
Topical treatment to the rescue! It is very effective in getting rid of stretch marks. Substances such as Vitamin C, Retinoid, Topical Tretinoin, Reastin, wheat germ oil and Glycolic acid are proven to do a great job against this skin flaw. You should however consult a specialist before use any of them on your body.
Laser treatment helps a lot. Moreover, it’s effective against all kinds of stretch marks – red, purple and white ones. There are several ways of using laser power for this purpose:
- vascular lasers – though these procedures are a bit pricey (between $400 – $500 per session and you’ll need up to 6 of them), vascular laser reduces red stretch marks;

- fractionated laser – it treats chronic stretch marks and is even more expensive -minimum of 3 sessions and $1000 per each;

- pulsed dye laser – it targets the underlying skin layers, stimulating collagen and elastine production. Works well on both new and old stretch marks. Not recommended for people with dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV, V or VI), and forbidden for pregnant or nursing women. Cost: $500 to $800, five procedures.

- excimer laser – it also treats chronic stretch marks by accelerating the production of melanin on the treated areas, so the stretch marks get the same colour as normal skin. It is the most expensive treatment – you’ll need 10 to 20 procedures that will cost from $300 to $700 each.

Microdermabrasion – using micro crystals to polish the skin, microdermabrasion removes the dead outer skin layer and stimulates the growth of new, healthy and flawless sin. Works well with older stretch marks.
Surgical procedures – affected skin is surgically removed. This is the most harmful way to get rid of stretch marks and we do not recommend it. Effectiveness and cost depend on the areas affected.
And remember – before using any of the treatments consult with a specialist to learn what would work best for you and avoid any potential harm.