What Are the Treatments for Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are unsightly and cause us grief by their very existence. Almost everyone experiences these at some point in his or her life. The causes of stretch marks are varied and some occur through no fault of our own. Treatments can lessen the visibility of these marks and decrease them over time.

Definition

• Stretch marks are striae. These bands, marks or lines on the skin can vary from our skin color by being darker or lighter. These marks may be indented slightly. Stretch marks are unsightly and tend to show when the skin is tan.

Causes

• Gaining weight too rapidly is the most common cause of striae. Certain diseases or conditions cause it also. One of the most common causes of striae is pregnancy. A growth spurt during puberty can also create stretch marks. Weight lifters often have stretch marks due to rapid muscle growth, particularly on their upper arms.

  Stretch marks most often appear on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, thighs and buttocks.

Considerations

• According to the nlm.nih.gov website, stretch marks may form because of overuse of cortisone skin creams. Abnormal formation of the collagen in our skin may occur from the use of chemicals or medications for certain conditions, such as Cushing's disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or diabetes. (See References.)

Treatments

• Treatments for striae will help, but it will not cure them. Time will cause the condition to fade naturally.

  Tretinoin creams such as Retin-A and Renova are helpful. These creams are only effective on very new stretch marks and must be administered in less than six weeks after their appearance and while the mark is still red or pink. The cream helps in rebuilding the collagen in your skin, therefore it looks more like your normal skin.

  Mayo clinic states in its article "Stretch Marks," that pulsed dye laser therapy can stimulate the growth of elastin and collagen in our skin. This method works best on new stretch marks but can be useful on old marks as well. (See References.)

  Fractional Photothermolysis is another laser therapy, which helps to develop new elastin and collagen in the skin. This treatment targets certain zones and can lead to faster healing

  Microdermabrasion blows crystals onto the skin area, in effect polishing the surface.
  A vacuum tube removes the dead skin cells and the crystals. This may be helpful for older stretch marks as it removes the topmost skin layer and generates new growth.

  The excimer laser regenerates new pigmentation. It does this by stimulating production of melanin, thus making the stretch marks similar in color to the other skin.

  No current data proves that creams, lotions, and ointments help reduce stretch marks, but they definitely will not hurt, and will keep your skin moist, which is always a plus.

Prevention

• The best way to avoid stretch marks is to avoid rapid weight gain. The weight gain can stretch the skin and it may take years for the marks to fade or lessen in appearance. Keeping your body properly hydrated by drinking plenty of water is one of the best ways to keep our skin at its best.