Maybe you’ve just had a baby or have experienced rapid weight gain or weight loss and your skin has stretched out and created ugly stretch marks as a result. Many will tell you that there’s no truly effective stretch mark treatment and that you’ll just have to learn to live with the problem. However, that’s not completely accurate.
While it’s true that there are no “perfect” stretch mark treatments, you can find ways to dramatically improve their appearance so that they’re hardly noticeable.
To start with, genetics plays a big part in determining how prone you are to getting stretch marks. Regrettably, science has not yet advanced to the point that you can alter your DNA. However, diet can play a critical role in preventing and even treating stretch marks. Even though it’s unlikely that eating certain types of food will directly result in stretch marks, losing or gaining large amounts of weight can certainly contribute to them. So if you watch what you eat and control your weight, you can prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place.
There are numerous oils, lotions and creams available to help get rid of stretch marks. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t particularly effective. Pregnant women faithfully rub oils and creams onto their bellies in the hope of avoiding stretch marks, only to discover that they were inevitable.
Other creams, however, are indeed effective as a stretch mark treatment. Alpha hydroxy acids and Retin-A medications combined with topical steroid creams can reduce inflammation and prevent the hormones in the skin from creating stretch marks. They also aid in the renewal of elastin and collagen in the skin, improving its overall appearance. These kinds of stretch mark treatment creams require a prescription.
Laser treatments are another popular way to get rid of stretch marks. Although results can vary, doctors have experienced much success with those whose stretch marks are red in color. The lasers are able to lessen the redness and halt inflammation.
Microdermabrasion, plastic surgery and chemical peels are also used to help get rid of stretch marks, but the results aren’t always as anticipated. And in the case of plastic surgery, you might be left with scars that are even more noticeable than the stretch marks themselves.
Use this information as a guide and talk to your doctor so that you can figure out which stretch mark treatment is best for you. Even though a certain stretch mark treatment may work for some, it might not have the same results for others. The only way to find out which stretch mark treatment will have the best results for you is to try them yourself.