Is it possible to rid of stretch marks

Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Stretch Marks? Who Gets Stretch Marks? Here are some things to consider if you want to make stretch marks less noticeable: Some people find that sunless self-tanners can help cover up stretch marks.

This isn't true with regular tanning or tanning beds, though: Stretch marks are less likely to tan so may end up looking more obvious. However, more likely than not, stretch marks will continue to be pink and visible unless they are treated, even if you lose weight or use stretch mark creams. Stretch marks are caused when your skin stretches or is stressed beyond its current elasticity — in other words, stretch marks happen when there is a sudden shift in how much the skin has to work to maintain its shape.

Over time, enough stress on the skin causes new skin to develop to alleviate the stress, which is what causes the stripes on your skin. In truth, a stretch mark is the exposed portion of your new skin tissues that were under-developed and do not match the texture of the surrounding skin. There are specific factors and times where developing stretch marks is more common, such as:.

The genetics of your skin actually play a huge role in how your stretch marks develop, including whether or not your stretch marks will fade by themselves. The genetics of your skin may also be related to the amount of cortisol your body produces since high cortisol levels weaken skin elastin and make it harder for the skin to stretch comfortably. Puberty is probably the most common time when people, both women and men, will experience stretch marks.

Stretch marks caused by puberty are generally associated with growth spurts, as well as the maturation of secondary sex characteristics breasts. Pregnancy is another common time for women to develop stretch marks.

During pregnancy, stretch marks can develop on the breasts and on the stomach, as well as the hips, thighs, and buttocks depending on where pregnancy weight is carried and how much weight is gained through pregnancy.

Pregnancy stretch marks tend to be wider and deeper than stretch marks developed during puberty. Gaining weight over a short period of time is also another common cause of stretch marks. Weight gain refers to the excess storage of fat in the body, which is predominately in the stomach, underarms, buttocks, and thighs. Sometimes, stretch marks associated with weight gain fade when weight is lost, but this is not always the case. Although stretch marks are perfectly normal and happen to most people during the lifespan, there are some things you can do to prevent stretch marks from forming or becoming worse.

Knowing how to prevent stretch marks depends on how well you know your skin and your lifestyle choices. However, understanding stretch mark prevention may make the results of your laser stretch mark removal treatment last longer. To give you the best results, your dermatologist may use more than one procedure. For example, your dermatologist may treat you with radiofrequency and a pulse dye laser.

With all procedures, side effects are possible. In the skilled hands of a board-certified dermatologist, side effects tend to be minor and temporary. The redness and swelling tend to disappear in a few hours or days. In studies, neither almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, nor vitamin E prevented stretch marks. Other ingredients may work. Researchers have found that products containing centella or hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretch marks.

Centella is an herb, and our skin naturally contains hyaluronic acid. Stretch mark treatments that you can buy at a store or online can be expensive. If you find yourself spending a lot of time and money without getting any results, seeing a board-certified dermatologist can be helpful.

The in-office procedures have proven more effective than the creams, lotions, and gels. Dermatologists can also tell you about any new product or procedure that may help. References Hague A and Bayat A. Aesthetic rejuvenation. McGraw Hill Medical, China, Before using any topical treatment, discuss your risks with your doctor.

Some creams can trigger an allergic reaction or may not be strong enough to treat your condition. Microdermabrasion is a painless procedure to reduce the appearance of white stretch marks. This procedure targets the upper layer of skin epidermis , and works by stimulating the skin to tighten collagen and elastin fibers.

In the procedure, tiny exfoliating crystals are sprayed onto the affected area or a special tipped wand is rubbed over the area. Using a wand-like device, the crystals are gently removed, taking with them dead skin from the epidermis layer. For effective results, microdermabrasion needs to be repeated over a period of time. After the procedure, your skin may feel tight and dry.

There may be some redness from the exfoliation. It typically takes 24 hours for your skin to heal. The severity of your stretch marks will influence your results. Microneedling targets the dermis, the middle layer of your skin where stretch marks form. Within this procedure, tiny needles are poked into your skin to trigger collagen production. Microneedling has been shown to be an effective treatment for reducing stretch marks, specifically for patients with darker skin. Laser therapy is a common treatment option to remove white stretch marks.

In the procedure, lasers penetrate the skin, triggering regeneration. This stimulates the tissues around your stretch marks to heal at a faster rate. Laser therapy stimulates melanin production on the affected area, activating pigment cells in your skin.