5 Ways to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

If you are tired of the unsightly stretch marks on your body and ready to do something about them, you will want to know all your treatment options. Some stretch mark treatment choices are much better than others and certain treatments can pose significant risks. Some scenarios can help you with new marks but are ineffective for old ones. Others can help with both. You've come to the right place for information. Learn about treatments such as: surgery, laser treatment, dermabrasion, creams and chemical peels.

Surgery

Surgery is something that's not typically done for removal of stretch marks. Surgery that would involve removing the skin that's covered with stretch marks could result in scarring from incisions which could be considered worse than the stretch marks themselves. It's for this reason that typical plastic surgery treatments are generally not used for stretchmarks.

Dermabrasion

This procedure involves removing layers of skin to get the skin to regenerate.

Advantages

* Healing generally takes place as early as 7-10 days. The pinkish tone of the newly formed skin changes into the normal skin color within a short span of time.

* You can usually resume normal activities within seven to 14 days of the treatment

* Resume cosmetics use as soon as the basic healing has occurred.

Disadvantages

* Temporary (or possibly permanent) changes in skin color

* Possible darkening of the skin

* Possible Formation of scars

* Potential for infection

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels, also known as chemexfoliation or derma-peeling can improve the appearance of the skin by application of a chemical solution that causes blisters to occur that are eventually peeled off.

This treatment option includes the use of chemicals like glycolic, trichloroacetic, salicylic, lactic or carbolic acid that are applied and result in controlled wounds that later result in regenerated skin.

Advantages

Chemical peels can be customised so they enable the patient to work with the doctor to decide on the depth of the chemical peels required.

Disadvantages

Potential disadvantages can include:

* Temporary or permanent color change in the skin

* Possibility of abnormal pigmentation if the patient consumes birth control pills or has a family history of brownish discoloration on the face

* Risks of scarring on areas of the face, usually in individuals highly prone to scarring

* Risks of reactivation of cold sores in patients with a history of herpes outbreaks

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy has often been perceived as the best way (although the most expensive way) to remove stretch marks. This method can be used on deeper and older stretch marks in addition to newer marks. Laser treatment includes removing, vaporizing, and breaking down the skin's tissues. Successful laser surgery depends on the result of a series of treatments over several weeks.

Usually, an average of six to eight treatment sessions of laser therapy is required for the desired results to be visible.

Advantages

Laser therapy often results in permanent changes. It is often viewed as one of the most effective treatment options for stretch marks.

Disadvantages

The most prominent drawback of laser therapy is the high level of expense involved in the treatment. With each session costing about $600-$700, the cost of the whole treatment could go well beyond $5,000.

Lotions and Creams

Lotions and creams for the purpose of treatment of stretch marks are designed to perform a highly effective three-pronged action, including:

* Prevention

* Treatment of new stretch marks

* Smoothening of old rough stretch marks

Cortisone creams are available and can work the best on mild stretch marks, while also leading to an improvement in the appearance of the deeper stretch marks.

Vitamin E is one of the most effective ingredients of a good stretchmark cream, helping in the nourishment of the skin. An effective stretch mark cream has a number of ingredients that work in cohesion to produce the desired effects. These include the actions and ingredients such as:

* Abrading

* Physical break down of superficial scarring

* Moisturizing enhancers and collagen synthesis boosters

* Cell communicating ingredients

* Enzymes to dissolve damaged cells and scar proteins

* Skin regenerating activators

A good quality, result-oriented stretch mark cream basically works to smooth out the skin, blend the pigmentation back together, help the redness or silvery white appearance and overall, help to bring the skin back together.

Advantages

* Extremely convenient and easy to use

* Cost-effective

* Easily accessible

* Allows privacy of use

* High possibility of positive results

Disadvantages

* Many marketed products are ineffective in treating old stretch marks

* Not advisable to be used in pregnancy or lactating stage

* Possible discoloration of the affected area

* Not all stretch mark creams are created equally so it can involve trial and error

Which Option is Best for You?

Only you can decide which option is the best based on your situation. Laser treatment and creams seem the best possible solution for the average person. Because not everyone can afford laser treatment, using an effective stretch mark cream with a solid reputation for positive results is a wise decision that can have great results.