Stretch marks are a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly, causing the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. While there is no perfect solution for stretch marks, there are some treatments that may help make them look better, but they will not get rid of them completely. Here are some ways to reduce the appearance of stretch marks:
1. Hydration, diet, and exercise
- Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin soft, so you’re less likely to develop stretch marks.
- Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can also help reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
2. Prescription medicine you apply to your skin
- Hyaluronic acid and tretinoin are two ingredients that seem to offer some relief.
- Applying hyaluronic acid to early stretch marks made the stretch marks less noticeable in two large studies.
- Tretinoin creams may help improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old by rebuilding a protein in the skin called collagen.
3. Body makeup and self-tanner
- These products can help hide stretch marks, both early and mature ones.
4. Laser therapy
- Laser therapy can help fade stretch marks by stimulating collagen production.
5. Microdermabrasion
- Microdermabrasion removes a thin layer of skin and can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Its important to note that many creams, salves, oils, and other skin ointments that claim to either prevent or treat stretch marks have not been proven to be effective. Additionally, treating stretch marks is difficult, and older, deep stretch marks may be more challenging to treat.
