Treatment of Stretch Marks
There are several stretch mark treatments on the market today. Some of which include natural and homemade solutions, store bought oils, creams and lotions. Some even go as far as laser treatments and plastic surgery.
Stretch marks or striae are caused by excessive stretching of the skin. This commonly occurs during and after pregnancy, with rapid weight gain or loss, and with growth during puberty. Close to half of all expectant moms and many teenagers will acquire stretch marks. The severity of stretch marks varies widely. Depending on your skin color, the marks may start out pink or purplish or may appear as dark brown streaks. The reddish-brown pigmentation in the marks usually fades over time and they begin to look more silvery or white.
Stretch marks are often dreaded and people with them are always in search of a method to permanently get rid of them. A few different stretch mark treatments include laser treatments and even plastic surgery. Laser surgery for stretch mark treatment and removal is comparatively recent and known to be effective against the marks that are in the early stages of development (still dark brown-reddish in color). For now, laser treatments might work best on those new dark colored stretch marks but with the ever changing and improvement in technology there may be help for mature stretch marks in the near future. In some cases plastic surgery is also a solution and is seen as an option in stretch mark treatment. This is usually achieved by performing a tummy tuck, which removes the skin below the navel where stretch marks tend to mainly occur. It is important to keep in mind when choosing plastic surgery as a method of treatment as with any surgery, it can create scarring and you might just be replacing a stretch mark with a surgical scar that has the potential to be much worse if you aren’t careful in choosing a well certified surgeon.
Other such stretch mark treatments include; topical ointments such as wheat germ oil, olive oil, vitamin E, cocoa butter and shea butter. Sunless tanner is also a popular choice in reducing their appearance.
There are plenty of stretch mark treatments available, speak with your OB/GYN, Dermatologist or plastic surgeon to find the proper treatment for you.
