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  • When the elastic middle layer of your skin (dermis) stretches more than it is able to withstand because of obesity, pregnancy, rapid muscle gain or another cause, stretch marks can form. Connective fibers within the skin break and cause this type of scarring, disfigurement and color change. There are a few solutions that can minimize or eliminate stretch marks when they are bad enough that you are bothered by their appearance.

    Wait It Out

    The easiest way to minimize the appearance of stretch marks is to just wait. In time, stretch marks will fade and become less and less noticeable, according to BabyCenter.com. In some cases, the body heals itself to the extent that you don't even notice the marks on yourself. If this is not a satisfactory solution for you, maybe because a significant amount of time has passed since the marks formed, then you may resort to surgical or topical means to get rid of them.

    Retinoic Acid

    Use a topical treatment of retinoic acid cream to improve the appearance of stretch marks if they are actively forming or if you have only noticed them recently, according to the Archives of Dermatology website. A double-blind study conducted by the Archives of Dermatology investigated the response of active stretch marks to a topical application of 0.1 percent tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream. The study revealed that the patients treated with the cream showed significant improvement of stretch marks over a six-month treatment. Marks tended to be between 8 and 14 percent narrower and shorter as a result of the treatment, as opposed to those who received another type of medication. Topical retinoic acid cream is sold as acne and wrinkle cream under the name Retin-A (treinoin), which is available without a prescription.

    Laser Removal

    Consult a cosmetic surgeon if you believe your stretch marks are serious enough to require a laser procedure to remove them. During a laser stretch mark removal, the laser is used to remove the old skin so that new skin can form in its place, according to DocShop.com. Expect to go through a series of procedures to completely remove stretch marks. The growth of the new, unmarked skin provides a true removal of the stretch marks not obtainable by natural methods or topical treatments.

    Surgery

    If you have severe stretch marks and are not dissuaded by the potential of an extensive recovery time, then you should opt for the surgical removal of the stretch marks for a one-time solution. Choose to have this effective procedure done for stretch marks that are along the bottom of the stomach where a tummy tuck could completely eliminate the area where the stretch marks are present or other similar circumstances. The procedure will completely remove the skin from the area as opposed to removing a section that will grow back as in laser removal. Although this surgery will require some healing time, it does not require the repeated procedures over a long period of time like laser removal does.

    Source:

    Baby Center

    Archives of Dermatology

    Doc Shop

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