Those pinkish, purplish streaks on your stomach, abdomen, breasts, thighs and buttocks are called striae or stretch marks.  It’s been said that some 95% of pregnant women will get stretch marks.  Stretch marks are caused, literally, by the stretching of the skin. Not only will pregnant women develop stretch marks, but also anyone with significant weight gain or loss. Children going through puberty can also develop stretch marks when their skin is pulled by rapid growth.  Sometimes weightlifters can develop stretch marks on their arms.   Not as common, some conditions or diseases will also cause stretch marks.  Cushing’s syndrome is one such disease

There are lots of creams and ointments that claim to eliminate stretch marks. 

   Vitamin C may increase collagen production and help with stretch marks in the early stage.  Research shows that Vitamin C combined with glycolic acid may be more effective.  You may also take a Vitamin C supplement of 500 milligrams 3x/day.

   Retinoids have shown to increase collagen and elastic production during the early stages.  Prescription Retin A is an example of a retinoid.  Others include Renova, Differin and Tazorac.

   Glycolic Acid used in conjunction with retinoids and vitamin C may give better results.  Daily application of this preparation is optimal.

Surgery and other techniques such as microdermabrasion and laser treatments can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Vascular laser treatments target the swollen and inflamed blood vessels. These treatments help with skin cell production and increased collagen production. But these treatments don’t come cheap. Usually four to six sessions are necessary at approximately $475 per treatment. The vascular laser treatments take away the redness from the area.

Fractionated laser treatments (Fraxel is one type of fractionated laser) can help minimize the appearance of older stretch marks. Fraxel is FDA approved for use on age spots and acne scars but has shown good results on stretch marks. This technique basically “smears” the lines of the stretch marks making them less visible. Expect to do at least three treatments at about $1000 per session. None of these treatments are perfect, but you can expect to see some improvement and most patients are pleased with their results.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid, found in many over the counter creams, can be an effective treatment on stretch marks. AHA’s are strong exfoliating agents. When applied to the skin, the AHA breaks down the dead skin cells allowing newer, younger skin to take its place.

Moisturizers containing vitamin A and E may help prevent stretch marks. Nothing has been scientifically proven, but using creams with these vitamins may help speed up the growth of new skin cells and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Watching your weight will also help how to get rid of stretch marks. Eating a well balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats will help you maintain a healthy weight and therefore avoiding weight gain that contributes to stretch marks. It’s also been noted that massage can help improve circulation and new tissue growth. Another reason to go for the full body massage!

Given time, stretch marks will fade and become less noticeable on their own. If you don’t want to spend time and money on creams, surgeries or laser treatments, just give Mother Nature a chance fade them away. Eating right and exercise may also promote quicker fading. However, it’s worth giving creams and ointments a try to help fade stretch marks just a little quicker.Some alternative methods include castor or olive oil, seaweed wraps or certain vitamins and fruit acids.