There is no specific medical stretch marks treatment and in most cases there is no need for medical services. Most stretch marks fade over time and are not that noticeable.
If you have a lot of stretch marks, if they affect a large part of your body or if you are worried that they look unsightly there is stretch marks treatment available that can help. However, there is little or no medical evidence to show that any of these treatments will work, so it is important that you are realistic about what they can achieve.
Stretch marks treatment
Creams, gels and lotions
There are many creams, gels and lotions that claim to be able to remove stretch marks. These products are essentially moisturizers for your skin and are available from pharmacies and many supermarkets and health and beauty shops
Laser therapy
Laser therapy cannot remove stretch marks altogether, but it may help them to fade, and appear less obvious.
There are several different types of laser therapy that may be used to treat stretch marks, such as pulsed dye laser treatment. This type of laser therapy works on early stretch marks (that are still red) by sealing the blood vessels within your skin and speeding up the fading process.
Cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery for stretch marks is a very extreme and expensive option and is rarely recommended.
If you have stretch marks on your abdomen (stomach) as well as a large amount of loose skin, it may be possible to have an operation called an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. An abdominoplasty can remove the excess fat and skin around your abdomen as well as removing the stretch marks below your belly button at the same time.
Natural Remedies
Discover natural remedies for stretch marks on next page
Stretch marks treatment – preventing stretch marks
Stretch marks are very common and they cannot be prevented altogether. However, the following advice may help you to reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
Stretch marks treatment
Maintain a healthy weight. One of the most common causes of stretch marks is gaining weight in a short period of time. Putting on a lot of weight and diets that cause your weight to change rapidly can cause stretch marks to form because your skin is literally stretched by the sudden growth. If you need to lose weight, aim to do it slowly by ensuring that you get plenty of regular exercise and by eating a healthy, balanced diet. You can also find out if you are overweight or obese by using body mass index (BMI) calculator.
Look after your skin. Massaging your skin everyday with moisturizer or a massage glove can help to improve your circulation and encourage new tissue growth. It is also important for you to eat a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals – particularly vitamins E and C and the minerals zinc and silicon. These vitamins and minerals help to keep your skin healthy.
Gain weight steadily during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, it is normal and healthy to put on a lot of weight in a short space of time but it is a myth that you need to ‘eat for two’. You are more likely to get stretch marks during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that affect your skin. However, you may be able to minimize their appearance by gaining pregnancy weight steadily. While you are pregnant you need to take in approximately 2,500 calories a day. However, this is only 500 calories more than a woman’s normal recommended calorie intake. It is important that these calories come from a well-balanced diet that is rich in whole-wheat carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta as well as fruit and vegetables.
During pregnancy, your weight gain should be slow and gradual. As a rough guide:
- it is normal to gain 1-2kg (2-4lb) over the first 12 weeks,
- from week 12-28, it is normal to gain 300-400g (10-14oz) a week, and
- from week 28-40 (the last three months) it is normal to gain 1-3kg (2-6lb) a month.
See your GP, midwife or health visitor if you are worried that you are not gaining weight at a healthy rate.
