Whether you experience stretch marks as a result of weight gain during pregnancy, or for other reasons, the effects of your gaining weight show on your body in one form or the other. These marks can be a sign of honor, for most new moms, or maybe just an embarrassing show of weight gain for others. Either way, you may want to know what is available for removing stretch marks.

Below are different methods and forms of treatment for removing stretch marks. But before you figure out what works best for your body, it is best to know what stretch marks actually are.

The Facts behind Stretch Marks

Skin tissue, known as collagen and elastin, support your skin and help to keep it flexible. When you gain an excessive amount of weight, this tissue stretches and tears and leaves behind stretch marks. Depending upon what kind of skin tone you have, stretch marks can either be light pink, or white. The severity and amount of stretch marks on your skin depend upon how much weight you have gained, and how stretchy your skin is. The elasticity of your skin can be determined be genetics, if you mother or father has stretch marks due to weight gain, chances are you will also.

Treatment and Prevention

Most doctors and health providers alike will say that removing stretch marks, as well as preventing them is a bit difficult, and that letting them fade on their own is the best way to deal with stretch marks (most fade one year after pregnancy). Home remedies, such as cocoa butter and vitamin E are believed by many generations of women as a simple way for removing stretch marks. Most dermatologists will say that cocoa butter will soften your skin, but will not completely remove them from your body.

Another option, for severe stretch marks is using Tretinoin, a type of topical cream that is prescribed by physicians to repair the torn skin. This, however, needs to be used right after giving birth, and should not be used while breastfeeding. If you are serious about removing stretch marks that have crept up on your body, then choosing microdermabrasion, or a tummy tuck may be an option. Although more expensive, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from below the abdomen, thus tightening the stomach and removing stretch marks in that area of the body. Micordermabrasion is a form of “sanding” off the stretch marks, thus stimulating for new collagen and elastin formation.

Whatever method you choose for removing stretch marks, do not get your hopes up too much for complete removal of the marks. More than likely, physicians will say that allowing your skin to heal over time is the best way to remove stretch marks.

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