Get Help with Your Stretch Marks Before Swimsuit Season

Stretch marks might be a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them forever. If you’re looking for a tried and true method of skin treatment for stretch marks, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know about reducing the appearance of stretch marks.

How to Avoid Stretch Marks

Prevention with Massage

So what’s the best treatment for stretch marks? Of course, the first and best way to handle stretch marks is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Fortunately, massage can help you do just that. Massage is not only an excellent form of stress relief, but it’s also a great way to improve circulation and prevent stretch marks from forming on your skin. Massaging with emollients is an excellent way to soften the skin and help it maintain elasticity. When your skin is moisturized, soft, and supple, there’s a much smaller chance that you’ll be struggling with stretch marks in the future.

Topical Retinoid Treatments

While retinol products are most commonly used to treat acne or for anti-aging purposes, it’s possible to use these products to reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the skin. The active ingredient in these products is tretinoin or Retin-A, which is a derivative of vitamin A. This ingredient contributes to stretch mark fading by encouraging something called collagen remodeling. Essentially, the active ingredient in topical retinoids works to help heal scars. And since stretch marks are a form of scarring on the body, topical retinoids are a valid treatment option for you and your dermatologist to consider. It’s important to remember that retinoids work best while stretch marks are still new and inflamed — you may not see the same type of results if you’re dealing with older stretch marks and want to try topical retinoid treatments.

Laser Stretch Mark Removal

While it’s nearly impossible to completely remove stretch marks from your skin, laser therapy is one of the treatment options that will get you the closest. In fact, laser stretch mark removal currently has the best results of any stretch marks treatment. One of the biggest benefits of investing in this type of stretch mark treatment is how little downtime it requires. In addition, there usually isn’t a need for pain medication, aside from over-the-counter pain relievers to help with mild discomfort that may occur after treatment sessions. But lack of downtime isn’t the only benefit you’ll reap with laser therapy. A few other benefits include stimulation of collagen production, improved circulation, and even reduced inflammation in the treatment area. While multiple sessions may be required to achieve your desired result, it’s normal to start seeing results anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after your session. And once you’re further along in your stretch mark removal journey, your results will be permanent. Saying goodbye to stretch marks has never been easier.

If you’re struggling with stretch marks, take heart in the knowledge that there are treatment and prevention options out there for you. If you have more questions or want to try one of these stretch marks treatments, contact SE Dermatology Specialists today.