Going to the beach is fun for all of us, but as we all know, unsightly stretch marks can put a damper on the parade. What is there to do? Thankfully, there currently exist several effective stretch mark treatments available that will improve your skin texture with a smooth and toned appearance.

First, let's recap what exactly are stretch marks. They go by the scientific name of striae, and their singular form is simply stria. They are small tears within the dermis layer of the skin that are produced by the loss of skin's elastin and collagen. They can vary in color from a light pink to a dark purple. Regarding the disappearing on their own, they can fade in color over time but there is always going to be remnants of them to some degree. Striae arise when either hormonal changes occur within your body due to puberty or pregnancy, or when there is rapid weight loss or gain from dietary habits or weight lifting. They are most common on the upper arms, stomach, and breasts, and anywhere else on the body where there is stored fat (buttocks, inner and outer thighs, etc).

Stretch Mark Repair Procedures

The "tummy tuck" is a widely used incisive treatment that will erase the appearance of the striae. In this treatment method, the skin below the navel is removed to remove excess fat and restoring weakened or separated muscles. All this creates an abdominal profile that results in being smoother and firmer, with the stretch mark either gone completely or dramatically reduced.

Many individuals have found an effective stretch mark reduction treatment in microdermabrasion. This cosmetic technique uses a mechanical 'brush' for exfoliation. The outermost layer of the epidermis layer of the skin which contains all the dead skin cells is removed by the adjustable suction of the mechanical tool used in this treatment. It is a non-invasive procedure, but is still required to be undertaken at a doctor's office by a trained skin care professional. Microdermabrasion removes dead skin to then force the body to naturally produce new skin cells resulting in a smoother texture.