Stretch marks can appear on many parts of the body including the stomach, thighs, breasts, arms, hips and buttocks.  The reason for the stretch marks appearing can be due to weight gain, weight loss and also pregnancy.  If the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) has been torn it will result in what appears to be stretch marks.

Whenever stretch marks appear you ought to have them treated as quickly as possible because when you catch them early on you will find they disappear much easier.  If your stretch marks are red, brown, pink or purple then you will find it easier to treat than if you allow them to become white or silver.

When it comes to treating red stretch marks you will see that the products on the market vary greatly in terms of the type and the price.  More and more products seem to be entering the market place so knowing which ones to try is very tricky.  If you want an at-home treatment option then you can look for creams that contain any of the following ingredients:-

Tretinoin  - reduces the size of the stretch marks
Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates - used to prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place
Cocoa butter - moisturizes the skin and increases the elasticity
retinoids retinol and retinaldehyde from Vitamin A can increase cell regeneration and can lessen the marks

If you think that you may get stretch marks in the near future because of pregnancy or weight loss it’s a very good idea to try and prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place by using products that moisturize the skin and repairs the collagen.  Lanolin, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil are all good for this purpose.

Although there are so many products on the market they haven’t necessarily been proven to work.  If you want a proven treatment then you need to look at laser therapy.  A beam of light is utilized to remove layers of skin in the affected area is not as scary as it might appear.  The healing time is very quick however there will be some tenderness to begin with.  A single treatment can cost in the region of $200 and how many treatments you require will depend on the stretch marks you have.  A dermatologist can have a look at your skin and give you an idea of how many treatments you are likely to require.

If your red stretch marks are really a big problem to you, it’s a good idea to fully research every treatment out there.  Just because a treatment is expensive doesn’t mean it will automatically be more effective.  You might want to start out with cocoa butter with Vitamin E and see how you get on.  Of course, taking to a dermatologist means you will receive advice tailored to you.

The reason that stretch marks appear in the first place is because the skin has changed shape too quickly.  Normally this problem comes about through pregnancy, weight gain and also weight loss.  Basically the middle layer of the skin called the dermis is torn.  The elastin and collagen fibers that are present in the dermis are ruptured and the result is scarring.

Ideally you should treat stretch marks as soon as they appear on your skin because then you’ll have a better chance at getting rid of them.  At first they will be red, pink, purple or brown depending on your skin color and end up a silver or white color.  When they are silver or white they are normally accompanied by deep indentations.

If your stretch marks are silver then it’s probably because you’ve had them for some time.  Now, it will be more difficult to eliminate them however please don’t despair.  There are still a number of options at your disposal including topical treatments, laser treatments and microdermabrasion.

You will see certain treatments on the market including cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, vitamin c, retinoids, topical tretinoin however these are better suited to stretch marks that are early on in their development.  There are also treatments such as glycolic acid, relastin and products containing peptides however they really haven’t been proven to be affective.

Stretch Mark Laser Treatment
A better option, albeit expensive, is laser treatment.  Laser treatments can be used for both early and established stretchmarks.  Basically a beam of light removes the thin layers of skin that surround the stretch marks.  This might worry you because lasers are often used as cutting tools. 

When it comes to laser stretch mark removal an excimer laser used and puts out a high-energy UV light to disrupt the molecular bonds in the skin tissue.  This is a process known as ablation.  The beauty of this kind of cosmetic surgery is that the healing time is very quick and effective.  However at first the treated area will be red and tender.  This is due to the fact that the scarred skin has been taken away.

Remember, if you have silver stretch marks it’s because they are old so having laser treatment might not work 100% first time.  It might be that you need as many as 10 treatments for the problem to be completely eradicated.  Each treatment costs in the region of $200 so it’s not cheap.  Everyone is unique and will respond to the treatment differently.  Have a talk with a surgeon or dermatologist to get their feedback on your individual case.

Microdermabrasion For Stretch Mark Treatment
The process of microdermabrasion involves a crystal flow to sandblast the skin so that the marks effectively become eroded.  It also encourages the formation of new collagen and elastin.  You will probably need anywhere in the region of 6 to 12 treatments to see the results you are looking for.

Conclusion
Many people waste a lot of money trying to get rid of stretch marks because most of the products on the market don’t work very well if at all.  Having silver stretch marks means you will also need to be more careful because the age of the marks means you will need treatment that is that bit more intensive.  Talking to a dermatologist is a good idea because they will be able to look at your skin and decide what the best course of action is.