Women who have had a baby or people who have gained a lot of weight, then lost it again, will experience an undesired side effect on their skin: stretch marks. Stretch marks are scars left after the dermal and epidermal skin layers lose elasticity due to extreme stretching.

Small stretch marks often fade over time; larger ones can be treated with topical creams and lotions. Exercise is a good method to help prevent stretch marks.

Some persons are more genetically susceptible to stretch marks, and a pregnant belly will inevitable be covered by them; when everything you have done to prevent stretch marks has failed, there are a variety of treatments that do help.

Treatments

Topical Lotions and Creams: Many of these products work to produce skin firming and tightening. This tightening can reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks by reducing discoloration and depth. Topical Retin-A, hydroxyl creams, and products like StriVectin-SD tighten skin and temporarily reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels: Both of these procedures have been used to minimally enhance the appearance of scars, minimize discoloration, and improve uneven skin surfaces.

Laser Scar Reduction: Lasers have recently gained popularity to minimize the color and depth of stretch marks. Pregnancy related marks are usually treated this way.

Abdominoplasty: Some plastic surgeons have noticed stretch mark reduction after an abdominoplasty intervention. Though, people are not considered candidates for abdominoplasty for the sole motivation of reducing stretch marks. Abdominoplasty is done to remove excess skin, fat, or muscle from the abdomen.

Consult a Qualified Doctor

Ask a qualified doctor about your goals and the treatment options available for your condition. A primary care physician, dermatologist, and gynecologist can suggest topical treatments. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists can have experience with microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatments. Plastic surgeons perform abdominoplasty.

- Read the doctor's credentials, education, training, type of certification held, and the number of times that the treatment has been performed in the practice.

- Ask to review before-and-after pictures of people with stretch marks who received topical treatments, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and abdominoplasty to help decide which procedure, or combination of procedures, is best for you.

- Ask the treatment provider to estimate the number of treatments you will require.

- Ask about potential side effects or problems linked with each procedure.

- Remember that results vary among providers and patients.

For surgical interventions, ask a board-certified plastic surgeon from the American Board of Plastic Surgery with enough experience in all of the treatment options available to enhance stretch marks. Dermatologists, licensed RNs, and estheticians can also have enough experience with microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser treatments, and topical creams or lotions. Board certification is not required for these treatments. Treatment providers will acquire certification from the manufacturer for microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser treatments.