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Almost everyone has stretch marks to some degree. Genetics, fast weight gain or weight loss, and growth spurts are all factors in the development of stretch marks. And even though there are steps that you can take to prevent them, this effort may be in vain.

For example, if your parents have stretch marks, then the odds are stacked up against you. And although you can control pregnancy and weight fluctuations, growth spurts are something you'll have to deal with. So in the end, your best bet is to treat them as soon as possible.

Treatment Methods that Help Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Laser therapy is one of the most popular ways of treating stretch marks as well as other skin problems. This procedure doesn't produce much pain and requires little downtime. In fact, if you do decide to undergo this type of treatment your doctor can recommend the type of laser that is best suited for your situation.

When considering this type of treatment there are three types of lasers that may be used: ablative, non-ablative and fractional. Ablative lasers remove every skin cell they touch, while non ablative lasers bypass the epidermis and only treat the dermis. As for fractional lasers, they use a scattered beam and do not cause damage to the cells surrounding the treated area.

Chemical peels and dermabrasion are also common treatments for stretch marks. These procedures include removing "sanding" or "burning" off superficial and deeper layers of the skin to get rid of imperfections. Both require a few weeks for recovery and can be quite painful.

If you have sensitive skin then you should avoid this type of treatment because it can be quite aggressive on the skin. Another option may be the use of a light chemical peel that can work on sensitive skin, but the process will be more extensive. In fact, if you have sensitive skin you might consider a microdermabrasion treatment that uses bicarbonate crystals.

Stretch marks creams are also a great way of treating and preventing stretch marks. In fact, some women use them during their pregnancy to make their skin suppler and less prone to stretch marks. You need to know that these types of products will take longer to produce effects.

Opt for creams that contain rose hip seed oil or snail serum to ensure that you are using the best possible stretch mark cream. Both of these ingredients will promote the dissolution of scar tissue and boost the production of new cells and collagen.

All of the previously mentioned options will help minimize the appearance of your stretch marks, however, if you want to permanently remove stretch marks, surgical excision is your only option. The only problem is that this type of surgery is mostly used to eliminate excess skin and not stretch marks.