Weight gain and stretching skin during pregnancies leads to stretch marks in most women. Post pregnancy stretch marks are also a common occurrence. The abdomen and breast are the areas that develop stretch marks most easily, but you can also get them on your thighs, hips and upper arms.

Many women believe that they are condemned to live with these striations, but this is not entirely true. There are actually several procedures and treatments that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Surgery is the most effective type of treatment as it completely removes the skin that has stretch marks. However, there are less invasive alternatives if you want a gentler form of treatment for your pregnancy stretch marks. If you do prefer a less invasive approach then you should either try microdermabrasion or stretch mark creams, or both.

Stretch mark removal with non invasive treatments is slow. Therefore, you must be patient and consistent if you want to see results.

Microdermabrasion for Stretch Mark Removal

Traditional microdermabrasion can be done in a spa or salon. It doesn't require anesthesia and it is a quick procedure, lasting no more than an hour per session.

Microdermabrasion works by producing a tiny bit of "damage" to the treated site. The body reacts to this new injury by producing new, healthier cells to displace the damaged skin cells. After several sessions, you should begin to see a difference in your stretch marks.

Besides treating stretch marks, microdermabrasion can also remove the signs of aging. Age spots and fine lines will become less apparent with each session. Also, dull skin will become more even and radiant.

Stretch Mark Creams

Another alternative to surgery are stretch mark creams and microdermabrasion creams. This treatment option is more gentle than microdermabrasion, which means, you'll need more session in order to see results.

Stretch mark creams contain a combination of ingredients that help eliminate striae. In other words, your stretch marks cream should contain peptides and enzymes that are the ones responsible for this action. Basically, they help dissolve scar tissue and promote the growth of new skin cells.

Two other ingredients you should look for are Helix aspersa muller extract and rose hip oil. Both of these ingredients have proven themselves effective in treating scars and stretch marks. Snail serum (Helix Aspersa Muller extract) depends on enzymatic action, while rose hip oil is rich in Vitamin C and A and essential fatty acids that help the generation of healthy skin. Microdermabrasion creams contain micro crystals that produce an abrading action that helps treat scars. These micro crystals are much like those used in traditional microdermabrasion. Obviously they're much gentler than traditional microdermabrasion treatments.

You can also purchase at-home microdermabrasion systems. These systems come with a machine that produces the abrading action. Most come with speical attachments and a microdermabrasion cream.