Weight fluctuations and stretched skin during pregnancies leads to stretch marks in most women. Post pregnancy stretch marks are also a common occurrence and result when you least expect them, after childbirth. Your abdomen and breast are probably most prone to stretch mark appearance, however you can also get them on your thighs, hips and upper arms.

Most women think that they are condemned to live with these striations for life, but this is not entirely true. In fact, there are several procedures and treatments that can help you reduce the appearance of most 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.

The results obtained from the treatment of stretch mark removal with non invasive treatments will be slow, so be warned.

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 small bit of "damage" in 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. Fine lines and age spots will become less apparent. Also, your dull skin will become more even and radiant.

Stretch Mark Creams

Stretch mark creams and microdermabrasion creams are another alternative to surgery. This type of treatment is even more gentle than microdermabrasion, therefore, it will take longer to show positive 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. In essence, they dissolve scar tissue and help promote the growth of new skin cells.

Two ingredients that you should look for are snail serum and rose hip oil. Both of these ingredients have proven themselves effective in treating scars and stretch marks. Rose hip oil contains high levels of Vitamin C and A and essential fatty acids, while snail serum depends on enzymatic action to help the generation of healthy skin. Microdermabrasion creams work because they contain micro crystals that produce an abrading action. These micro crystals are very similar to the ones 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.