Weight fluctuations and stretched skin during pregnancies leads to stretch marks in most women. Post pregnancy stretch marks are also a common occurrence. 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 feel that they are condemned to live with these striations for the rest of their lives, but this isn't entirely true. There are several procedures and treatments that you can rely on to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Surgery is, of course, the most effective type of treatment because it completely removes the damaged skin, however, this doesn't keep more stretch marks from appearing. So if you're not too keen on surgery and want to have a way of preventing future stretch marks you might want to try less invasive alternatives for your pregnancy stretch marks. Microdermabrasion and stretch mark creams are basically two of the most popular, non-invasive forms of treatment.

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.

The way microdermabrasion works is by producing a small bit of "damage" in the treated site. The body will then respond to the 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.

Microdermabrasion not only treats stretch marks, but it can also help remove the signs of aging. Age spots and fine lines will become less apparent with each session. And, dull skin will become more even and more 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.

For a stretch mark creams to be effective, it should contain a combination of ingredients that can help eliminate striae. This means that any stretch mark cream you purchase should at least contain peptides and enzymes, which are the ones responsible for eliminating striae. In essence, they dissolve scar tissue and help 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. Of course, they're much gentler than traditional microdermabrasion.

You can also purchase at-home microdermabrasion systems which come with a machine that produces the abrading action. Some even come with different attachments and with some type of microdermabrasion cream.