Going to the beach is fun for all of us, but as we all know, unsightly stretch marks can put a damper on the parade. Well then, what can be done about them? Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments that are available to wither them away and give you the confidence to get back out there and not worry about the appearance of stretch marks.

First, let's recap what exactly are stretch marks. Stretch marks go by the scientific name of striae, or simply stria in singular form. They are small tears within the dermis layer of the skin that are produced by the loss of skin's elastin and collagen. They can vary in color from a light pink to a dark purple. Regarding the disappearing on their own, they can fade in color over time but there is always going to be remnants of them to some degree. Striae arise when either hormonal changes occur within your body due to puberty or pregnancy, or when there is rapid weight loss or gain from dietary habits or weight lifting. They are most common on the upper arms, stomach, and breasts, and anywhere else on the body where there is stored fat (buttocks, inner and outer thighs, etc).

Stretch Mark Repair Procedures

A surgical procedure that works to erase their appearance is what's popularly known as the 'tummy tuck'. In this treatment method, the skin below the navel is removed to remove excess fat and restoring weakened or separated muscles. The end results to this treatment is that the abdominal profile will be smoother and more firm. The stretch mark will be drastically reduced or completely gone.

Many individuals have found an effective stretch mark reduction treatment in microdermabrasion. This cosmetic technique uses a mechanical 'brush' for exfoliation. It uses adjustable suction to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the epidermis. It is a non-invasive procedure, but is still required to be undertaken at a doctor's office by a trained skin care professional. Microdermabrasion removes dead skin to then force the body to naturally produce new skin cells resulting in a smoother texture.