Remove Stretch Marks for Good

Though it's nearly impossible to remove stretch marks, here are a few tips to fade and cover your stretch marks for good.

Who doesn’t want to get rid of stretch marks?

One look at stretch marked skin can cause a woman to doubt her perfection and wish that all mirrors were liars.

While some women are genetically predisposed for stretch marks, other lucky goddesses will never see the infamous red, purple, silver and black lines of despair stretched across their inner and upper thighs.

While I haven’t found the fountain of youth yet, I have discovered a few stretch mark removal methods to reduce the visible signs of striations on your skin.

Learn how to get rid of stretch marks for good while bravely baring your bottom in lingerie all year long.

But first, a little stretch mark science lesson

Stretch marks, also called singular stria by dermatologists, are caused by an over extension of the connective tissue of the skin due to a surge in hormones.

Typically, these skin striations are associated with pregnancy, growth spurts, obesity and rapid weight gain.

Stretch marks can be found all over the body, but are usually located in areas where large amounts of fat settle.

Large butts, “the pooch” or stomach pouch underneath your belly button, upper arms, inner and outer thighs, hips and breasts are favorite target areas for these beauty marks.

Are there stretch mark removal methods that do not work?

Forget the tanning bed. Because the inner part of your skin, called the dermis, is torn during the formation of stretch marks, the epidermis will not darken like upper skin layer.

Using this method to remove stretch marks will cause you to look like a zebra instead of a beach bunny.

Slathering cocoa butter on your skin, to remove stretch marks, is a faulty beauty myth.

Cocoa butter is a sweet-smelling moisturizer that is the antidote to dry skin, but there is no scientific evidence that proves that cocoa butter works as a stretch mark removal treatment.

So how do I get rid of unsightly stretch marks?

Note: All methods suggested below will be impacted by the age of your stretch marks, your diet and skin tone.

Fight purple or red stretch marks with African shea butter and natural wheat germ oil.

According to WebMD, one study found that the use of natural wheat germ oil in the early stages of stretch mark formation works well.

If your stretch marks are darkly colored, and have not turned white or silver, shea butter works well. But you must use the authentic stinky, smelly, nutty shea butter that comes directly from West Africa.

How do I know? I tried this method to remove my stretch marks 3 years ago. And hallelujah, it worked!

After three weeks of constant rubbing the thick and greasy mixture into my skin, every morning and every night, my stretch marks disappeared.

Unfortunately, no watered-down and aesthetically pleasing shea butter formulation will work to remove stretch marks that have already turned white.

Investigate surgical methods like chemical peels, lasers and dermabrasion.

Your licensed dermatologist can perform these procedures, but not without a high cost. Laser treatments used to remove stretch marks, like Thermage Tip CL, V-Beam and AccentXL can cost between $600 to $1,000 dollars per session.

Treatments for dermabrasion range from $75 and $200, while $150 to $300 is the norm for chemical peels.

Use stretch mark removal creams filled with retinols, glycolic acid and Vitamin C.

Your dermatologist can prescribe scar creams that will help in the aid and repair of your skin.

While several over-the-counter stretch mark removal remedies claim to remove the tears in the dermis, very few contain the high doses of alpha hydroxy acid needed to remove stretch marks effectively.

If you are pregnant, consult with your dermatologist, before using any over-the-counter treatments to remove stretch marks.

But if all the treatments listed above fail…

Cover your stretch marks instantly with dermablend.

Dermablend sells a leg and body cover for $26. This long-lasting foundation used to cover tattoos, skin burns and varicose veins can hide imperfections like stretch marks for 16 hours.

If you have the time, money and the discipline to win the war against these legendary beauty marks, try it.

You deserve to have a body free from stretch marks and the confidence to wear a bathing suit or strut in the mirror like a Victoria’s Secret model without hesitation.