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We all know what they are. They are the lines that give us great discomfort at the beach, out in public, with our friends, and with our loved ones. Stretch marks appear at the most inopportune times and in the most inopportune places. If there could only be a way to solve this nagging condition. In this article we are happy to lay out the stretch mark treatment options that are out there, ready to be taken advantage of to give you that confident feeling back again when you look at your skin.

First, let's review what are stretch marks. The most basic explanation is they are scars that occur on the "inside" of the skin. The more scientific explanation begins with the description of the skin layers. The first layer is the epidermis followed by the dermis layer followed by subcutaneous tissues. The structural compounds that make up this middle dermis layer are elastic fibers and collagen. The rapid stretching of the skin will cause a tearing of the dermis, and the stretch mark is the off-color hue visible from outside the skin that is the result of this tear. What is the biggest culprit in causing the formation of these tears is weight gain. One of the many unwanted symptoms of letting ourselves go weight wise is the pulling force on the skin that overcomes the dermis's elasticity to produce these tears. Additional factors that can cause these tears are pregnancy, puberty, and weight training. We all know the common areas where they appear. The upper arms, the inner thighs (making beach going a lot less fun), and buttocks.

So the information is plain as to what they are and where they come from. Now how to get rid of them. Fortunately there are proven treatments to remove stretch marks that run the gamut from surgeries to natural skin products.

For those with stria on their stomach, there is the popularly known "tummy tuck" that is the stretch marks treatment through cosmetic surgery. This involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle of the abdominal wall. This is an effective option for those coming out of pregnancy or with sagging after major weight loss. The procedure tightens the skin that then causes a lessening of the depth and color of the striae. However there are strong negatives to this surgery. The time that will be necessary to recover will last from three months all the way to one year. One has to avoid blood clots after the surgery by moving around as soon as possible (within a few days) after the surgery. If any complications arise (such as infection) they will usually delay the healing process which in turn delays the loss of stretch marks. Then there is the hefty price tag of the average tally being between USD $4,000 to $20,000.

Laser treatments and dermabrasion are additional stretch mark treatments that can make a significant dent in their appearance. Laser treatment is a surgery where lasers are used to dissolve the molecular bonds at the location on the skin where there appear stretch marks, spider veins, and wrinkles. Through the laser's heating of the dermis, fibroblasts are stimulated to form new collagen and elastin helping to bring increased thickness to the skin. Laser treatments' unwanted side effect is that is can cause damage to the surrounding cells that are healthy, but as surgery is concerned, it is one of the more non-invasive options there is.

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that involves the controlled abrasion, or wearing down, of the upper layers of the skin. This has the result of making the skin regrow itself back, and it does so with healthy skin cells and new collagen with the ultimate effect of having a much smoother texture. The immediate effects to the skin after the surgery will be a red and raw-looking appearance. The fresh looking skin that the patient wants to get out from this treatment begins to show in about three to six months time. During this time one wears compression bandages or applies loads of sunblock as the skin's healing process is delicate and must be tended to with care.

Thankfully for those who are not looking to take a huge bite out of their bank account there are natural skin products on the market to remove striae.