A question a lot of women (and men, too) wonder, is whether it's possible to actually remove stretch marks. Unfortunately, the reality is that most stretch marks can't be removed once they've formed - depressing, I know, but true! Now, notice I said "most" stretch marks. There are stretch marks which can be removed, but it requires surgery. In the case of people who have lost large amounts of weight, or who after pregnancy have lots of loose skin, surgical removal of that skin (often containing stretch marks) is possible.

However, for most people stretch marks will remain, simply because surgery just isn't a realistic option unless it's really necessary. However, there are many stretch mark treatments which have proved successful in reducing the appearance of stretch marks, even to the point where the stretch mark is only visible under close scrutiny.

Ill start by briefly discussing laser treatment to reduce stretch marks. Stretch marks in their early stages can often be treated quite successfully using a pulsed dye laser treatment. Older stretchmarks, which show both whitening of the skin and thinning of the skin, dont respond as well to this form of laser treatment. However, there is a new laser treatment known as the Xtrac laser and ReLume light source, which has been developed for the treatment of older stretch marks (particularly the white skin). What the laser actually does, is to emit short powerful pulses of UV light, which stimulate the pigment-producing cells of the skin to make melanin. This results in a darkening of the skin affected by the stretch mark. This is often successful in bringing the color of the stretch mark closer to the natural skin color.

What about over the counter remedies? There are numerous products out there that claim to have an effect on stretch marks. Many are quite expensive, but the results have altogether been pretty disappointing for most users. The best skin treatments seem to be those containing vitamin A derivatives (such as Retin A). Another skin treatment which is believed to show promise is emu oil (an oil derived from the emu a flightless Australian bird). Of course, if you are a vegetarian or opposed to animal testing, then this remedy probably isnt one youre going to want to try.

So what can you expect from any stretch mark treatments? Firstly, Id suggest that you dont expect miracles. The best case Ive ever seen of stretch mark removal came from abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) where the skin was removed and thus tightened. However, Ive seen promising results from several other treatments, which resulted in the fading and diminishing of the appearance of stretch marks. I would suggest that if you have stretch marks you want to improve the appearance of, start off with the milder treatments, and if the results you experience arent to your liking, then consider visiting a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about your needs.

If you want more information about the formation of stretch marks and their treatment, visit Stretch Marks where you can sign up for a free email course.