Can Stretch Marks Go Away?

One of the more concerning things about getting pregnant is the development of stretch marks on the mother’s tummy. Most commonly seen during the last trimester, these reddish-brown markings don’t usually need to be diagnosed. Since they do leave a mark on a woman’s body, it is only fair that a solution of some sort to make stretch marks disappear is being searched for.

Causes and symptoms of stretch marks

Common in pregnant women as they are about to give birth, stretch marks are neither painful nor harmful. Also known as striae, they are indented streaks that can appear on the abdomen or belly, breasts, hips, buttocks, or other places on the body.

Stretch marks don’t all look alike. Variations occur depending on how long you’ve had them, what caused them, where you find them on your body, and what kind of skin you have.

Simply put, stretch marks are caused by stretching of the skin.

Factors such as genetics and the degree of stress on the skin determine how extensive stretch marks can be. Another factor that can play a role is the level of cortisol your body is producing. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and weakens elastic fibers in the skin.

Can stretch marks disappear?

Stretch marks are often lumped in with other skin abrasions such as scars and keloids. Because of this, as a 2010 study pointed out, large, controlled studies are going to have to be done to comprehensively evaluate current laser modalities and treatment protocols. Lasers have been used to remove scars so it would follow that these might also be a means to remove stretch marks.

In February of 2020, a study used silanols with boron compounds and a fractional-ablative laser to remove both stretch marks and wrinkles.

The effectiveness of removal of wrinkles was better if combination therapy was used in the form of transdermal delivery of methylsilanetriol combined with laser therapy. Removal by combination therapy of stretch marks was comparable to a two laser treatment and more effective than one laser therapy.

An online study via Amazon

Another 2020 study aimed to determine which products were preferred by consumers for the treatment of stretch marks based on product vehicle and product ingredients.

Using internet retailer Amazon, the study noted that out of 10,000 products, 184 were selected as the best based on reviews and rating criteria. Oil was the most common vehicle while vitamin E was the most common ingredient.

The study concluded that there are indeed many products that claim to prevent and treat stretch marks. Specific ingredients in these products were preferred by customers in treating their stretch marks.

However, more studies will have to still be conducted to determine the effectiveness of these remedies.

Key takeaways

While many women have gotten used to stretch marks appearing on their pregnant bellies during their third trimester, there is still a certain stigma about them.

There is a desire to find a way to make stretch marks disappear altogether. While genetics and degree of stress on the skin can determine if stretch marks will appear, it had long been surmised that if they don’t fade away naturally, there is no way to be rid of stretch marks.

Studies have shown, though, that a total solution is almost here. It might be Easy Peel, a combination of laser therapy and compounds, or some other solution that is being sold on Amazon.

Several products offer this groundbreaking solution with varying degrees of results. A comprehensive answer to removing pregnancy stretch marks altogether may be on the horizon.

Click here for more on being pregnant.