When your skin gets stretched beyond its capacity, scars are formed. These are known as stretch marks. Stretch marks have the initial appearance of purple or red looking lines. In time they fade to a white or off white color.

The two main causes of stretch marks are pregnancy and obesity. Many people will get stretch marks at one time or another. A large percentage of the population has been overweight or pregnant at some time in their lives! Stretch marks are not just confined to the female population. Few people realize that they are a common complaint of male body builders as well.

Fortunately, there are some very effective scientific remedies available to treat stretch marks. Here’s a look at three of the most common ways to deal with this condition.

1. Dermabrasion. This is a type of stretch mark surgery that takes place under general anesthetic. Dermabrasion is useful for reducing the visibility of abnormalities on your skin such as sun damage, dark spots and scars. The surface of the skin is literally sanded off during this procedure.

Dermabrasion works best when the scar or mark being treated is above the surface of the skin. It’s generally much less effective when used to treat sunken scars. This surgery involves a fair bit of pain and it can take months to heal completely. But the final result can be very impressive.

2. Microdermabrasion. Popularly known as microderm, this treatment is much less invasive. It’s a popular, easily accessible treatment that doesn’t require an anesthetic. It involves removing the surface layer of the skin by using a special wand with a roughened surface to lightly sand the skin. Microdermabrasion enjoys a reputation as a painless treatment that is perfectly safe.

3. Skin treatment creams. There are hundreds of products marketed these days that claim to prevent or eliminate stretch marks. Some people swear by remedies such as Vitamin A cream, cocoa butter or various specially formulated creams.

Some of these products have a lot of research behind them and can be quite effective at reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Some of the more effective treatments for stretch marks are Trilastin, Revitol and NuVectin. Keep in mind that these products are generally more effective at preventing stretch marks than eliminating them.

Use caution, though, because some of these products don’t get rid of stretch marks as effectively as they claim to. It’s important that you read some independent customer reviews on any stretch mark product before you buy it. Search the internet, and look for sites that aren’t tied to the product being sold. Also, check out the company’s website and try to follow through on any of their claims.