Most women will get stretch marks during pregnancy, however, the number one reason they get these scars isn't always due to rapid weight gain. In fact, some people get stretch marks because their parents had stretch marks.

A lot of women think that they have to live with stretch marks for the rest of their life, but this isn't completely true. As a matter of fact, several different procedures and treatments exist that can help you reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Surgery, laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques are popular procedures.

Surgery is an effective way of removing pregnancy stretch marks, but the only problem is that some stretch marks will appear hard-to-treat areas like the upper arms and breast. These cannot be treated with a surgical procedure.

For some people laser therapy can be a good choice, however, the cost of the treatment may be too elevated for their budget. Other resurfacing techniques (like chemical peels and dermabrasion) can be painful and require a couple of weeks of recovery.

Microdermabrasion and Stretch Mark Removal

Microdermabrasion is the gentlest form of resurfacing the skin. It may take longer for the results to show, but you will have a greater control over the procedure. A normal session may last 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Microdermabrasion uses abrasive micro-crystals to inflict a small bit of "damage" to the treated site. The body quickly responds by producing new and healthier skin cells to displace the damaged skin cells. You should be able to see a difference in your stretch marks after several sessions.

Aluminum oxide and sodium bicarbonate crystals are the most common materials used for traditional microdermabrasion. Neither is toxic and both have antiseptic qualities. They are also rather inexpensive which makes the treatment affordable.

Microdermabrasion can be used anywhere on the body. This procedure can also help rejuvenate your skin by removing wrinkles, fine lines, and even age spots. In fact, it can be performed once every six months as part of your anti aging routine.

If you're worried and think that you can't afford this type of treatment or any other, for that matter, then you should try using a home microdermabrasion cream that works much like traditional microdermabrasion. In this case, micro-crystals are added to a gentle cream that can easily be applied in the comforts of your own home. Be aware that microdermabrasion creams are generally gentler than traditional microdermabrasion.

As a matter of fact, some microdermabrasion creams are so gentle that you can use them on a daily basis, unlike traditional microdermabrasion. Some creams are made with natural ingredients that help relieve irritation caused by micro-crystals.