“I hate to wear a bathing suit because of my stretch marks. Can I get rid of them—or at least hide them?”
Alas, stretch marks are like children: once you have them, they’re yours forever, says our dermatologist friend Doris Day, MD. They show up when your length or girth increases faster than you can make new skin, like when you shoot up during adolescence—or blow up during pregnancy. The marks are red at first, but they eventually lighten to a silvery tone, thanks to the fact that stretched skin doesn’t have as much pigment as normal skin per square inch.
Still, Doris tells us we can make the marks less noticeable. Laser treatment is the most effective way to go: They zap blood vessels and stimulate collagen production, as well as lightening your purse to the tune of $250 per session (you’ll probably need three to five). Retinoid creams (over-the-counter or prescription) can help, too—you’ll need to use them for several months. But summer’s already here, so we thank Doris for her final prescription, which takes effect immediately. Use a concealer like Dermablend, and top it with Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Bricks. That’s meant for your face, but on stretch marks, Doris says, “You get a bronzing effect, and the shimmer makes the stretch marks less noticeable.” Doris also recommends a little reality therapy: “Ninety-nine percent of women have stretch marks,” she says. “You are not alone.”
