Maybe you’ve just had a baby or have experienced rapid weight gain or weight loss. Perhaps your skin has stretched out and created ugly stretch marks as a result. Many will tell you that you’ll just have to learn to live with the problem, because there’s no truly effective stretch mark treatment. But this isn’t the whole story.

It’s true that there are no “perfect” stretch mark treatments. However, you can find ways to dramatically improve their appearance so that they’re hardly noticeable.

To start with, genetics plays a big part in determining how prone you are to getting stretch marks. Regrettably, science has not yet advanced to the point that you can alter your DNA. Nevertheless, what you eat can be important in the battle to prevent and treat your stretch marks. Of course, it’s unlikely that eating certain types of food will directly result in stretch marks. But losing or gaining large amounts of weight can certainly contribute to them. So if you watch what you eat and control your weight, you can prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place.

A number of creams, lotions and oils are available that can minimize the appearance of stretch marks. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t particularly effective. Pregnant women faithfully rub oils and creams onto their bellies in the hope of avoiding stretch marks, only to discover that they were inevitable.

But some products are actually pretty useful in combatting stretch marks. Retin-A or alpha hydroxy acids in combination with a steroid cream are an example. They can reduce inflammation and prevent the hormones in the skin from creating stretch marks. Additionally, they help to restore collagen and elastin and thereby enhance the look and feel of your skin. These kinds of stretch mark treatment creams require a prescription.

Yet another common means of eliminating stretch marks is laser treatments. Although results can vary, doctors have experienced much success with those whose stretch marks are still red in color. The lasers are able to lessen the redness and halt inflammation.

Other ways to rid yourself of stretch marks include plastic surgery, chemical peels and microdermabrasion; however, the outcome isn’t always what you expect. And in the case of plastic surgery for stretch marks, you might be left with scars that are even more noticeable than the stretch marks themselves.

Use this information as a guide and talk to your doctor so that you can figure out which stretch mark treatment is best for you. A specific treatment for stretch marks might be effective for one person, but show no results for someone else. There’s just one way to discover which stretch mark treatment will work for you, and that’s to try them all.