MyUrbanGlamourBlog.com reader and fan Jessyca writes in to ask “Have you come across or heard of anything that will cover up stretch marks…I have them on the inner part of my arms, I tried dermablend but they dont have a good selection of colors for my skin tone”

Hey Jessyca!

The thing about covering blemishes on the body, be it stretch marks or a tattoo, is that you may actually need several different colors of concealer in order to make it look believable. My sister has two large tattoos on her arm, and whenever she wants them covered, I use the Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette in No. 4. It has 5 different shades that can be mixed and match for use on various tones of darker skin. You need to create some depth when using it, so you may want to start out with one of the lighter colors first and then layer a darker color on top so that it mimics your own natural skin pattern and color. Finish it all with a dusting of face powder. Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette also comes in 3 other palettes making it a must have for chicas of all skin tones! An added bonus to using the 5 Camouflage Cream Palette is that you can also use it for face blemishes such as under eye circles, hyperpigmentation, and redness.

Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palettes in No. 1-4, Sephora Brand Sponge Wedges in a Case, and Vincent Longo Concealer Brush.

Let’s also consult the following WebMD article on stretch marks. Keep reading after the jump for the article:

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Known by doctors as “striae” (usually “striae distensae” or, in the case of pregnancy, “striae gravidarum”) stretch marks typically appear after rapid weight gain or loss. They are most common during pregnancy and the teen years, when growth spurts and increased levels of steroid hormones cause significant changes throughout the body. Stretch marks can also be brought on by obesity and weight lifting.

Genetic factors — including inherited defects of connective tissues — also play a role, Mohamed L. Elsaie, MD, MBA, says in the August 2008 issue of Esthetic Dermatology News. But the basic cause of stretch marks is unknown.

“Basically, if your mother had them, you’re probably going to have them,” says Leslie Baumann, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Group and author of The Skin Type Solution.

Stretch marks affect as many as 90% of all women, she says, and they are not easy to get rid of. Once they have passed the initial stage, when they are red or purple, to the later stages, where they become white or silver — often with deep indentations — they are much more challenging to treat.

Prevention, therefore, is key.

“Avoiding rapid weight gain or loss is a good start. For those who are pregnant or experiencing the hormone changes of the teen years, it is crucial to moisturize,” Baumann says. “Skin becomes more pliant, more plasticized and better able to stretch when it’s well hydrated.”

She recommends moisturizing three or four times a day with products that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. Massage the moisturizer deep into breasts, belly, hips, and buttocks.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

The appearance of stretch marks depends on the color of your skin; they can start out pink, reddish brown, brown, or dark brown, and fade over time to a more silvery color. Once stretch marks have appeared, it’s essential to treat them as early as possible. Research has focused exclusively on the early stages of stretch marks, when they are still red or purple and most readily respond to treatment, Baumann explains.

Grocery stores, pharmacies, and web sites boast a multitude of products and cosmetics that claim to “repair” striae. However, only a few work, she says.

Here’s a rundown of the products available for stretch mark removal and what they can — and cannot — do:

Wheat germ oil: There is not much scientific data on whether home remedies for stretch marks, such as wheat germ oil, can help. One recent study did find it helped improve stretch marks in their early phase.

Glycolic acid: Widely touted for its rejuvenation powers, glycolic acid is a sugar cane derivative and a member of the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. It most likely works on stretch marks by increasing collagen production, says Baumann. Glycolic acid can also be administered in higher doses by a dermatologist. Treatment typically costs around $100 and requires three or four office visits before results will appear.

Vitamin C: Certain formulations of vitamin C, which have become increasingly popular as over-the-counter brands, may also increase collagen production and help early-stage stretch marks, says Baumann. For maximum effect, combine with glycolic acid. Vitamin C supplements may also be effective. She suggests 500 milligrams three times a day.

Relastin, peptide-containing products: The jury is still out on Relastin, an eye and face cream product marketed for its ability to increase elastic tissue production. But peptide-containing products, which are widely marketed as effective “repair” creams, are a waste of time and money, Baumann says. Despite commercial claims, there is no convincing data that these work.

Retinoids: A family of products that includes vitamin A, retinoids have been shown to be fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production during the early stages. Retinoids should be avoided entirely if pregnant or nursing. Retinol, tretinoin, and the prescription medications Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, and Differin are examples of retinoids.

Glycolic acid and retinoids: Using these together may provide better results. According to Elsaie, while glycolic acid alone for stretch mark treatment has not been fully studied, a trial comparing glycolic acid plus tretinoin with glycolic acid plus vitamin C both showed equal improvement and increased elastic in stretch marks after 12 weeks of daily application. Various prescription-strength retinoids are often applied as a preparation to “rev up” the skin before a glycolic acid peel is applied.

Laser treatment: This popular treatment option is used by many dermatologists, and they are also being tried on white stretch marks, as well.

Linda K. Franks, MD, a clinical assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine and director of Gramercy Park Dermatology Associates, is a big fan of laser procedures, which she frequently uses in her New York City practice to treat both red/purple and white stretch marks.

“Lasers promote synthesis of healthy, new collagen, which has been damaged when stretch marks appear,” she explains.

For red and purple marks, Franks uses a vascular laser called a V-Beam, which targets swollen and inflamed blood vessels and helps with skin cell production and increased collagen production. Treatments usually require three to six sessions at an average rate of $450 per session.

“Vascular lasers won’t take away the superficial skin but will take away the redness,” she says. “The redness is caused by blood flow. V-Beam treats those blood vessels.

One laser that may help minimize older, more entrenched stretch marks is the fractionated laser, which hits tiny “fractions” of the skin, often in a grid-like pattern. Franks describes the process as “smudging” the lines of stretch marks, which makes them less distinct.