Stretch marks are an unfortunate part of life. When we gain weight, lose weight, give birth, or have a growth spurt, stretch marks can and do happen.
Even the illustrious Kim Kardashian has battled stretch marks. She recently shared her experience of stretch mark removal on Snapchat, to address scarring in the wake of bearing two children.
We feel confident in venturing that our readers aren’t planning to do the same.
Nevertheless, you’re here because you’re interested in finding out about different stretch mark removal treatments. You want to know if they’re worth the outlay in time and money and more importantly, if they work.
Let’s take a walk through the land of stretch mark removal treatments and see what’s out there.
What causes stretch marks?
All sudden physical changes which cause your skin to be stretched can occasion stretch marks. This is as true of weight gain and loss as it is of pregnancy and periods of rapid growth in adolescence.
While the skin is quite elastic when it’s stretched too thin, the connective tissue is compromised and a disruption in collagen production occurs. This causes stretch marks to appear on the skin and stretch marks are a kind of scar tissue.
When collagen production is disrupted, the skin’s elasticity is compromised and scarring occurs.
How much do they bother you?
Kim Kardashian’s stretch marks were on her breasts. As she’s a media personality, these had a profound psychological effect on her, compelling her to undergo a therapeutic solution to remove them.
But everyone’s different. Some stretch marks are minor. They can be camouflaged with products to even the skin tone, or even self-tanner.
But it’s a highly personal decision and not to be taken lightly. While some aren’t at all bothered by stretch marks, others find them difficult to live with.
Microneedling
For new stretch marks which present a reddish or purplish pigment, microneedling is the most effective treatment.
Own its own, microneedling stimulates collagen production, by piercing the skin and provoking the healing process. But when combined with PRP (platelet rich plasma), the effect is magnified. PRP therapy is achieved by drawing blood, isolating the PRP in a centrifuge and injecting it directly into the stretch marks.
While this treatment is a process taking from one to three months, it involves little downtime. If you’re patient and prepared to take the time required, it’s a viable therapy for newer stretch marks.
Sciton’s halo laser
Well-established stretch marks need a different approach. Either the laser in the title or a fractionate laser is a good choice for older stretch marks.
The laser removes the top layer of the dermis, while heating lower layers with laser-generated heat to stimulate collagen production. Again, this therapy is a process and may take three treatments or more to render the desired results.
These are our two top picks for different stretch mark removal treatments. If you have stretch marks, whether reasonably new or well-established, we invite you to come for a consultation at Ethos Spa to discuss your options.
