Stretch marks make their first appearance after some kind of stress has torn the dermis layers of the skin. The most common cause for this type of scarring is pregnancy, sudden weight gain or loss, and rapid muscle gain. These elements interrupt the formation of the protein collagen that connects the skin cells together, and as a result, the type of skin scarring known as “stretch marks” occurs. Another cause of stretch marks is grafting of new skin in place of old skin, particularly in the case of burn victims. Stretch marks are medically known as “striae” by dermatologists, and they do tend to fade with time. But the good news is that there are steps that you can take to help diminish, or even completely remove stretch marks, from your skin.
Removing stretch marks using medical means can be very costly. It involves the use of laser stretch mark removal treatment of a specific duration and frequency, and will require repeated visits to the dermatologist. One of the newest options in treating and removing stretch marks is called fractional laser resurfacing. This technique uses laser light to produce microscopic wounds inside the striae, which then causes the body to create more collagen and epithelium in order to treat the wounds. This results in a greater improvement in the depth and appearance of the stretch marks, although this may not remove them entirely.
Other medical methods of removing stretch marks include microdermabrasion, which requires the outer layer of the skin to be removed by a process of abrasion and intense exfoliation. This requires the patient to undergo anesthesia during treatment, and require bed rest and a determined period of healing afterwords. This stretch mark treatment is traditionally not as effective as laser stretch mark removal.
Surgical means to remove or reduce stretch marks also exist. The tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is another procedure that removes the skin below the navel, which is where the stretch marks will most commonly occur during pregnancy, as well as after a woman gives birth to her child. This costs more than either laser surgery or micro dermabrasion treatments, as it is a form of cosmetic surgery with its own risks and side effects.
There have been several claims that certain oils, creams or topical applications of ointments can be useful in getting rid of stretch marks completely. There has been only one such randomized controlled study, and it involved a daily application of a cream containing Centella Asiatica extract, vitamin E and collagen esastin hydrosates. The results of this study included fewer stretch marks during and after pregnancy. We recommend Revitol stretch mark cream as an excellent method of treating and reducing the appearance of these scars. With these tips, you will be well on your way to finding the right solution to remove stretch marks safely and effectively.
Related Posts:Stretch Marks Removal Methods
