|
Stretch
marks are the result of the skin's collagen
and elastin framework breaking down under
stress. Pregnancy, body building and weight
loss or gain are the leading causes of stretch
marks. They occur most frequently in areas
of mechanical stress where natural body fat
pads occur, such as the breasts, abdomen,
thighs, groin or buttocks. In the beginning,
stretch marks appear red because the deep
layer of collagen called the dermis splits
or tears revealing deeper tissues rich with
blood vessels. These blood vessels show through
the tears in the dermis turning the stretch
marks red.
Until now, there has been
no effective treatment for stretch marks.
The real reason is that the dermis or deep
skin layer is missing and the stretch mark
is covered only by a very thin epidermal layer.
This is why affected areas appear thin and
crepe-paper looking. Everything from hundreds
of creams to surgery has been tried to correct
stretch marks. Until now nothing has worked.
What
are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks closely resemble scars. In fact,
stretch marks are the most common types of
skin lesions. About 90% of pregnant women
get stretch marks. They also affect 70% of
adolescent females and about 40% of young
males. In medical terminology, stretch marks
are called striae. Mature stretch marks are
devoid of color, and newer stretch marks are
often red or purplish in color.
Stretch marks develop when
the skin is excessively stretched, damaging
the collagen fibers and proteins in the underlying
skin layer called the dermis. Scientists believe
that shattering of collagen leads to dilation
of small blood vessels (called capillaries)
that results in red or purple-colored early
stretch marks. Inflammation and collagen remodeling
may lead to the loss of pigment-producing,
melanocyte cells or obscuring of melanin pigment.
Over time, this lack of pigment results in
the white or hypopigmented scars that most
people associate with mature stretch marks.
Stretch marks are a form of leukoderma.
Growth spurts and sudden
or excessive weight gain cause stretch marks
to form in young people. Young women commonly
get them on their breasts, thighs, hips and
buttocks. Young men often develop stretch
marks from participating in certain body-altering
sports such as weightlifting or from the use
of dangerous bodybuilding steroid drugs. Women
commonly develop stretch marks on their lower
abdomen in the last months of pregnancy.
There is nothing that can
prevent the formation of stretch marks — especially
during pregnancy or during a growth spurt.
Creams and lotions may ease the itchy sensation
associated with stretch marks, but they won't
keep them from forming.
Typical
treatments.
For years topical creams have been used to
treat the appearance of stretch marks; unfortunately
they have yielded less than satisfactory results.
Topical formulations containing
retinoids (vitamin A-derivatives) can be effective
in treating early, red, inflammatory stretch
marks, but they have proven to be ineffective
in improving the appearance of mature stretch
marks.
Applications of glycolic
acid and creams with L-ascorbic acid on a
daily basis may slightly improve the appearance
of mature, white stretch marks. Overall, however,
results have been disappointing.
Harnessing
the power of light to treat stretch marks.
Both early and mature stretch marks respond
to new light-based technologies providing
non-invasive, gentle treatments that can help
affected skin more closely match its natural
color.
Many physicians are finding IPL a successful
approach for reducing the appearance of hyperpigmented
(dark red) scars, including new stretch marks.
This non-invasive, gentle approach uses targeted
flashes of light to treat dilated and broken
blood vessels without injuring the surrounding
healthy skin.
Practitioners determine
an IPL treatment plan for each patient, taking
into account the number and severity of skin
conditions being addressed. On average, a
series of four to six treatments is recommended,
scheduled at three-week intervals. Each session
usually lasts about 20 minutes, with patients
returning to normal activity immediately.
By dividing the full program into several
sessions, IPL treatments provide gradual,
natural improvement with excellent long term
results.
[Home]
[forward
this page]
|
