Causes and treatment of stretch marks
Stretch marks can be unsightly and they can cause emotional distress to those who suffer with them, but how much do those who have them really know about the cause of stretch marks and the possible treatments? For those who want to know more, this article lays out the causes and treatment of stretch marks simply, which in turn should allow patients to feel that they are not alone and that there are effective treatments available.
Causes
Stretch marks are very common and occur when the skin is stretched beyond capacity due to pregnancy, significant weight gain or growth spurts during puberty. The skin is made up of three different layers: the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin and which offers protection to deeper layers; the dermis, which is the middle layer of skin and the layer which gives the skin its firmness and elasticity; and the subcutis or hypodermis, the inner lay which is made up of connective tissue and fat cells.
Stretch marks are tears in the dermis which occur when the skin is stretched rapidly, and through these tears the structure of the subcutis or hypodermis becomes visible and this is what stretch marks are. These marks tend to start as red or purple because of the burst blood vessels on show, but one the blood vessels contract only the fatty tissue will be visible and the marks will appear silvery in colour and generally much less visible. Once they have faded, they can be virtually undetectable for many, but for those whose marks don’t fade as quickly or who are left with extensive areas of stretch marks, finding a treatment can become very important to their self-esteem.
Treatments
While stretch marks are not harmful and do not lead to any health problems, they can cause emotional distress and it is therefore very important for men and women to know that there are treatments available. There are many creams, oils and gels on the market that claim to prevent stretch marks from occurring or that claim to reduce the visibility of stretch marks, but a combination of the makeup of your skin and your hormone levels (in the case of pregnancy) are what determine whether a person will or will not suffer from stretch marks and as such, these tend to be ineffective for most people.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved a laser treatment which is proven to reduce the visibility of stretch marks in many patients, and this is available in some plastic surgery clinics in the UK. The treatment works by passing a laser over the areas affected by stretch marks; the fractional pulses of light serve to break down the scar tissue and promote the generation of new, healthy skin cells. The results have been very effective in a high percentage of patients, who report looking better and feeling more confident as a result.
Find CQC-registered plastic surgery clinics online and book in for a free consultation with a cosmetic nurse to find out about laser treatments for stretch marks.
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