Stretchmarks

Also Known As: Striae

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Condition Overview:

Stretch marks are unsightly reddish or whitish depressed linear streaks that occur most commonly in areas of rapid weight gain or muscle growth.
 
The most common settings include pregnancy stretch marks occurring over the abdomen, or breasts, areas such as the legs and arms on body builders, in adolescents experiencing a rapid growth spurt, or in individuals with rapid weight gain.  Usually the stretch marks start out being pink or red for several months and then mature into whitish linear depressions. They are treatable with products that stimulate collagen, such as glycolic or retinoids, as well as a variety of Laser, light and radiofrequency energy sources.

Causes:

Stretch Marks occur when rapid weight gain or muscle expansion occurs and the dermis literally splits creating inflammation and linear depressions we call stretch marks.

Treatments:

While there are no perfect treatments there are a number of good treatments available to improve stretch marks.

Home applied products such as glycol creams and retinoids can help to stimulate new collagen formation and repair of the damaged skin in the stretch mark.

Various Laser and Light sources have been utilized to stimulate collagen remodeling, decrease the redness and visibility of the stretch mark. Various combinations of Laser Such as the Vbeam Pulsed Dye Laser, Gentle: YAG Lasers are particularly helpful with younger redder stretch marks, some mature white stretch marks can be improved using infrared Lasers (such as Gentle:YAG or Smoothbeam) or the Fractional Resurfacing device (Palomar Starlux).