Stretch marks appear at different ages. They can be a source of insecurities for teenagers, but also for women in their forties. To effectively prevent or remove existing ones, you need to understand how they form.
Stretch marks consist of connective tissue that has become fibrotic. They create longitudinal scars that differ from the surrounding skin in color and texture. They are especially visible when the skin is pinched. Initially, they are red but quickly fade to a permanent form, often lighter than the skin around them.
Causes of Stretch Marks
The direct cause of stretch marks is excessive stretching of tissue. The skin produces insufficient collagen and cannot grow as quickly as the tissue beneath. Indirect causes may vary. Skin elasticity can weaken due to dehydration, hormonal fluctuations associated with hormonal contraception, pregnancy, or menopause. Another cause may be rapid growth during puberty, sudden weight gain, or muscle tissue enlargement.
Stages of Stretch Mark Formation
Initially, the skin with overstressed collagen fibers begins to slightly burn or itch. This symptom is not unusual, so it can easily be overlooked and not noticed that stretch marks are starting to form on the skin. Then, the continuity of the epidermis is lost. Skin lesions are replaced by bands of connective tissue that are initially dark red. At this stage, when changes are not yet permanent, various creams for stretch marks can be used to stimulate skin regeneration.
The next stage is the stabilization of stretch marks. The changes start to fade, making them less visible. It might seem they are disappearing, but this is a deceptive illusion. The skin becomes flabby, uneven in texture, wrinkled, and sunken. At this stage, home remedies for stretch marks can only help make the skin more elastic; they cannot reduce the visibility of pearl-like scars or smooth the skin’s texture.
Common areas for stretch marks include thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts. This problem affects not only women. Often, bodybuilders who rapidly increase muscle mass face it.
Solution for Established Stretch Marks
Fortunately, even long-healed stretch marks can be removed. However, this cannot be achieved with home remedies. To stimulate skin regeneration, treatments like laser iPixel are necessary. This fractional laser creates a series of micro-injuries in the altered tissue, encouraging renewal and regeneration. You can have this procedure at Beauty Skin Aesthetic Medicine Clinic.
“Removing stretch marks with iPixel is an alternative to traditional ablative laser resurfacing. Unlike it, Alma Harmony technology only targets damaged and altered cells, making it more effective and preserving healthy tissue.” – reassure specialists from the Beauty Skin clinic.
Laser fractional treatment selectively targets specific tissue types, resulting in a much shorter recovery time compared to ablative laser treatments. A standard series consists of 3 to 5 sessions.
Usually, we find out about stretch marks on our skin only when they are already pale and little can be done at home. However, we are not doomed to hide thighs or a belly covered with stretch marks. A series of several fractional laser treatments can effectively reduce their visibility.
