What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks or Striae are an extremely common form of scarring and occur when the skin is pulled rapidly by growth or stretching, tearing the dermis and stretching the collagen fibres. Stretch marks vary in length and often start as a pinkish red or purple, which over time can fade to a white or silver colour. The most common causes of stretch marks include rapid growth during puberty, rapid weight gain or loss and pregnancy, and can occur to most areas of the body. Stretch marks are often seen as permanent and can affect a lot of people’s body confidence.
How To Prevent Stretch Marks
While there is no guaranteed way to completely prevent stretch marks, there are several things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing them.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin hydrated and supple, which can reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Rapid weight gain or loss can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk.
- Eat a balanced diet: A diet rich in vitamins and nutrients can help keep your skin healthy and reduce your risk of developing stretch marks. Foods high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc can help support collagen production and promote healthy skin.
- Moisturise your skin: Regularly applying a moisturising lotion or oil to your skin can help improve its elasticity and reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
How To Avoid Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
Stretch marks are a common concern for many pregnant women and can cause a huge blow in self esteem. While there is no guaranteed way to completely avoid stretch marks during pregnancy, there are several things you can do to help reduce your risk and keep your skin healthy:
- Wear supportive clothing: Wearing supportive clothing during pregnancy or periods of rapid growth or weight gain can help support your skin and reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
- Avoid rapid weight gain: Rapid weight gain can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. Aim to gain weight gradually and steadily throughout your pregnancy, and consult with your healthcare provider to determine a healthy weight gain range for your individual needs.
- Manage stress: High levels of stress can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. Practising stress-reducing techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress and reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.
How To Remove Stretch Marks?
As stretch marks affect skin down in the dermis, superficial treatments including the use of moisturisers and oils are generally ineffective. The most ideal treatment for stretch marks include those that work on a dermal level to stimulate and remodel the damaged and stretched collagen and reduce the appearance of colour. Such treatments include:
Skin Needling
Skin Needling or Collagen Induction Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that creates microscopic channels into the skin. This stimulates the wound healing response, triggering the production of new collagen and elastin fibres to correct and re-build the skin’s structure without harming the surface layers of the skin. For those with stretch marks, this improves the depth and size of the Striae by remodelling and reshaping the damaged tissue, as well as repairing and reducing the stretch marks colour.
Laser Toning
Our Laser Toning Treatment utilises Q-switch laser technology. The rapid speed of the laser combined with a high repetition rate causes vibration in the skin which helps stimulate collagen. The 1064 nm wavelength specifically targets the deeper layers of the skin to promote new collagen/elastin and the breaking up of deeper pigmentation, whilst avoiding damage to the upper layers of the skin, providing safe treatment for all skin types.
LILT
Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) utilises 3B cold laser technology, which stimulates cell production by emitting various light wavelengths, triggering a variety of healing, regenerating, stimulating and corrective responses that can stabilise and normalise skin function with no heat, discomfort or downtime. For Stretch Marks, LILT works to stimulate the natural healing response, promote rapid scar tissue repair, collagen production and renewal, resulting in stretch mark reduction and removal.
How Long Does It Take For Stretch Marks To Fade?
The time it takes for stretch marks to fade can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the severity of the stretch marks and the individual’s skin type and healing process. Without any specific treatment stretch marks may fade on their own over time, while in other cases they may remain visible for years. In some cases, stretch marks may fade more quickly with the use of certain treatments, such as topical creams or laser therapy.
It’s also important to note that stretch marks are a natural part of the skin’s healing process, and may not completely disappear. However, taking steps to keep your skin healthy and hydrated can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and promote healthy skin that you can feel confident in.
The Best Skin Care For Stretch Marks
Home Roller
Like Professional Skin Needling, this non-invasive at home treatment uses microscopic needles to treat scarring and stretch marks. While an in-clinic needling treatment focuses on restructuring the dermis and requires downtime, this device uses small surgical stainless-steel needles to create tiny puncture channels in only the superficial layers/epidermis to continually encourage the natural wound healing and regenerating response. Use of a Home roller with a prescribed serum also allows it to penetrate faster and increase product penetration by 100%. Performing this treatment 2 -3 times a week will result in increased collagen production, faded scarring, and a more plump and hydrated skin. As home rollers work on the superficial layers of the skin, it is recommended to use in conjunction with professional in-clinic treatments and recommended homecare for maximum results.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, when applied topically, works to thicken and stimulate the dermis which in turn reduces the appearance of scarring and slows the breakdown of collagen and elastin by increasing the amount of collagen deposits.
