Laser Stretch Mark Removal – Does it really Work?
You’re probably looking for laser stretch mark removal.
Stretch mark isn’t an illness rather blemishes that occur due to sudden stretch or contraction of the skin.
In fact, research has shown that about 80 percent of American women have them. And because of that, most brands and social media platforms have helped create awareness about stretch marks being a normal part of life.
While there are no side effects of stretch marks proven medically, most women still search for remedies on how to remove stretch marks permanently.
Unfortunately, they end up trying many lotions and creams that do not work.
Good news. In this post, I’m going to take you through one treatment method that does work – laser stretch mark removal.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) has proven laser therapy to significantly enhance stretch marks appearance by as much as 60 percent after many sessions.
That said, let’s first take a look at stretch marks causes before we can discuss the remedies:
Stretch Marks Causes
As mentioned earlier, stretch marks are a result of sudden contraction or expansion of the skin.
However, there are tons of conditions that cause stretch marks, and such include:
- Pregnancy: Many reports estimate that about 90 percent of pregnant women are likely to experience stretch marks even after delivery.
- Puberty: Most adolescents experience rapid growth, and as such, they develop stretch marks.
- Weight gain: Sudden increase in body mass can lead to stretch marks.
- Medical conditions: Health conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and Marfan can cause stretch marks. While Marfan causes a decrease in the skin tissue, Cushing’s syndrome stimulates the body to produce a hormone, which triggers weight gain as well as skin fragility.
- Use of Corticosteroid: Continuous use of corticosteroid lotions and creams weaken the collagen in the skin. Decreased levels of collagen put you at risk of increased stretch marks.
The skin comprises of three layers: the dermis, endodermis, and the epidermis.
Stretch marks form on the outer layer, or the endodermis when the connective tissue stretches beyond elasticity. This is as a result of sudden expansion or contraction of the skin.
Usually, the connective tissue in the outer layer of the skin, stretch slowly to allow simultaneous growth with the increase of body size. Rapid growth, on the other hand, leads to the tearing of the dermis, which causes the inner layers of the skin to become conspicuous.
This eventually leads to the formation of stretch marks. And as time goes by, they begin to fade into a glossy appearance, which is as a result of the pale fat under the skin that becomes conspicuous.
Sadly, they are likely to become more visible with the increasing levels of cortisone. Cortisone use causes the production of cortisol, which is a stress hormone responsible for weakening the elastic tissues in the skin.
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks on Thighs
During the first stages of stretch marks occurrence, they appear reddish and later become glossy.
Therefore, when getting rid of the red stretch marks, aim at minimizing the redness, irritation as well as skin swelling.
And as for the white stretch marks, pay more concern at increasing collagen and elastic tissues while reducing skin hydration and inflammation.
However, there’s good news and bad news about the remedies of stretch mark removal.
The bad news is that there’s little information proving the effectiveness of over-the-counter lotions and creams, which is the most popular method used to eradicate stretch marks.
And the good news is that there is more evidence to laser stretch mark removal. This method seems to work but with several sessions. You can give it a try, who knows? It might be your cup of tea!
Topical creams and gels
Topical remedies is a well-known treatment for stretch marks. Even though it doesn’t seem to work, some topical gels, creams, and ointments have proven its effectiveness.
Collagen therapies
An increase in the levels of collagen results in the strengthening of the elastic fibers in the skin, thus making stretch marks less conspicuous.
Below are some of the products that claim to stimulate the production of collagen:
- Bio-Oil
- Kelo-Stretch
- Apothederm Stretch Marks Cream
- StriVectin-SD
- Kelo-Cote
- Cussons Mum and Me Bump Stretch Marks Cream
- Clarins Stretch Marks Cream
- Skinception Intensive Stretch Marks Therapy Cream
Note that most of the listed products lack publication evidence, which makes them unreliable for stretch marks removal.
Hydrating Creams
A good example is Palmers Cocoa Buttercream, which contains:
- Cocoa butter
- Collagen
- Elastin
- Vitamin E
Many reports suggest that this product stands a higher chance of reducing stretch marks appearance while increasing skin elasticity as well as hydration.
Can Lasers Remove Stretch Marks?
You are probably wondering whether or not lasers have the potential to eliminate.
I’ll be frank with you. No, is the answer – lasers cannot eliminate stretch marks. This is because stretch marks are permanent changes seen in the demis. The inner layer of your skin just beneath a segment that is known as the epidermis.
Lasers cannot eliminate stretch marks, but studies prove that undergoing laser treatment can help with lessening the depth of your stretch marks – improvement rate of between twenty percent to sixty percent.
This improvement is a result of the laser stimulating increased production of elastin and collagen in the dermal.
Occasions Lasers Prove to Be Effective for Treating Stretch Marks
Laser stretch mark removal is the most effective way of getting rid of immature stretch marks. Those that appear reddish are the ones referred to as mature.
The laser may, however, not work on more mature stretch marks (usually white or silver).
Also, doctors don’t recommend laser stretch mark removal for darker skin types, due to the adverse effects of hyperpigmentation changes in the skin.
Final Thought
In conclusion, there is no “cure” for stretch marks. Worse, I’m afraid that you can’t prevent it in as much as you may try. It can even prove more complicated to prevent during hormonal fluctuations such as pregnancy periods.
Maybe you can try the laser. It could help you see some reasonable sense of improvement – between twenty percent to around fifty percent, which is not bad. At least your stretch marks will reduce to some length.
