Stretch marks happen because of a rapid increase in the size of the skin due to pulling and stretching. They are common among pregnant women, bodybuilders, adolescents, overweight individuals and people with Cushing syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Stretch marks fade with age, but treatments like pulsed dye laser and fractional photothermolysis performed by a medical professional can help speed up the healing process. Treatments can take several weeks to show visible signs of improvement and no treatment can remove the appearance of stretch marks altogether.
Step 1
Identify the stretch marks using the mirror. The Mayo Clinic recommends looking for indented streaks and lines along the skin. Younger stretch marks can be pink, red or purple in color; older stretch marks may be white or gray.
Step 2
Consult your doctor to determine the cause of the stretch marks. Pregnancy, rapid weight gain, corticosteroids, Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can all be the cause of stretch mark development. Diagnosis is usually done by observation of the streaks and lines, but your doctor may recommend additional testing based on the initial inspection.
Step 3
Elect an appropriate laser treatment option. Options include pulsed dye laser, fractional photothermolysis and excimer laser treatments.
Pulsed dye laser therapy prompts growth of collagen and elastin, and research published by Dr. David H. McDaniel, MD in volume 22 of "Dermatologic Surgery" concluded that pulsed dye lasers were an effective treatment tool for the reduction of stretch marks.
Fractional photothermolysis also sparks collagen and elastin growth, but does so by destroying skin cells beneath the surface, helping it heal faster than it would on its own. Excimer lasers, on the other hand, activate melanin production, forcing the older and lighter streaks to become slightly darker to match the surrounding skin. Beom Joon Kim and colleagues concluded that fractional photothermolysis was an effective method of reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Factors to consider when selecting a treatment option include age, the number of treatments required, recovery time, cost and your personal expectations.
Step 4
Prepare for the selected procedure by following your surgeon's recommended guidelines. Leave yourself ample time pre- and post-surgery for setup and recovery.
Step 5
Follow your surgeon's recommend recovery plan, including at-home care and follow-up visits.
Tips and Warnings
- Left alone, stretch marks will fade by themselves over time. Treatments are for cosmetic purposes.
- Always consult your doctor before beginning a treatment regimen.
