“Is there a way to reduce stretch marks?”
After my pregnancy I have had severe stretch marks all over my body. They are not only on my stomach but also all over my arms and calf muscles. Is there a way to reduce these marks?
2 Answers
That is a very difficult question. Stretch marks in a sense are scars from the skin not growing fast enough to meet the underlying growth. Stretch marks are often red at first and then over time fade to white. The red almost always fades on its own but can take months to years. Not days nor weeks. There are lasers that can reduce the red, such as pulse dye lasers. Often it is best to see if time will do it, and it often does.
The white stretch marks are hard to improve, but there are some options. The bigger question would be, is the investment worth it.
One study on pregnant women showed that BEFORE the stomach started expanding they started Vaseline jelly on one side and nothing on the other side of the abdomen. The Vaseline side showed fewer stretch marks. But that was more preventative.
Back to the white, older, stretch marks. Lasers may help. Such as fractionated lasers. Overall safe, many visits and average results. Topical creams such as Retin A have been used and these may minimally help. Chemical peels, depending on the depth of the peel, can have mild to mild/medium benefit.
Tasso Pappas, MD
The white stretch marks are hard to improve, but there are some options. The bigger question would be, is the investment worth it.
One study on pregnant women showed that BEFORE the stomach started expanding they started Vaseline jelly on one side and nothing on the other side of the abdomen. The Vaseline side showed fewer stretch marks. But that was more preventative.
Back to the white, older, stretch marks. Lasers may help. Such as fractionated lasers. Overall safe, many visits and average results. Topical creams such as Retin A have been used and these may minimally help. Chemical peels, depending on the depth of the peel, can have mild to mild/medium benefit.
Tasso Pappas, MD
Go to my website for epicenter med spa and see the successful treatment of stretch marks and cellulite with the use our In-mode device. After two years, the patient remains free of the stretch marks and cellulite.
