Stretch Marks Anyone who has had children or lost a significant amount of weight will agree that stretch marks are unsightly and annoying. To make the situation worse, they are very difficult to treat. Stretch marks are the result of "overstretching" the skin causing tiny tears in the deeper tissues of the skin, and often times the top layers of skin. These tears result n breakdown of elastin and collagen fibers which causes the stretched appearance. Stretch marks can vary in appearance. The skin may remain smooth or develop shallow depressions which are mainly noticed when touching the skin. There may also be variation in the color of the stretch marks. They may be light pink to dark purple; however, the color does seem to fade over years to a light pink. While stretch marks pose no health risks, they often do cause social and psychological distress. Can Stretch marks be treated?
There is no specific treatment that has been developed to treat stretch marks. It usually takes a combination of treatments to make improvement. They typically respond better to treatment if they are relatively new (present for less than 1-2 years). Also, there tends to be a wide variation of degrees of improvement. Some stretch marks will improve significantly (up to 50%-60%) while others will not improve. What treatments are available?
Many treatments are available to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Typically, multiple modalities will be required to produce the best results. These usually include a combination of laser treatments to improve the collagen underlying the stretch mark, Intense Pulsed Light to improve the coloration, cosmoceuticals (products to be used at home) to help collagen and elastin production and improve the coloration, and occasionally microdermabrasion to smooth the edges. The treatment process can be very slow. It is important to remember that improvement may not be seen for as long as 3-6 months and maximum improvement may not be seen for up to 1 year. Maintaining healthy skin is a daily task. Both a healthy lifestyle and the proper skin care regimen are necessary to maintain your results. Avoid tobacco and alcohol, and stay well hydrated. Antioxidants such as SkinCeuticals' CE ferulic and the continued use of exfoliating creams and serums are very important. However, the most important cosmoceutical is your sunblock, especially immediately after any procedures. Always wear a "full" spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 20 or higher to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Your skin care specialist will recommend an individualized skin care program to maximize and maintain your results. Consultations are required to determine which treatments are right for your stretch marks. It is better if you seek treatment while the stretch marks are "young". Through experience, we at Renaissance Medical Spa have found no "over the counter" treatmens available to improve stretch marks. We have spent many hours researching the different treatments available today to be able to recommend your treatment plan. While we can't quarantee results, we will guarantee to work hard to find the combination of treatments to best diminish your stretch marks. Remember, the staff of Renaissance Medical Spa is known for its honesty and superior results. Call today to schedule your FREE consultation to determine the best treatment for your unwanted stretch marks. | 
