Why Stretch Marks Appear and How to Remove Them Effectively

While stretch marks aren’t harmful, they are often are unattractive. These unsightly marks are very common for people of all ages and affect both men and women. Stretch marks may show up like reddish or purplish lines on the body and usually appear on the arms, breasts, thighs, hips, and buttocks.

If you notice stretch marks on your body and are looking for ways to get rid of them or at least make less noticeable, it is helpful to understand first why stretch marks appear.

Stretch Marks in a Nutshell

The pulling of the skin due to rapid growth or stretching is the main reason for stretch marks. While the skin may be elastic, disrupts the normal production of collagen, which then leads to scars called stretch marks. Rapid skin shrinking can also result in these marks, as this causes in both collagen and elastin. 

Stretch marks usually appear like lines or streaks on the skin, which are of different color and texture than your normal skin. These marks can be red, pink, purple, brown or white (silver) and usually appear darker at first then fade over time. 

Initially, stretch marks can look wrinkly and slightly raised, as well as feel itchy. Over time, these lines sink in beneath the skin and if you run your fingers over them, you’ll feel a slight indentation or depression.

What Causes Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are often caused by sudden weight gain or body growth. They are also a normal part of puberty for most girls and boys. 

You are most likely to develop stretch marks at these times:

• During and after pregnancy (as the skin stretches to make room for the baby)
• Rapid weight gain and weight loss
• Growth spurts during puberty
• Long-term use of lotions and creams (they decrease the amount of collagen in the skin and compromises the skin’s ability to stretch)
• Rapid muscle growth
• Cushing’s disease or Marfan syndrome (and other adrenal gland disorders increase the amount of cortisone in the body, the hormone that thins the skin and decreases its elasticity)

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Although many skin care products like creams and lotions claim to get rid of stretch marks, most of them are only expensive but not effective. It is best to consult an aesthetic doctor for non-invasive treatments that can help reduce their appearance.

Some of your options include:

Acoustic Shockwave Therapy

BTL X-Wave and Zimmer Z Wave are a form of acoustic wave therapy that can reduce the appearance of stretch marks, as well as contour and shape the body. This directly targets the skin and soft tissues to improve the appearance of those marks. 

X-Wave and Z Wave are also effective at targeting loose skin, cellulite, and fatty deposits.

The technology works by delivering acoustic waves into the body, which causes vibrations in the soft tissues. It boosts blood flow and circulation in the target area, which brings oxygen and nutrients to nourish the skin tissues. Acoustic pulses then lead to the production of new collagen, resulting in tighter and smoother skin. 

You can check out our previous blog for an in-depth view of this non-invasive stretch marks reduction treatment. 

Medical Microneedling

is an automated skin-needling device that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, as well as address a variety of skin conditions such as acne and surgical scarring, fine lines, sun damaged skin, and pigmentation. 

It works by creating thousands of miniscule needle punctures in the skin’s outer layer. The device precisely controls these pricks to achieve a specific set of depth, spacing, pattern, and frequency. then breaks up the uneven scar tissues and stimulates the growth of new ones.

assists in activating the cascade of fibroblast inside the skin and growth hormone to produce more collagen and elastin. This will then even out the stretch mark and result in a noticeably smoother colored skin. The device can also be used for wrinkles, facial lines, and different types of scars

BTL Exilis Ultra 360

Ultra 360 is the FDA-approved device that can help tighten the skin and improve its overall appearance. This is an upgrade from the BTL Exilis and is the only device of its kind that simultaneously uses and ultrasound energies.

BTL Exilis Ultra 360 works by using focused, continuous monopolar radiofrequency (RF) technology together with ultrasound to tighten skin and address skin texture problems like moderate stretch marks and sagging skin. It features a small and big applicator for dealing with different body concerns.

The small applicator heats the deeper layers of skin to stimulate collagen production, resulting in skin tightening and wrinkle reduction. The bigger applicator, meanwhile, uses the same technology, but features a controlled cooling system. This allows the heat to penetrate into the fat layer to contour skin without downtime and discomfort.

Check out our previous post to find out why Exilis Ultra 360 is your all in one face and body rejuvenation treatment.

Schedule Your Body Assessment

If your stretch marks are bothering you, don’t hesitate to consider any of these treatments. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a body assessment and consultation with our Harvard-trained aesthetic doctor, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, to find out which procedure is right for you.

Tags: Dermapen, Exilis Ultra, Acoustic Shockwave, Laser Clinics