Stretch mark therapy - what are the alternatives? Although stretch marks (or striae) are considered by most people to be unsightly blemishes which mar their skin, erode their self confidence and prevent them wearing what they want, it should be remembered that they are not harmful in any way, and do not represent a medical condition as such.
There are a range of modalities available which now encompass stretch mark therapy. Which particular treatment you opt for will probably be a balance between how effective the treatment may be, the severity of your condition, and your budget.
This article is going to look at the various treatments available today to help you decide which one may be best suited to you, including: creams, micro dermabrasion, skin remodeling, chemical peeling, laser therapy, endermologie, and cosmetic surgery.
Just so you are aware however, no treatment will ever completely disappear your stretch marks, that said, you can still expect great results, with your marks barely noticeable following treatment.
Probably the most popular solution to stretch marks, topical creams represent an affordable and effective way to eliminate these unsightly scars. They are readily available, and have been demonstrated to work. The key here is to use one that will work, for although there are a handful of creams that work very well, many do not live up to their promises and will leave you out of pocket with nothing to show for it.
Micro dermabrasion is a process where the superficial layer of the skin is removed using a pen like instrument which essentially 'sandblasts' the skin with tiny crystals. Good results have been achieved with this technique which increases collagen production which in turn promotes the formation of healthy skin. Expect 10 to 12 sittings to achieve optimum results.
Skin remodelling is where very fine needles are used to prick the skin, again stimulating collagen production.
With chemical peeling, chemicals in a cream base are applied to the affected areas. This removes the epidermis (outer layer of skin). This in turn forces the dermis (middle layer) to produce more collagen and gradually normal skin is formed. Although effective, the downside of this treatment is that it is painful, and potential for injury exists due to adverse reaction to the chemical scourer.
Endermologie is a treatment originating from France. A special machine massages the site using rollers and a suctioning action. As well as improving blood circulation by up to 400%, the skin is exfoliated, scar tissue softened and lymphatic flow increased. A series of endermologie procedures should give a marked improvement in the appearance of striae.
Laser is a popular solution, with statistics showing that about 70% of treatments give good results. It works by transmitting a narrow laser beam through affected skin to stimulate production of collagen and division of fibroblasts promoting tissue repair. Laser therapy however is expensive, causes a degree of pain during the procedure and requires 5 or 6 sessions. Also, laser therapy is not suitable for darker skin types.
Cosmetic surgery covers a range of surgical procedures including skin grafting and skin reduction. But the most popular as regards stretch marks is abdominoplasty or 'tummy tuck'. It is normally carried out in cases of severe abdominal stretch marks with folded skin due to fat deposition which has failed to respond to normal methods. It is very expensive however, and will leave a scar on the operated site, although this will be below the bikini line.
So as you can see, there are a number of options available to consider for your stretch mark therapy.
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