Stretch Mark Treatment in Bangalore

Stretch marks, medically referred to as striae, are skin irregularities that appear as parallel indented streaks, lines, or bands of the skin of varying color and different textures as compared to normal skin.

Stretch marks are more of a cosmetic concern rather being a medical problem. To reduce the appearance of stretch marks one can avail the stretch mark treatment in Bangalore at DNA Skin Clinic by Dr. Priyanka Reddy.

Things one may not know about Stretch Marks

All stretch marks do not look alike, they may vary depending upon their cause, their location, age, and skin type.
Initially, these rippled marks fade from pink or red to purplish-blue and may be slightly raised or itchy. However, as they get mature they turn into thinner, pale (white color), more scar-like streaks.
They are usually 1-10mm wide and several centimeters long.
Most often, these show up in pregnant women especially at the time of trimester.
These are commonly noticed in body areas like abdomen, buttocks, thighs, upper arms, lower back, shoulders and chest.
Stretch marks are neither harmful nor painful conditions, these are only considered as a cosmetic concern that can affect the person’s daily life.
Over time, they may fade with or without treatment but may never vanish.
In rare cases, if they are severe, they may tear or ulcerate easily in an accident.

Different Types of Stretch Marks

The dermatologists classified stretch marks based on their cause, appearance, or duration. The types include:

Striae Rubrae New or early stretch marks that are pink or red.
Striae Albae Older stretch marks that are silvery-white.
Striae Gravidarum Stretch marks that appear during pregnancy.
Striae Atrophicans Stretch marks that are atrophic dermal scars beneath an atrophic epidermis. These are classified as thinning of skin following some medical conditions like Cushing syndrome or as a complication of prolonged application of topical steroid preparations.

Striae Distensae Common type of dermal scarring appearing as violaceous, erythematosus, or hypopigmented linear striations resulting from cracks made in the connective tissue due to stretching of the skin.
Striae Nigra (Linea nigra or pregnancy line) Black stretch marks on the abdomen that appears as vertical lines in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Striae Caerulea Dark blue marks that appear in people who had prolonged use of steroids.

Thankfully, treatments for all these types of stretch marks are available at DNA Skin Clinic, Bangalore.

Causes and risk factors associated with Stretch Marks

The skin may undergo continuous or progressive stretching because of the growth in the body due to any reason. During the period of intense body growth, the skin can’t stretch enough to keep up because of low collagen and elastin which are responsible for keeping the skin firm and elastic. This results in the appearance of stretch marks in the middle skin layer (dermis).

The factors that cause or increase the likelihood of getting stretch marks include the following:

Rapid weight gain or loss that leads to stretching and shrinking of the skin.
Pregnancy (especially when young) results in stretch marks on the stomach and breasts because of stretched skin and a surge in cortisol hormone produced by the adrenal glands that weaken the elastic fibers in the skin.
Excessive muscle building (muscle hypertrophy) in body-builders results in stretch marks in their shoulders.
Puberty (growth spurts) in adolescents in areas like buttocks, thighs, and breasts.
A side effect of certain medications like prolonged use of topical or oral corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.
Certain conditions or diseases like Endocrinopathies (Cushing Syndrome), Marfan Syndrome, or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome weaken the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin.
Having family history of stretch marks.
Being a smoker.
Being a female - mostly females aged between 5 to 50 years are affected by this skin condition as compared to the males.

Best treatment options for Stretch Marks at DNA Skin Clinic

The treatment of new stretch marks focuses on minimizing skin swelling, redness, and irritation. On the other hand, for the mature ones, the treatment objective is to promote collagen and elastin production in the skin, hydrate the skin, and reduce inflammation.

Dr. Priyanka Reddy practising at DNA Clinic, Bangalore suggests the following treatment options to reduce the appearance of stretch marks:

Topical Treatment These include topical ointments, creams, and gels. Several over-the-counter products are also applied to boost collagen production, stimulate cell growth and reproduction, hydrate the skin, and reduce skin inflammation. All of them can help fade the stretch marks. In stretch marks creams, the most common ingredients available are silicone, ret-inoic acid, tret-inoin, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, ascorbic acid, coconut oil, cocoa butter, aloe vera, and chamomile. Unfortunately, most of these topical treatments show mild effects and need to be used for the long term to notice the desired results. The skin experts recommend their early usage, daily for several weeks by applying it gently over the affected skin. As the topical treatments may not show very significant or fast results, most people opt for minimally invasive procedures to treat stretch marks. The dermatological procedures work by reducing the appearance of blood vessels, increasing collagen production, and improving skin tone.
Chemical Peel The treatment involves the application of one or more chemical agents to the skin in moist maceration or dry desquamation to exfoliate the skin and subsequently resurface the skin epidermis. This promotes the collagen and elastin remodeling and the deposition of the glycosaminoglycan at the target site during the repair process in the skin dermis. As a result, a new refreshing skin from underneath is revealed, thereby reducing stretch marks. Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and trichloroacetic acid peels are known to be effective for stretch marks.
Laser and Light Therapy There is a variety of lasers and intense pulse light therapy that can help reduce stretch marks appearance. Two types of lasers: ablative (use powerful laser beams to remove superficial skin) and non-ablative (to heat the dermis and promote collagen growth without harming the skin surface) can be used. Pulsed dye lasers can effectively treat red stretch marks as the thermal energy generated by them can calm the targeted blood vessels causing stretch marks present under the skin. Fractional CO 2 lasers are used to smoothen the white, mature stretch marks. Another is excimer lasers that target UVB light to the stretch marks to correct the pigmentation problems. Intense pulsed light therapy can help treat the damaged or broken/dilated blood vessels that cause stretch marks without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues.
Microdermabrasion In this procedure, tiny exfoliating crystals are sprayed over the stretch mark to rub off the top skin layer i.e. sand away the dead skin cells. When performed 5-10 times, these can deeply exfoliate the skin and stimulate the growth of healthy, new skin cells which reduces the stretch marks appearance. This treatment can be used along with chemical peels to achieve optimal results. It is found to safer and cheaper method than laser and chemical peel treatment.
Radiofrequency Microneedling In this treatment, a handheld device (a micro pen) having tiny needles is used to create micro-injuries into the skin and stimulate collagen growth. These needles are heated using radio wave energy which further triggers the body to make new collagen.
Growth Factor Therapy Growth factors are an autologous blood component which when administered into the stretch marks in small doses can help fade them by providing a super- charged boost of natural growth proteins. This encourages the rate of healing and increases collagen production, thereby making the skin evenly toned, smooth, and firm. The new collagen replaces the affected or dead skin cells with new, vibrant, elastic, healthy cells. This treatment can be used in combination with micro-needling so that the repair proteins can penetrate both the epidermis and dermis through the tiny little skin injuries. These micro-wounds created after micro-needling also trick the skin to begin the natural healing response of the body.
Carboxy Therapy It is a quick, safe, painless, outpatient procedure that can help improve skin elasticity and blood circulation. This treatment aids in creating new collagen to make the skin thicker and firm and improve its appearance. In this procedure, a carbon dioxide gas is injected beneath the skin of the affected area to improve blood circulation there and repair the skin’s elasticity.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.1 Are Stretch Marks inevitable during pregnancy?

Ans. Not all women get stretch marks during pregnancy but most of them do, especially younger women. Genetics also play a role.

Q.2 Why do men get Stretch Marks?

Ans. This skin condition doesn’t have anything to do with the gender. It is simply a process that takes place upon stretching of the skin beyond its limit. Whether a male or a female, if the person experiences rapid changes in the body, in terms of weight gain or weight loss, stretch marks will most likely appear in the affected areas.

Q.3 How much does Stretch Marks treatment cost?

Ans. The cost of stretch marks treatment varies according the severity or type of stretch marks, the areas to be treated, treatment method chosen and doctor’s experience. To know the exact cost of stretch mark treatment in Bangalore, one can schedule a consultation with Dr. Priyanka Reddy at DNA Skin Clinic.