Stretch Marks

If pregnancy, weight gain or loss, or the use of certain medications has left you with stretch marks, Dr. John Tang in San Jose can significantly reduce their appearance using advanced lasers, RF technology, and topical treatments. When the elastic middle layer of skin (the dermis) becomes stretched, it can result in stretch marks, which are scars left by the breakdown of connective tissue. Though stretch marks pose no threat to your health, they cause many men and women to feel self-conscious. Fortunately, the advanced skin tightening and collagen-stimulating treatments offered at Rejuvé, as well as our topical treatments, can help your skin to recover the valuable elasticity it has lost while minimizing the discoloration stretch marks often exhibit. To learn more about how Dr. Tang can help reduce your stretch marks without invasive surgery, contact our San Jose office serving the greater Bay Area today at 408-740-5320.
 
There are numerous options available for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. In the image below, the skin on the right side (the patient’s left) was treated with Skinfinity, while the left side (patient’s right) shows stretch marks treated with Fraxel.

What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are caused by the drastic changes in skin tension associated with pregnancy, weight loss, and weight gain. Genetics and nutrition also play a role in the development of stretch marks. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to skin that lacks elasticity, making them more prone to developing stretch marks. Individuals with poor nutrition may be lacking the vitamins and minerals necessary to make skin resistant to stretch marks. Meanwhile, tanning and sun exposure can weaken the skin, intensifying existing stretch marks.
 
Types of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks can be red, purple, or white, depending upon how recently they have developed. Stretch marks are red in their earliest stages, and become purple as they begin to heal. White stretch marks signify that they are older and fully healed.
 
How We Treat Stretch Marks
Dr. Tang uses the Skinfinity, Fraxel®, SmartXide, and IPL (intense pulsed light) laser treatments to reduce stretch marks:

• Skinfinity uses patented In-Motion technology for treating stretch marks. The In-Motion roller tip is applied to the treatment area, delivering focused radiofrequency through rows of pyramid-shaped electrodes. When your technician glides the roller tip over your skin, each electrode delivers precise energy to the area to achieve the ideal Thermal Effect. This creates controlled injuries to the tissue called Micro-ablative Treatment Zones (MTZs). The MTZs stimulate an enhanced healing response, encouraging your skin to rejuvenate and improving your results.
• Fraxel® treats several small fractions of the skin at a time, safely delivering laser energy to the dermis. Meanwhile, the untreated skin between these tiny treatment areas helps your skin to recover quickly as it begins producing collagen and achieving improved skin texture. In the following weeks, you will notice a diminishing in the appearance of stretch marks. Normally three to five treatments are needed to achieve the desired result.
• SmartXide therapy involves the application of tiny laser CO2 energy pulses to the skin in precise patterns. This creates thousands of microscopic holes in the skin, causing instant skin tightening and the production of collagen. This leaves tiny, isolated areas of healthy skin tissue surrounding the treatment areas, minimizing overall damage and helping your skin to recover quickly. The effect on stretch marks can be described as “smudging,” making them less distinct, deep, and wide. Normally three to five treatments are needed to achieve the desired result.
• IPL treatment reduces red stretch marks by targeting the pigment found in the red blood cells that are traveling through the blood vessels. This shrinks down the blood vessels, effectively reducing the redness. Treatment usually requires three to six sessions to achieve the desired results.

 
Rejuvé also offers topical treatments to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks:

• Stricell is a powerful topical cream that uses Centella Asiatica stem cells to combat the appearance of stretch marks. These natural plant cells duplicate healthy skin cells, helping to regenerate and repair skin. Studies have found that the Centella Asiatica extract found in Stricell can also be used as a preventative against the formation of stretch marks in addition to reducing the appearance of existing stretch marks. This cream stimulates collagen production and elastin synthesis, boasts a strong antioxidant effect, and helps your skin create new, healthy cells.



• Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane. When applied to the skin, it can gently remove the top layer of skin which allows other agents to more effectively penetrate the skin to spur collagen production, reducing the prominence of stretch marks.
• Retinoids are an effective means of stimulating collagen production, but are best suited for early-stage stretch marks. Retinoids may be used in conjunction with glycolic acid. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not use retinoids.

 
In some cases, it may be recommended that you use Vitamin C along with other antioxidants in conjunction with the above skin products to enhance your stretch mark treatment by further stimulating collagen production. Like retinoid therapy, Vitamin C supplements are most effective in addressing early-stage stretch marks, but can complement glycolic acid treatment.
 
Learn More about Stretch Mark Treatment
Read more in an article from the San Jose Mercury News where Dr. Tang was interviewed as an expert on the treatment of stretch marks.
 
We offer a variety of stretch mark treatments at our San Jose office serving the Bay Area; the surest way to know which will help you achieve your goals is to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Tang. Contact us today to arrange an appointment.
 
*The above pictures are actual patients but the individual results will vary and these results may not occur in all patients.