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Stretch Marks
Are you embarrassed by your scar, acne scars or stretch marks?
When we have an accident or minor injury, our bodies work to repair the damage as quickly as possible. This means they focus on a quick repair, a scar, rather than a neat one. Stretch marks may be the result of pregnancy, or a sudden change of weight or shape, but the elastin fibres in the dermis break rather than stretch, and areas of deeper skin show through. Acne scars are the result of the body’s response to severe acne, when our defence mechanism releases powerful enzymes, that work not only on the bacteria, but also damage the surrounding tissue.
Ellipse IPL treatment alone can produce a significant improvement in scar tissue, particularly in the case of surgical or trauma scars. It does this by creating a vascular response in the blood vessels around the scar, which in turn leads to collagen replacement. Ellipse Frax 1550nm laser treatment works by creating very small, very controlled islands of heat damage, surrounded by healthy normal skin. When the body repairs this controlled damage, collagen in the whole of the treated area is replaced, but more neatly than it was before. Research has shown that a combination treatment using Ellipse IPL followed by the Frax 1550 produces an improved result with less treatments.
Ellipse Frax 1550 treatments can be used on most types of scars and on stretchmarks. The best results will be found on scars or stretchmarks that are quite recent, rather than very old pale ones. Keloid scars (where the new scar tissue extends beyond the original injury) normally require pre-treatment with steroid injections – your doctor will be able to advise on this. Ellipse has pre-programmed settings for different skin types that deliver the correct energy output for your complexion.
Frax 1550 treatment normally involves the use of a local numbing creme, which is normally applied 30-40 minutes before treatment. Typically treatment procedure itself takes from 15-45 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be treated. Do I need to take special precautions before and after treatment?
It is important to avoid solarium and self-tanning products before and during the treatment period. It is possible to treat tanned skin, but reduce sun-exposure prior to treatment, otherwise the treatment will be less effective and less comfortable. You will get maximum results if you use a normal moisturising crème before and after treatment. Talk to your doctor if you are prone to acne outbreaks or cold sores. After treatment, you should avoid sun exposure for 30 days, or use sun protection (minimum SPF 30) if sun exposure cannot be avoided.
Typically you will be offered a course of four treatments, but if you are darker-skinned, your doctor may decide to offer a longer course of gentler treatments.
Does the treatment hurt?
Treatment may be a little uncomfortable, which is why we recommend the use of a numbing creme. After this wears off you will have a few hours where the skin as if you have a light sunburn.
Stretch Marks
Doctors often refer to stretch marks as stria, striae or – during pregnancy – striae gravidarum.
Stretch marks are often red or purple to start with, before gradually fading to a silvery-white colour. Stretch marks can occur anywhere where the skin has been stretched, but they usually affect areas where fat is stored, such as the:
- tummy (abdomen)
- breasts
- Stress
- upper arms
- buttocks
- thighs
- shoulders (in bodybuilders)
- When stretch marks occur
Microneedling and Growth Hormone Serums
At Ailesbury we get great results in the treatment of stretch marks by using 1.5 mm needles combined with human growth factor serums. We use motorized micro-needling like Dermapen, not the derma roller, for a more even and more effective result. Rollers such as the Dermaroller create a more erratic pattern of “tears” through the skin rather than the clean, more evenly distributed punctures seen with motorized micro-needling machines. Because micro-needling has been shown to enhance delivery of topically applied skin care products, we combine micro-needling treatments with human growth factor serums to get the best results.
Carboxytherapy
A non-surgical cosmetic medicine treatment. Carboxytherapy employs injections to infuse gaseous carbon dioxide below the skin into the subcutaneous tissue through a needle. It claims to kill fat cells, stimulate blood flow, improve the skin’s elasticity and reduce the appearance of cellulite although it has not been clinically tested nor approved by the FDA. It has also become a popular treatment for stretch marks.
Stretch marks often occur during the later stages of pregnancy, affecting about eight out of 10 pregnant women. Whether or not you’ll get stretch marks depends on your skin type and how elastic it is.
During pregnancy, hormones are produced that soften the ligaments in your pelvis so they’re more flexible when you give birth. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect joints. However, the hormones also soften the fibres in your skin, making it prone to stretch marks.
You may get stretch marks if you put on a lot of weight over a short period of time. They sometimes remain even after losing weight, but should eventually fade.
Regular dieting can cause stretch marks as your weight goes up and down. If you need to lose weight, lose it slowly and steadily so that your skin isn’t put under strain. Bodybuilders and athletes can also get stretch marks as their muscles increase in size.
During puberty, the body often develops very quickly in growth spurts.
Boys may get stretch marks on their shoulders and back, and girls may get them on their hips, thighs and breasts.
If you have a close relative with stretch marks, such as your mother, you’re more likely to develop them yourself.
Although stretch marks can affect both male and female family members, they’re more common in women.
Stretch marks can sometimes be related to rare conditions or syndromes, such as Cushing’s syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body overproduces the hormone cortisol, which is thought to cause stretch marks.