Stretch Marks

Stretch Mark Removal

Stretch marks are medically called "striae." This common skin condition occurs skin is stretched rapidly, causing the dermis to tear and not heal properly, like in:

• Rapid growth
• Fast weight gain
• Pregnancy and hormones that cause softening of connective tissue
• Genetic predisposition
• Steroid use

When the dermis tears, it allows deeper skin layers to show through. Weakened wound healing makes the stretch marks more prominent. This tearing initially looks reddish or purple and over time fades to a lighter, almost scar-like appearance.

Stretch mark appearance can be reduced by supporting the body's natural healing response to produce more collagen and elastin. This can be done with:

• Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling, especially in darker-skinned individuals
• Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening
• Avoiding tanning, because stretch marks don't tan and become more noticeable