Stretch Marks & What You Can Do About Them

Stretch marks, otherwise known as Striae Distensae, are linear scars in the dermis which generally occur when skin is stretched causing tearing and breakage of the elastic tissue in the dermis. Stretch marks occur during rapid weight gain, hormonal changes, growth spurts during puberty, pregnancy and prolonged use of oral or topical corticosteroids.

Stretch marks generally develop different colours during three maturation stages:

Acute Stage (Striae Rubra)

This is in the early stages when the stretch marks first appear – they are generally flatter and thinner with a pink hue.

Sub-Acute Stage

During this stage, the striae can become longer and wider and more raised and the colour turns from pink to a reddish/purple colour.

Chronic Stage (Striae Alba):

This is when the elastic fibres in the dermis are damaged and the striae become white in colour.

Stretch marks typically appear as narrow, elongated streaks or lines on the skin. They can vary in width, length, and colour, depending on factors such as skin type, age, and how long they have been present. Inflammation causes the reddish/purple colour which fades to white with time but they do not always disappear completely.

Treatment tips when treating stretch marks

Prescription

• Topical application of tretinoin cream

In-clinic procedures

• Medical Micro-Needling with or without Radio Frequency
• Pulsed Dye Laser or Energy Based Device (EBD)
• Fractional Laser Resurfacing