Scars and Stretch Marks

Scars

Scarring is a natural part of the healing process after an injury. Its appearance and its treatment depend on multiple factors. The depth and size of the wound or cut and the location of the injury matter. So do your age, genes, sex and ethnicity.

These are several different types of scars including:

• Keloid scars: These scars are the result of an overly aggressive healing process. Keloid scars are most common among people with dark skin.
• Hypertrophic scars: These are raised, red scars that are like keloids, but do not go beyond the boundary of the injury.
• Contracture scars: If your skin has been burned, you may have a contracture scar.
• Acne scars: If you’ve had severe acne, then you probably have the scars to prove it. There are different types of acne scars: ice pick, boxcar, rolling, and keloid scars. Read More…

Treatment

Most scars respond very well to nano fractional radiofrequency (Venus Viva). This treatment rebuilds collagen and reduce the width of the scar making it blend with the rest of the skin. Four to eight treatments are usually needed. Treatments are done once a month.

For hypertrophic or keloid scars, cortisone injections into the scar before the Venus Viva treatment are helpful to hasten the process.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks typically appear as bands of parallel lines on your skin. These lines are a different color and texture than your normal skin, and they range from purple to bright pink to light gray. When you touch stretch marks with your fingers, you might feel a slight ridge or indentation on your skin. Sometimes, stretch marks feel itchy or sore.

• Many women experience stretch marks during pregnancy as the skin stretches in numerous ways to make room for the developing baby.
• Stretch marks sometimes appear when you rapidly gain or lose weight. Teenagers may also notice stretch marks after a sudden growth spurt.
• Corticosteroid creams, lotions, and pills can cause stretch marks by decreasing the skin’s ability to stretch.
• Adrenal gland disorders can cause stretch marks by increasing the amount of cortisone in your body.

Stretch marks are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. Over time they may diminish but will not disappear completely. Stretch marks appear to be caused by stretching of the skin. This is especially true when there is an increase in cortisone that affects the dermis by preventing the fibroblasts from forming collagen and elastin fibers, necessary to keep rapidly growing skin taut. This can create a lack of supportive material as the skin is stretched, and lead to dermal and epidermal tearing, which in turn can produce scarring in the form of stretch marks.

Treatment

All treatments aim to lessen their appearance of the stretch marks:

Nano fractional radiofrequency (Venus Viva)

By stimulating collagen and elastin production there is a remodeling of the stretch marks, the skin instead of looking depressed and thin, it retracts and blends with surrounding skin. This treatment is very effective to lessen the appearance and results can be seen after first treatment. Usually best results are achieved after 4-6 treatments.

Plasm Pen (Plaxpot)

Plaxpot is a true plasma pen. That means that it will not damage the dermis (deeper portion of the skin) but will stimulate fibroblast to produce collagen and elastin in order to support the stretch mark and retract it. The result is a less visible stretch mark with similar appearance of the surrounding skin. Three to six treatments are usually needed.