Stretch Marks
Confidence starts from within, but it doesn’t make matters easier when you don’t like how your skin looks. Life changes and diet plays a major role in the luster and integrity of our skin. The appearance of stretch marks is very common during pregnancy, rapid growth, or weight gain. These strange little marks are actually tiny scars in the skin that start off red and gradually fade to white. Traditional methods of addressing these lines have been the use of oil and frankincense. However, these options have not been proven to show promising results. If you’ve noticed the appearance of stretch marks on your thighs, stomach area, back, chest, or arms, our team at Allergy & Skin Spa may be able to help.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Pregnancy is one of the reasons why stretch marks appear. They are a symbol of your body preparing itself to produce a human being. While these marks can be annoying and stubborn to prevent, there are also new technologies that can help to reduce if not get rid of their existence. Stretch marks, also known as striae, show up in the form of scarring and discoloration. These marks are especially common among pregnant women, but may also appear after a significant amount of weight gain or during an adolescent growth spurt. Striae occur due to an increase in cortisone in the body. When levels of this hormone rise, it can reduce skin pliability while causing the skin to stretch. Cortisone prevents fibroblasts from forming collagen and elastin fibers and leads to the ridges in the skin typically associated with stretch marks.
What Are the Signs?
Thankfully, stretch marks don’t cause any adverse symptoms aside from their visual appearance. While harmless, many people work to reduce the appearance of these marks to restore the smoothness of their skin. If left untreated, stretch marks may gradually fade to white, but rarely disappear completely. Striae are scars on the body and are permanent without intervention. Here at our Los Angeles office, we offer the effective Fraxel® Skin Rejuvenation and Morpheus8 treatments to erase the appearance of these marks for good.
Treatment Options
At Allergy & Skin Spa, we offer microneedling and PRP treatments to help remove stretch marks from unwanted areas. Microneedling can be used to deposit medication, such as topical tretinoin and vitamin C, deeper into the skin. Another version of microneedling includes injecting the skin with the patient’s platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to supercharge collagen and elastin growth. Our Morpheus8 and Fraxel® laser treatments also address this issue and other signs of hyperpigmentation. Our Morpheus8 system combines the power of microneedling technology with radiofrequency energy. This stimulates rapid skin healing and effectively reduces the appearance of unpleasant marks without the need for additional treatments. Our Fraxel® system uses laser skin resurfacing to exfoliate the upper layer of your skin and encourage healthy regrowth. This process is also an effective means of reducing stretch mark appearance.
Treating Stretch Marks in Los Angeles, CA
Easing the appearance of skin discoloration and scarring is one of our specialties here at Allergy & Skin Spa. If you’re interested in improving the appearance of your skin, we welcome you to schedule an appointment today. Get started by filling out the form below or giving our office a call at (310) 312-1231.