Stretch Marks May Be Improved with Laser
A variety of stretch marks may be improved with laser treatment. Generally stretch marks which are red in color are the most responsive to laser therapy, though in many cases white stretch marks may also be improved with treatment. A series of treatment sessions are usually needed to obtain the best results.
New Laser Treatment
Lasers work by reducing the redness in the red stretch marks and by improving some of the inflammation causing the stretch marks in the first place. Lasers also induce collagen growth and remodeling, as well as some elastin remodeling which improves the look of the skin.
The latest development in the treatment of stretch marks is fractional laser therapy. A variety of devices, from Fraxel® to Affirm® lasers, utilize this technology. The idea of the laser is to create a number of vertical injuries to the patient's skin with non-treated, uninjured skin in between the treated areas. Imagine a lawn that's been aerated. A similar process, on a microscopic scale, is done to the skin with fractional laser treatment. The laser makes small injuries the diameter of a hair shaft in the skin leaving normal, untreated skin in between. The untreated skin helps heal the wound quite quickly, replacing the area with new, healthy skin. During each treatment only a fraction of the skin is treated. Some patients have reported improvement of stretch marks of 30% to 40%.
To learn about choosing a doctor for treatment, see: How to Choose a Doctor for Stretch Marks
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