About Laser Therapy for Stretch Marks
The skin, the largest organ of the body, faces constant exposure to sources of trauma, pathogens and other threats. This places the skin at risk for damage. Stretch marks, one kind of skin damage, can be treated. Laser therapy offers one option for removing stretch marks. Does this Spark an idea?
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Stretch Marks
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Tearing of the dermis, or inner layer of skin, causes stretch marks. This tearing usually is associated with rapid weight gain, such as occurs in pregnancy, but hormones also influence the formation of stretch marks. This means stretch marks may occur during puberty or even healthy muscle-building. Stretch marks can show up anywhere on the body, but most commonly on the breast tissue, stomach and upper thighs. New stretch marks appear reddish in color, while older stretch marks fade to a silvery hue.
Laser Therapy
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Laser therapy for stretch marks works by stimulating the production of collagen in the skin. This promotes elasticity and makes the skin under the stretch marks thicker. Laser therapy also causes the fibroblasts or connective tissues cells in the skin to divide. This reduces the appearance of stretch marks but doesn't remove them.
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What to Expect
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During laser therapy, the clinician pulses a laser over the skin that's affected with a stretch mark. The pulsing laser may tingle or sting slightly like a rubber band, but any pain associated with laser therapy is minimal enough that no anesthetic is required. Doctors consider laser therapy to have no side effects, but it must be done properly or scarring may occur. Sometimes multiple treatments are needed.
Effectiveness
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Previously, laser therapy was considered effective only on new, red stretch marks, since the therapy lightens the appearance of the stretch marks without actually removing them. However, doctors now can use different types of lasers on different colors of stretch marks. Thus, laser therapy may be effective even on old stretch marks that already have lightened. About 70 percent of patients who get laser therapy for stretch marks see improvement, though these improvements may take up to 6 months to be noticeable. The therapy appears to be most effective on people with fair skin.
Cost and Safety
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Laser therapy for stretch marks is considered a cosmetic procedure, so most insurance companies don't pay for it. Even so, the cost may be worth it, considering that stretch marks can erode self-esteem. The therapy also may be safer for certain individuals than other options. Some creams, for instance, have ingredients that can seep through the skin and be passed from a mother to her infant by breast feeding.
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