Stretch Marks

There’s nothing wrong with having a few stretch marks — most people do. If you have stripes on your buttocks, breasts, arms, or stomach, the skilled dermatology team at Comprehensive Dermatology in Woodmere and Westbury, New York, provides cosmetic treatments to minimize stretch marks and other types of scars. To explore your treatment options, call Comprehensive Dermatology or schedule an appointment online today.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are a type of scar that appears when your skin either grows or shrinks very quickly. That can happen because of major weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or muscle growth with weight training. You can also get stretch marks by overusing corticosteroids. 

The collagen and elastin fibers in your skin stretch beyond their limits and eventually rupture, contributing to stretch mark formation. Most stretch marks are textured and slightly indented into your skin. They sometimes itch, too. 

At Comprehensive Dermatology, the team treats stretch marks to minimize their appearance. While it’s often impossible to fully get rid of a stretch mark, advanced dermatological care can make them far less noticeable. 

Where do stretch marks tend to appear?

You can get stretch marks anywhere on your body that has experienced major fluctuations in size. However, several areas are more likely than others to have stretch marks. Some of the most common locations are your:

• Upper arms
• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Thighs
• Hips
• Breasts

Your stretch marks can appear in many different colors, ranging from a few shades lighter than your skin tone to several shades darker. Some appear purple or red in color. Your stretch marks might feel itchy, especially shortly after they first appear. 

How are stretch marks treated?

Even though they’re just cosmetic skin features, you might want to treat your stretch marks for aesthetic reasons. There are several effective options for treatment that can minimize stretch marks that are both old and new. Many scar treatments work on stretch marks because they’re a common form of scarring. 

After examining your skin, the team at Comprehensive Dermatology may recommend stretch mark treatments like:

• Prescription medications (e.g., tretinoin)
• Microdermabrasion
• Microneedling
• Radiofrequency procedures
• Ultrasound procedures
• Laser procedures

You might benefit from using several of these treatments to minimize stretch marks as much as possible. It’s almost impossible to prevent new stretch marks from forming, but some experts speculate that topical products with hyaluronic acid can help. 

If you have stretch marks you’d like to minimize with treatment, call Comprehensive Dermatology or schedule an appointment online today.