Exclusive: Are you worried about your stretch marks? Experts explain how to deal with it

Stretch marks are the result of damaged elastin within the dermis skin layer. While harmless, stretch marks can be unsightly and difficult to treat. They appear as long, narrow furrows on the skin, which change color from red in the acute stage to white in the chronic stage. Dr. Neha Sharma, Dermatologist, Astic Skin and Hair Clinic, Gurgaon spoke to Zee News Digital about the factors responsible for these marks.

These are mostly caused by rapid stretching or contraction of the skin. Various factors contributing to their formation are:

rapid weight gain or loss

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pregnancy

topical steroid use

weight training

growth spurt during puberty

medical conditions such as Marfan syndrome

The most common places for stretch marks are areas with high fat content such as the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, upper arms, breasts, underarms and shoulders. Topical treatments such as silicone gels, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and moisturizers have not shown much success in managing stretch marks.

Treatment methods with good results are:

1) Radiofrequency Micro Needling

2) Laser – Ablative laser – Fractional CO2 and non-ablative laser Erbium fiber laser.

Both these modalities can be combined with platelet-rich plasma to give the best results.

These 2 modalities help rebuild collagen and tighten skin to improve overall skin texture