There’s a lot you can do to protect your skin and help it look and feel its best: using sun protection, slathering on moisturizer, avoiding harsh skin care products, and eating a healthy diet.
But unfortunately, you can’t prevent stretch marks. In fact, stretch marks are so common that about 80% of people have them at some point in their lives. You can significantly minimize their appearance, though.
Under the supervision of Tiffany Su, MD, the aesthetic professionals at
Skin Shop medSpa have helped countless patients reduce the appearance of bothersome stretch marks with microneedling. Read on to learn more.
Stretch marks are a type of skin damage that occurs when your skin is stretched rapidly, usually as a result of weight gain or muscle-building activities.
While your skin is designed to respond to some amount of stretching, excessive stretching in a short amount of time damages collagen and elastin, two essential proteins that help skin stay firm and resilient.
Under normal circumstances, collagen and elastin work together to help your skin flex during stretching or expansion, then return to normal afterward. But during rapid skin growth, collagen and elastin are stretched beyond their normal limits, and damage occurs — damage that you see as stretch marks.
Significant weight gain is a major cause of stretch marks, primarily when the increase occurs rapidly. Other common reasons include:
While anyone can develop stretch marks, there is a genetic factor. Stretch marks are more common among those with have a family history of stretch marks.
When stretch marks first appear, they may look darker than the surrounding skin. Many people find the marks itch, at least at first. Over time, they tend to take on a shiny appearance and often feel different from the surrounding skin.
Here’s how microneedling minimizes the appearance of stretch marks.
Microneedling uses a unique device equipped with dozens of very tiny needles. When applied to your skin, the device creates a series of tiny punctures or micro-injuries that break down damaged tissue and stimulate your skin’s healing responses.
Right after your treatment, your skin builds networks of new, healthy collagen and elastin while also carrying away damaged tissue and other debris. You’ll see the results of your treatment within a few weeks once those networks are formed.
Most of our patients benefit from a series of treatments spaced out over a few weeks.
Each treatment takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on the area we’re targeting. More good news: Before your session, we apply a numbing cream to your skin, so you stay comfortable.
Don’t let stretch marks make you feel self-conscious. Microneedling can help. Call Skin Shop medSpa at 713-701-1717 or book an appointment online today to find out more.
*Individual results may vary.
