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An Aesthetic Doctor Shares How You Can Deal with Stretch Marks

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Dr Chin Yee Choong

February 6th, 2020· 5 min read

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I just want to be prepared...

Are you annoyed and frustrated with the appearance of ugly stretch marks? You are not alone.

Stretch marks are quite common, and they occur when your skin stretches or shrinks too quickly. In fact, they commonly occur due to pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain or rapid muscular gain.

Expectant mothers may develop stretch marks in the skin around the tummy area and bodybuilders commonly develop them around the chest and shoulders.

In my practice as an aesthetic doctor, I have come across many patients bothered by stretch marks and want to remove them. If you, like them, are looking for ways to remove and prevent stretch marks, this article will help you understand why they form and how you can treat them.

What are stretch marks?

lady-stretch-marks

Clinically known as striae distensae, they are scars that form when our skin stretches or shrinks so quickly that the collagen and elastin supporting the skin breaks [1]. As the skin heals from the stretching or shrinking, scars may form as stretch marks.

Mostly found around the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and thighs, they usually come in multiple streaks and are symmetrical. Depending on your skin tone, they can also appear in various colours – red, pink, purple, reddish-brown and dark brown.

While they are more common in women, many men can also have stretch marks.

Not all stretch marks are the same

The characteristics of stretch marks tend to change over time. There are 3 types: [2]

  • Striae Rubra (early stage)
    • Streaks appear smooth and slightly raised
    • Colours range from red to bluish
  • Striae Alba (late stage)
    • Streaks appear wrinkly and flattened
    • Red to pale-coloured
  • Striae Gravidarum (during pregnancy)
    • Streaks appear indented
    • More common in young and first-time mums
    • Condition tends to improve after delivery

What causes stretch marks?

male-stretch-marks

As mentioned earlier, stretch marks are found in both men and women, and are quite common in women during and after pregnancy. In general, stretch marks happen due to: [1]

  • Genes
  • Sudden and drastic weight gain or loss
  • Rapid muscle growth due to training
  • Growth spurt during puberty
  • Adrenal diseases such as:
    • Cushing's disease
    • Marfan syndrome
    • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
    • Adrenal tumours

Stretch marks may also appear more defined due to:

  • Tanning
  • Naturally darker skin tones
  • Excessive use of corticosteroids that causes the skin to thin out

Treatments for stretch marks

Sadly, the bad news is: Most home remedies DO NOT work.

You may have heard of various oils, cocoa butter, and vitamin E products that purport to treat stretch marks. Well, they are not effective; they are simply moisturising.

To reduce the appearance of stretch marks, it is best to consult a doctor who will prescribe medical treatments such as:

Topical agents

Your doctor may prescribe creams that contain: [3]

  • Retinoids (retinol or tretinoin), or
  • Hyaluronic acid

They work by promoting collagen production in the skin and are most effective for early-stage stretch marks (striae rubra). You should seek treatment for stretch marks as early as possible.

Below are some pointers for applying these creams:

  • Rub and massage the product into the skin well
  • Use the product continuously for some time, as stretch marks do not just dissolve instantly

cream-stretch-marks-treatment

In-clinic procedures

For more severe cases, and for those who desire a more dramatic change, there are a few methods that can help. They include: [1]

  • Fractional Pico lasers
  • Radiofrequency (RF) lasers
  • Pulse-dye lasers (PDL)
  • Ultrasound lasers such as Ultherapy
  • Microdermabrasion
  • Chemical peels

laser-stretch-marks-treatment

Depending on the current state of your stretch marks, your doctor may also suggest a combination of treatments. Do consult a doctor so that you can make the most informed decision. Click here to find aesthetic doctors around your area.


Also read: Your Comprehensive Guide To Choosing The Best Aesthetic Treatment (2020)


Prevention is the best option!

It is difficult to prevent stretch marks from appearing. In cases of pregnancy, prevention may not be possible.

Nevertheless, here are 2 tips you can consider to minimise the chances:

  • Keep your skin moisturised and supple; this ensures that it is as elastic as possible.
  • Prevent sudden rapid weight gain and loss.

Once stretch marks appear, it is hard for laymen to treat them. In fact, you can never completely remove them, but only minimise their noticeability.

Do consult a doctor to figure out which treatments will be most effective for your case.


Get quote for Stretch Marks Removal

Dr Chin Yee Choong is a medical director at DermClear Aesthetic & Laser Clinic. His area of practice is in the beauty aesthetics fields of dermatology and aesthetic medicine. In addition, he has had more than 12 years of experience in thread lifts and fillers. Also, he regularly travels to keep himself well-informed of the newest treatments available.

Would you like to ask any related health questions?

Also, read more from Dr Chin Yee Choong in his Q&A here.

I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Chin Yee Choong and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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