Stretch Marks
What Are Stretch Marks?
- Vertical scars that form on the skin during periods of rapid skin stretching, including pregnancy, growth spurts, body building and weight gain
- Very common, affecting 50-90% of all pregnant women
- Stretch marks are the result of damage to collagen and elastin components of skin
- Usually found on abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs
- Initially pink to purple and then lighten to pale silvery-white
- May be itchy, tender and painful and cause one to feel self-conscious
How Can I Prevent Stretch Marks?
- Keep the skin well moisturized with nutrients that promote collagen and elastin production to allow the skin to stretch without scarring.
- MD Wellness Solutions offers several options safe for pregnant women including Strataderm medical grade silicone scar therapy gel
How Do I Use StrataDerm?
- Start using StrataDerm gel after 13 weeks of pregnancy, or at the first sign of stretch marks during a growth spurt
- Continue StrataDerm for 2-3 months after pregnancy or growth spurt completed
- If treating established stretch marks, treat for at least 3 months and talk to your doctor about laser treatment to augment your StrataDerm treatment
- Apply a thin layer of StrataDerm once daily after bathing and drying the skin, leave on for 24 hours
- Best results obtained by allowing continuous contact of StrataDerm with the skin
- StrataDerm gel drys quickly and can be covered by clothing or sunscreen
How Do I Treat Existing Stretch Marks?
- Laser treatment can improve the appearance of existing stretch marks by improving blood flow, collagen and elastin production in the dermal layer of the skin. Dr. Tkatch recommends a series of ICON 1540 non-ablative fractional laser treatments to improve stretch marks. If you are pregnant you will be evaluated postpartum to establish a custom treatment program.