Scars and stretchmarks may look different but they’re similar in one way; they are both a product of disordered collagen fibers and connective tissue.
What causes scars? Scars typically occur due to some type of trauma. It could be surgical, an injury that’s caused by an accident, or in the case of acne scars, a chronic infection deep in the pores. As the skin heals itself, the new collagen produced during the repair process is never as perfect as the original.
Similarly, stretch marks are types of scars that develop when our skin stretches and contracts very rapidly. These abrupt changes can cause tears in the connective tissue, leading to injury, inflammation and the formation of a scar. Pregnancy, weight gain or a growth spurt can all produce stretchmarks.
How to Get Rid of Scars and Stretchmarks
Scars and stretchmarks that are extremely deep can be minimized but they may never go away completely. Also, with time scars and stretchmarks become less red and fade on their own. But if you want to expedite the process and give your skin the best chance to recover, our high-tech treatments can help you achieve faster results.
Here are five scar and stretchmark treatments that are clinically proven to smooth the skin:
- Fraxel Laser Resurfacing – this fractional laser treatment is effective on most types of scars and stretchmarks. It works by vaporizing small columns of tissue within the scar to denature collagen fibers, promoting the formation of new remodelled collagen tissue.
Fraxel can help to flatten thick scars or build up the dermis if there’s an indentation. Number of treatments recommended: 6-8
- Microneedling – is best for mild scars and stretchmarks. During treatment thousands of tiny micro-punctures created by our eDarmaStamp device produce a controlled injury to the deep dermis. As the skin heals the subsequent boost in collagen results in smoother skin and texture. Number of treatments recommended: 6-8
- Chemical Peels – use a chemical acid solution to exfoliate the damaged layers of the epidermis. Most effective for acne scars and texture irregularities, chemical peels can reduce both pigmented as well as superficial pitted acne scars. This treatment can be performed on other areas of the body such as chest, back and arms. Number of treatments recommended: 4-6
- BBL (IPL) – Broadband Light or Intense Pulsed Light treatment targets pigment in the skin. It’s particularly helpful when a scar or stretchmark has persistent redness. The powerful light emitted by the BBL cauterizes the tiny blood vessels in the affected area, reducing redness and inflammation. BBL is also highly effective at fading pigmented scars known is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Number of treatments recommended: 4-6
- Dermal Filler – can immediately improve the appearance of deeply pitted acne scars. Hyaluronic acid gel is injected under the skin to temporarily lift up the depressed scar, making it look smoother and less noticeable. This treatment can last up to 6-8 months. Number of treatments recommended: 1 and may need to be repeated.
For more information on treating scars and stretchmarks contact us to book an appointment. We look forward to helping you look and feel great!
