Stretch Marks: Creams Don’t Work, But Is There Another Remedy?
Stretch marks appear when deep layers of skin are stretched to the point that the skin’s natural elastic recoil fails causing deep damage. Unlike hundreds of misleading topical remedies which cannot penetrate stretch marks effectively, deep treatments are essential to affect the outcome according to cosmetic skin and laser surgeon, Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, M.D., who provides an innovative treatment option to address the hard to reach damage concealed below the skin’s surface.
This non-invasive laser treatment can diminish 50 to 80 percent of the silvery-white marks on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, hips, buttocks, thighs and anywhere else they may appear.
Garden City, New York (PRWEB) February 04, 2013
Stretch marks can appear anywhere there is rapid growth or sudden stretching of the skin. This can also be thought of as ripping into the deep layers of skin where elastic fibers are present. Skin is fairly elastic, but when it’s overstretched, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. This directly results in the infamous stretch mark scars also medically referred to as striae, which millions of Americans suffer from each year.
All stretch marks do not look alike. Their appearance is based on skin type, location, cause of scarring and how long they have been present. It is important to treat skin at the first signs of stretch marks. Futile attempts to rub oils, creams and cocoa butter over the stressed area will leave most people frustrated and hopeless to achieve their once tight, smooth skin again. Over the counter creams like Retinol and prescription creams like Retin-A are not effective for the treatment of stretch marks because they cannot penetrate deep enough to address the damaged skin. It is a deceiving myth that topical lotions and oral treatments can effectively treat pregnant bellies and stretched skin. In fact, the longer stretch mark sufferers believe they are addressing damage with useless lotions, the longer they are letting the actually scarring set into their skin, making them much harder to treat.
Stretch marks can appear as a result of pubescent growth spurts, pregnancy, weight gain, increase in muscle mass, oral corticosteroids, topical steroids, genetically caused hormonal imbalances, or adrenal gland diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome or Cushing’s disease. If there is a significant amount of stretch marks present on the body it may be an indication that there is something wrong with the adrenal glands. Cushing’s syndrome is known to cause this abnormality, which occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of cortisol for prolonged periods of time. Cushing’s disease is a specific form of Cushing’s syndrome caused when a benign tumor on the pituitary gland signals the adrenal glands to produce an excessive amount of cortisol. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland typically released in response to stress, otherwise known as the fight or flight hormone. Cortisone weakens elastic fibers in the skin, allowing it to stretch easier, leaving behind unsightly marks.
Stretch marks appear pink, red or purple at first because of broken blood vessels in the outer layer of skin which do eventually heal, but if left untreated will turn into silvery-white indented scars that become significantly harder to treat. They appear whiter than the surrounding skin because the stretching disrupts the dermis, where both collagen and pigmentation production reside.
Laser treatments have become the best treatment for diminishing the appearance of stretch marks. The type of laser used depends on the state of scarring. The pulsed dye V-Beam laser is used to treat fresh red or purple stretch marks. The V-Beam emits a concentrated beam of light at a specific wavelength to destroy damaged blood vessels that cause irregular pigment.
The only type of treatment that is proven to effectively address deep stretch marks is Fraxel, a fractional laser therapy procedure. Fraxel lasers are the original gold-standard in fractional laser technology. They are used to resurface and rejuvenate the skin by administering tiny areas of micro-damage, which stimulates collagen production. Collagen is the main connective protein found in the deeper layer of skin, the dermis. Scattered throughout the dermis, collagen is responsible for the structure, strength, firmness and overall appearance of the skin. Once the Fraxel laser jump-starts skin cells into producing more collagen, fresh, healthy skin cells will replace the damage sites, creating a tightening effect.
Dr. Cameron Rokhsar is considered an international authority and pioneer in the science of laser resurfacing and has introduced the technology to various parts of the world including Asia, Australia and Europe. He was one of the first to introduce Fraxel laser technology to the United States after working with a prototype device for a year, making him the longest practicing Fraxel physician in the world.
“The Fraxel laser can be used to dramatically fade away stretch marks anywhere on the body,” Dr. Rokhsar says. “This non-invasive laser treatment can diminish 50 to 80 percent of the silvery-white marks on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, hips, buttocks, thighs and anywhere else they may appear.”
The amazement is not only in the results of the 15 minute laser treatment, but also the minimal recovery process. With almost no risk of complications and no downtime, Fraxel technology may be a new paradigm for skin treatments, ultimately revolutionizing the world of skin rejuvenation.
Dr. Cameron K. Rokhsar, M.D., has instructed more physicians on the laser than any other physician in the world. Dr. Rokhsar has been instrumental in the laser’s development and has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America as the interviewed expert. As the leading authority on laser surgery and non-invasive techniques, Dr. Rokhsar, a fellowship-trained dermatologist and laser surgeon, has extensive training and expertise in the field of skin tightening and rejuvenation. He is an extensively published medical author on the subject as well as a Professor of Dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, giving him the accuracy and patience necessary when working with fragile skin. He can address both patients’ medical and cosmetic needs with offices located in New York City and Garden City, Long Island.
For more information please contact: Samantha Olson (516) 512-7616
Dr. Rokhsar was chosen by
magazine as a top dermatologist in its Best Doctors 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 issues.
