Scarring-Stretch Marks
What exactly is stretch marks ?
A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. Not everyone develops these narrow bands on their skin. Fluctuating hormone levels seem to play a role. You may also have a higher risk if people in your family get stretch marks. If you develop stretch marks, you’re most likely to do so during these times:
- Growth spurts that happen in puberty
- Pregnancy
- Rapid weight loss or gain
- Weight training when you have rapid muscle growth
Stretch marks fade with time; however, treatment may make them less noticeable more quickly.
Development of a stretch mark. A stretch mark is formed when:
- The skin is stretched as a consequence of underlying tissue expansion.
- There is an inflammatory reaction in the skin that is responsible for the characteristic red or purple colour.
- The inflammation eventually fades and is replaced by scar tissue. This produces a thinned epidermis, loss of dermal elastin, and a replacement of the dermis by abnormally dense collagen fibres.
- The scarring is characteristically white or silvery in appearance and permanent.
When stretch marks first appear, they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early stretch marks may feel slightly raised and can be itchy. In time, the color fades and the narrow bands sink beneath your skin. If you run your finger over a mature stretch mark, you often feel a slight depression. Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, but treatment may make them less noticeable. Treatment can also help alleviate the itch.
Pico MLA+LED
This treatment uses a powerful HEXA MLA (Micro Lens Array) handpiece, a fractional system with 15 times more energy density in the center of each dot. This intensive treatment includes 3 steps that helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks, stimulates collagen production, improves skin elasticity.
Skin Needling
This advanced skin-perfecting Collagen induction therapy uses a unique micro-needling process to stimulate and rejuvenate the skin. Treating enlarged pores, congestion, skin texture, pigmentation and acne scarring. The process also increases the absorption of active ingredients.
- Avoid Sun Exposure: Within 10 days before treatment, avoid sun exposure whenever possible and use sunscreen daily. This will help reduce the risk of discoloration.
- Avoid Waxing: Refrain from facial waxing, electrolysis or other depilatories in the week leading up to your treatment.
- Avoid Excess Exfoliation: Stop the use of prescription acne medications, retinol products such as Retin-A, and strong AHA or BHA products at least 3 days prior to your treatment.
- Avoid going to the gym or excessively sweating in the 24 hours prior to your appointment.
- Fitzpatrick IV+ skin types must be prepped on a tyrosinase inhibitor and SPF for a minimum of 2-4 weeks prior to minimise post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. We recommend using Skintitut Even Blend Serum, Retinol or ASAP C serum, A serum, Radiance Serum.
- Apply Numbing cream 1 hour prior to the treatment.
Pico + MLA or Pico PRISM-During treatment: Treatments will involve some mild discomfort. The sensation is rather like the strap of a rubber band on the skin during the treatment. The operator will move the handpiece carefully over the treatment area. You can expect this to be repeated in a number of passes.
Immediately after treatment: Expect the slight redness, swelling and there may be some pin-point bleeding spots over the treated area, especially wrinkles and scarred areas.
During recovery: During the healing process, clients may experience some inflammation or skin irritations like mild redness, itching and rashes. This will take about 5 to 8 days to recover. We recommend intake Antihistamine and continue to apply Laser Aid.
Skin Needling: A small percent of clients find it uncomfortable. Numbing cream is applied on the skins surface in order to make the experience a lot more comfortable and pleasant as possible. It can be described as a fast, light vibration with slight flicks to the skin as the pen moves over the face.
- No makeup for 48 hours.
- No exfoliation for at least 7 days.
- Avoid heat, sun exposure, steaming, sauna, excessive heat for about 7 days.
- Apply Laser Aid and broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 50+ every day. If your skin feels dry and thigh apply Repair Balm after 48 hours.
- Avoid picking, peeling, and touching the skin after the treatment. As this can cause scarring and damage to the skin
- Client can take Antihistamine medication if rashes occur
POST-CARE PRODUCTS SKIN NEEDLING
- Gentle Cleanser
- Rejuvenate 15 serum
- Repair balm ( after 48 hours)
How does it work? Advanced skin perfecting treatment that delivers the highest calibration of collagen therapy. A fine, electronic motor in Microneedling Pen enables the needles to move quickly in and out of the skin, creating micro channels and stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. This process also dramatically increases the absorption of topical treatments and active ingredients. This powerhouse treatment can help you tackle scarring, stretchmarks, acne, black heads, open pores, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and more. Fast, effective, and non-surgical, micro needling can help you unlock radiant skin.
Benefits:
- Kickstarts collagen for anti-ageing
- Exfoliates to refine skin texture.
- Improves topical product absorption.
- Regulates pigmentation.
- Reduced appearances of pores, scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Improvement of fine lines and wrinkles
Optimize your results with a course of 4-6 treatments every month.
Recommend Add-on:
- Yellow LED
- Hydrojelly™ Mask
Pico MLA for Stretch Marks
This treatment uses a powerful HEXA MLA (Micro Lens Array) handpiece, a fractional system with 15 times more energy density in the center of each dot. This intensive treatment includes 3 steps that helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks, stimulates collagen production, improves skin elasticity.
- Step 1: Pico Laser + MLA
- Step 2: Spot treatment for stretch marks
- Step 3: LED light therapy (healing)
- Treatment time: 60 minutes
- Number of sessions: 6-8 treatments
- Interval: 4-6 weeks
- Preparation: Apply numbing cream 1 hour. Shave the area if required.
- Post care: Apply Laser Aid 2-3 times a day for 5 days. If your skin feels dry and thigh apply Repair Balm after 48 hours. Avoid wearing tight clothes. Avoid picking, peeling, and touching the skin after the treatment as this can cause scarring and damage to the skin. Client can take Antihistamine medication if rashes & itching occur.
- Cost: $399 (please check the promotional price on website)
Unfortunately, we cannot treat Keloid & Hypertrophic Scars at Skincare Laser Clinic.
Keloid Scars: Like hypertrophic scars, keloid scars rise above skin level however keloid scars extend beyond the injury site and do not regress over time. Keloid scars are also formed due to an overproduction of collagen while the skin is healing. Often keloid scars appear red to purple in colour and are harder to treat.
Hypertrophic scars: are scars that heal above the normal layer of skin tissue and appear thicker, raised and can vary in colour from pink to red. Hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the boundaries of the injury site and may regress over time and with treatment. Hypertrophic scars are caused by abnormal production of extra collagen at the injury site during the healing phase.