Discover everything you need to know about stretch marks and using advanced therapies to reduce the appearance of them in this blog.

What causes stretch marks?

Stretch marks are caused when your skin suddenly stretches or shrinks. This abrupt change can cause collagen and elastin, two proteins that are responsible for supporting healthy skin, to break. This causes stretch marks to appear on your skin, they are painless and sometimes fade by themselves over time.

Stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of, but if you do wish to seek treatment to reduce them then there are plenty of great options for you to choose from.

What is Laser and IPL treatment? 

Laser and IPL treatment works by heating up the problem area, encouraging the production of collagen and elastin. 

Encouraging new skin cells to grow makes the skin look healthier and more even. This can reduce the appearance of stretch marks significantly. 

The advantages of laser treatment for stretch mark removal

If you’re considering having Laser or IPL treatment for your stretch marks, you may be interested in knowing the main benefits of it. 

Non-invasive: laser treatment does not require any incision to be made into your skin like surgery would. This means the recovery time is a lot shorter too.

Effective: laser treatment is very effective at removing or reducing the appearance of stretch marks. If you’re finding that cream for stretch marks isn’t working as you’d like, laser treatment may be for you.

Healthier looking skin: because laser treatment therapy stimulates the production of collagen, your skin will look and feel healthier after treatment.

Other treatments for stretch mark removal 

However, Laser and IPL treatments are not suitable or as effective on everyone.

There are other treatments to consider if laser resurfacing treatment isn’t for you. A treatment called the Collagen Induction Therapy treatment is a great treatment option to treat stretch marks.

Another treatment opton is the The Derma White treatment, an all natural skin peel that helps to improve the appearance of stretch marks. This treatment is exclusively offered by us here at The Laser Treatment Clinic.

During your consultation you may be offered a combination of the above treatments as part of the bespoke treatment plan for tour individual stretch marks and skin type. We treat all skin types.

For more treatment options, please contact us today. You can book your free consultation online where one of our skincare professionals will talk you through the best options for your skin specifically. 

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At The Laser Treatment Clinic, we have over 25 years of experience in stretch mark removal, all over the body. No matter how severe your stretch marks are, we’ll be able to help you. But how exactly do we remove stretch marks? 

Below are a few of the effective stretch mark removal treatments, along with their benefits so you can see if they’re right for you.

Laser and IPL Treatments

One of the most effective stretch mark removal treatments is laser and IPL treatment. Laser and IPL treatment is a precise technique that uses lasers to heat up the skin. This technique promotes the growth of new skin cells. The growth of new skin cells increases the production of collagen, a protein found in the body. These treatments also target and treat broken capillaries in the skin.

Collagens purpose is to make the skin look smoother, healthier, and more youthful, and why it’s found in many popular skincare products. Our Zaheda Sea Collagen Marine Serum contains this protein and offers a skin-rejuvenating effect. 

Here are the main benefits of laser treatment for removing stretch marks:

• Precise and accurate
• Non-invasive compared to surgery
• Less time consuming than surgery
• Effective

Collagen Induction Treatment with Radio Frequency

Collagen Induction Treatment is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that’s used to treat skin concerns by stimulating collagen production. This treatment creates micro-punctures in the skin using medical grade miniature, pre-packed sterilized needles, for each treatment.

Collagen Induction Treatment with Radio Frequency has all of the benefits of traditional Collagen Induction Treatment plus additional collagen production. The Radio Frequency energy delivered deep into the skin produces faster, more dramatic results.

The benefits of Collagen Induction Therapy with Radio Frequency is that it is an effective strech mark treatment as well as completely safe for the skin.

The Derma White Treatment

The Derma White treatment is a herbal blend of vitamins and minerals that work in a similar way to a chemical peel. The Derma White Treatment however, is a completely natural treatment that’s perfect for sensitive skin as it contains no harsh chemicals.

The Derma White treatment can be used to treat stretch marks as it targets problem areas and improves the appearance of the skin in that area. This means that this treatment can work to lessen the appearance of stretch marks and even out skin tone.

The following are the main benefits of the Derma White treatment:

• Non-invasive
• Natural ingredients
• Safe
• Ideal for darker skin tones
• Effective

The Derma White treatment is exclusively offered here at our Harley Street clinic. Simply book in for your free consultation and one of our skincare experts can tailor a treatment plan for your skin.

These are some of the treatments we offer here at The Laser Treatment Clinic for removing stretch marks. If you’re interested in these treatments then do not hesitate to contact our team or book your free consultation online. 

We’d be happy to assist you with all of your skincare needs.

By Zaheda Hafez Skincare Expert

The post How to Effectively Remove Stretch Marks appeared first on Laser Treatment Clinic.

Mentioned below are some of the popular methods of stretch mark removal.

Stretch mark removal creams

Stretch mark removal creams are readily available nowadays. These creams are safe to use and do not cause any side-effects. However, this method can be time-consuming and can take months for even the smallest of results. More often than not, your skin may not even improve at all.

Laser surgery for stretch mark removal

This is one of the most popular methods when it comes to eliminating stretch marks. As the name suggests, this method works with the use of a laser. The laser is directed at the skin and eliminates stretch marks.

The laser corrects the skin’s natural synthesis of collagen. This is the reason why this method is so successful. Moreover, laser stretch mark removal is usually quite painless in nature and doesn’t result in any side effects.

Get rid of your stretch marks effectively with the help of laser stretch mark removal.

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What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks simply occur when the skin has been overstretched. This is a result of the collagen production being compromised in this area of the body. They typically take on a scar-like appearance. Although women tend to experience stretch marks during pregnancy, they can also affect men too. Boys and girls may find when going through puberty, and as their bodies develop, stretch marks begin to appear in places like their arms and upper legs.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

As previously mentioned, a stretch mark is caused by the stretching of the skin. There are a number of reasons why this may happen throughout your lifetime:

Growth Spurt – this is typical during puberty. It’s a great idea to explain to teens what stretch marks are and why they appear on their bodies during this time.

Pregnancy – when women’s stomachs stretch during pregnancy stretch marks will begin to appear across the stomach as well as in any other areas of the body which grow as a result of this.

Sudden Weight Gain – when gaining weight your skin will naturally stretch, you may notice stretch marks appearing across your legs, arms, and stomach.

Anabolic Steroid Use – the use of these steroids has a number of side effects, one of them being the appearance of stretch marks across your body.

Working out with weights – when working out with heavy weights your body may change in shape slightly, therefore requiring your skin to stretch. This is particularly common on the arms, chest and back when people lift heavy weight to increase strength in this area.

Should I Worry About My Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are not a cause for concern, they are not harmful, nor do they cause pain or health problems. For the most part the issue with stretch marks is the appearance of them for some people. This can affect one’s confidence and make them feel self-conscious, particularly when wearing certain outfits. At the Laser Treatment Clinic, we believe everybody should be happy in their skin. If you wish to treat the appearance of your stretch marks, this is possible.

Why do stretch marks appear in different colours?

When you first notice a new stretch mark it will usually appear in red colour. However, over time this colour will fade. The colours differ due to how long the stretch mark has been on your body. The redness and raised appearance of a new stretch mark is caused by inflammation. The appearance and colour can also differ on different skin types.

How can I treat my stretch marks?

For people who feel self-conscious or uncomfortable with the appearance of their stretch marks can seek treatment. At the Laser Treatment Clinic we have years of experience in treating stretch marks and have complete understanding of how they can affect a person’s confidence. Our range of in-clinic treatments can be used on both white and red stretch marks no matter where they are on the body. Some common treatment areas include the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, thighs, hips, upper arms, and behind the knee.

If you are interested in our treatments for stretch marks, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our expert team of professionals who will book you an initial consultation.

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Stretch marks are commonly associated with pregnant and post-partum women. Stretch marks, however, can be found amongst all types of different people, for several reasons. It is not unusual to see high-street retailers targeting these people with different treatment methods, so it can become confusing when considering how best to treat your stretch marks. You may be unhappy with how they look on your body, perhaps they appear in a place you would not like them to, or they have become irritating and have started to itch. For whatever reason you are seeking treatment for you stretch marks, with our expert understanding of skin, we can make clear what stretch marks are and how they can be treated.

What are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks simply occur when the skin is overstretched. They tend to appear in a scar-like manner, they initially appear as red marks and subsequently change colour overtime. When the skin is overstretched the production of collagen is compromised in this area therefore resulting in stretch marks. Typically, we associate stretch marks with pregnant women as their stomachs begin to grow with pregnancy however men and women can suffer with stretch marks for various reasons.  Stretch marks are usually found on the legs, hips, upper arms, chest, and bottom. You can identify them from their lines and stripes appearance.

Causes of Stretch Marks

There are various reasons why stretch marks will appear. These causes are all mostly associated with weight gain or sudden growth.

Some causes include:

• Pregnancy
• Puberty
• A loss or gain in weight
• Lifting heavy weights to gain muscle
• Use of some steroid creams

To begin with you may notice stretch marks appearing as red or purple marks, overtime they may fade in colour, sometimes appearing as white marks. Although they will fade naturally overtime, treating stretch marks will help in dramatically reducing their appearance.

How to Treat Stretch Marks

Here at The Laser Treatment Clinic, we have over 20 years’ experience in treating stretch marks and an expert knowledge and understanding of skincare. We understand how your skin’s appearance can have huge effects on your confidence and self-esteem and we strive to help improve this across all genders and ages. Our expert team provide a range of in-clinic treatments for the appearance of both new stretch marks and fading stretch marks. We can treat all areas of the body including those you may feel the most self-conscious about, such as the abdomen, arms, and thighs.

Although our treatments will be tailored to your specific needs, these may include Our Collagen Induction Therapy with Radio Frequency Treatment, Marine Peel Treatment, and Intense Pulsed Light. These treatments are designed to effectively treat the outer layer of skin to improve the appearance of the redness, whilst enhancing collagen and elastin production within to stimulate and rebuild the skin’s texture. As well as our treatments we will recommend the use of our bespoke products from our Zaheda skincare line, for the healing, up-keep and maintenance of your skin. Contact us today for a consultation with a member of our team for a specially tailored treatment plan for your stretch marks.

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We have all heard of stretch marks but both men and women usually assume that it is a skin concern that only affects the fairer sex because how commonly they are associated with pregnancy. However, the bad news for men is that this isn’t entirely the truth and everyone can get them due to a variety of reasons – including men.

What are Stretch Marks?

Like most men, at this point, you’re likely wondering exactly what stretch marks are. In medical terms, they are known as “striae distrensae” which essentially means stretched skin – exactly what causes these marks to begin with.  To put it in layman’s terms, it is a scar that occurs when your skin is stretched too quickly and too far, for example, during rapid weight or muscle gain.

What Causes Stretch Marks in Men?

It’s no secret that pregnancy is the main cause of stretch marks in women, but what exactly causes them to manifest in men? The truth is that there is no single answer to this. They can appear in a range of shapes on different areas of the body and can have several different causes.

One of the most common causes of stretch marks – in both men and women – are hormones. Significant hormonal changes, in particular, are to blame for triggering the formation of these marks, which is why they are often seen on teenage boys (and girls). The hormonal trigger for these marks means that they can also manifest themselves due to certain medications or as the result of thyroid issues.

Hormonal changes during puberty will lead to rapid growth spurts in most men, stretching the skin beyond its limits, which is what creates those tell-tale scars. However, the same hormonal changes can also lead to weight gain which can also cause the skin to tear.

Of course, gaining weight doesn’t necessarily mean fat. As we have already briefly touched upon, amassing muscle too quickly will also overstretch the skin and create stretch marks. When this happens, the marks will appear directly in the areas where you have gained the muscle including the chest, legs, arms, and back.

Surprisingly, weight loss can also result in stretch marks but not because it causes them but rather because weight loss reveals the marks that were already there while the skin was overstretched.

Treating Stretch Marks in Men

When it comes to stretch marks, home remedies will do very little to improve their look. More and more men are discovering the benefits of going to a trained skin expert instead and relying on in-clinic treatments to fade their stretch marks.

Our own range of professional stretch mark treatments for men has been developed to target the scarring on several different layers to ensure the best results. Following a consultation, our skin experts will create a tailor-made  treatment plan for every patient, these include our exclusive Collagen Induction Therapy Treatment, Marine Peel Treatment and Intense Pulsed Light which gently but effectively does away with the outer layer of dull skin to reveal a smoother complexion and diminish redness, stimulates collagen and elastin to rejuvenate and rebuild the skin. Our skin experts will usually recommend this in conjunction with our other treatments and products in your bespoke treatment plan.

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So, what exactly are stretch marks?

Technically, stretch marks are a type of scar tissue, occurring when the skin is stretched beyond its limits, causing the collagen and elastin fibres to tear. Whether they occur during pregnancy, or from some other cause, they most commonly manifest on the abdomen, hips, breasts, buttocks and lower back.

Treating Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Because many products and in-clinic treatments aren’t suitable for pregnant women, people often think that there’s nothing they can do to minimise the formation of stretch marks when they are expecting.

While you can’t entirely prevent stretch marks from occurring, you can minimise how many you get and their size by taking certain precautions. The most important factor in the number of stretch marks you will develop during pregnancy and the size of those marks is weight gain. Although there is no way to avoid this, try gaining weight steadily over the months of your pregnancy as sudden weight gain is far more likely to overstretch your skin, causing tearing in the collagen fibres which creates stretch marks.

Another thing you can do while you are still pregnant to minimise stretch marks is properly caring for your skin. It’s easy to dismiss this as an old wives’ tale and while it will do little to prevent the formation of stretch marks, keeping your skin moisturised can help with skin elasticity and the itching that often accompanies fresh stretch marks.

Dealing with Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

The key to treating stretch marks is getting to them while they are still fresh. Once they have healed and taken on their instantly recognisable silvery appearance, they are far more difficult to treat than they are when they are still red or purple in colour.

Once you are cleared to do so by your doctor, you should begin looking at treatment options sooner rather than later. At our Harley Street clinic, we have been successfully treating stretch marks for over 20 years and offer several treatments for this common skin concern. These include our exclusive Collagen Induction Therapy Treatment, Marine Peel Treatment and Intense Pulsed Light which gently but effectively does away with the outer layer of dull skin to reveal a smoother complexion and diminish redness, stimulates collagen and elastin to rejuvenate and rebuild the skin. Our skin experts will usually recommend this in conjunction with our other treatments and products in your bespoke treatment plan.

The post Dealing with Stretch Marks During and After Pregnancy appeared first on Laser Treatment Clinic.

Common Causes of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a type of damage which occurs in the middle layers of the skin – the dermis – when it becomes stretched beyond its limits. There are several different causes of stretch marks ranging from hormones to certain illnesses, and even medication. Some of the most common causes of stretch marks are:

• Hormones
• Growth Spurts
• Pregnancy
• Rapid Weight Loss
• Rapid Weight Gain
• Certain Medication
• The Use of Steroids
• Rapid Muscle Growth

Unsurprisingly, stretch marks are far more common in women than they are in men, in fact, they are twice as likely to occur in women. Family history also plays a big part, as it makes it more likely that an individual will develop stretchmarks of their own if someone else in their immediate family had them as well.

Non-Surgical Stretch Mark Treatments

Considers the cost and downtime associated with cosmetic surgery, it should come as no surprise that people are more and more interested in non-invasive options when it comes to treating stretch marks. Not only are these options saver and require less downtime, they are also far more cost-effective than paying for major cosmetic surgery. Most non-surgical stretch mark treatments work by stimulation natural collagen production, which has been proven to significantly diminish the look of any existing stretch marks. This, along with treatments that improve pigmentation and texture, lead to far better results than what can be achieved with over-the-counter products, with fewer potential side effects than the risks posed by surgery.

Qualified skin clinics, like our team here at The Laser Treatment Clinic, are trained to offer any of the following procedures, although most skin experts choose to specialise in a smaller selection, in order to deliver the best results to their clients:

• IPL
• Advanced Dermabrasion
• Collagen Induction Therapy
• The Derma White Treatment

Preventing Stretch Marks

As with most skin issues, taking steps to prevent stretchmarks is often far easier than dealing with them after they are already fully formed. The best thing you can do to minimise their appearance is to moisturise daily, as this helps the skin stay supple. You can also look into products with active ingredients, which support collagen production such as ZAHEDA Marine Boost Super Serum. The clients at The Laser Treatment Clinic swear by it!

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Despite how stretch marks look, they pose no other health risks and are incredibly common, especially when going through puberty or pregnancy. However, their widespread occurrence doesn’t mean that everyone is ready to accept them. Understandable, most people look for products and procedures to improve the appearance of the stretch marks on their thighs, due to their unsightly appearance.

How Stretch Marks Look

Stretch marks on the thighs, and any other areas of the body, will present as raised, discoloured streaks on the skin. As they are a type of scarring, or permanent skin damage, they can be distinguished from the surrounded skin by their change in both colour and texture, along with a lack of elasticity. Medically known as striae, these marks look like pink or purple linear streaks on the thighs when they first appear. Over an extended period of months, or in some cases years, they will settle down to a lighter, almost silver shade.

Treating Stretch Marks on the Thighs

Our skin experts here at The Laser Treatment Clinic have decades of combined experience in treating stretch marks of all severities and areas of the body, including the thighs. For the most effective results, we recommend an individual treatment plan using a combination of the following treatments:

• Collagen Induction Therapy: Carried out in a medical environment using anaesthetic cream if necessary to minimise discomfort, CIT uses a microneedling device to vertically penetrate the skin and create micro-injuries. This stimulates natural collagen production as part of the body’s wound healing response which helps to plump and smooth the appearance of the skin from within.
• The Derma White Treatment: Offering a natural alternative to harsh chemical and acid treatments, this peeling treatment has been formulated using a blend of powerful marine and alpine herbs, vitamins and minerals. Much like traditional peels, the gentle but effective Derma White Treatment stimulates collagen production and boost blood flow to the affected area to improve the colour and texture of stretch marks.
• Advanced Dermabrasion: Another effective but non-invasive treatment, advanced dermabrasion uses a small device to blast the surface of the skin with crystal microparticles to effectively “polish” the top layer and remove dead skin. This also stimulates collagen and new cell growth to address the textural issues that make stretch marks so visible.

The combination and number of treatments you will require will depend on the severity of your stretch marks, which is why we always recommend booking a consultation with one of our skin experts so that they can create a tailored treatment plan to suit your specific needs.

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