PROMOTION
A SOLUTION FOR STRETCH MARKS FROM PALOMAR
Stretch marks affect 90% of women and approximately half of men in their lifetime. Here, Palomar discusses the treatment options available for your patients
S
TRETCH MARKS ARE no small problem. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 90% of women will develop
them during pregnancy. However, many normal life changes such as puberty and weight change are also big factors in the development of stretch marks — and women aren’t the only ones affected. It’s estimated that half of men will develop stretch marks, in some cases owing to rapid growth, bodybuilding and weight change. Getting rid of stretch mark scars
can be a difficult task; the combination of textural irregularity and pigment variation is a complex condition that’s hard to resolve with one treatment approach. Fractional non-ablative lasers are making easy work of treating striated and pigmented skin, giving clinicians a powerful new solution for satisfying patient demand for clear, smooth skin after weight-loss and pregnancy. However, as common as stretch
marks are, effective treatment options have been limited. While some topical solutions have been moderately helpful in reducing pigment, they’ve shown little efficacy on skin texture. As a result, many postpartum women have
Figure 1 Treatment to striae on the stomach and hips, one side treated versus one side untreated
turned to surgical ‘tummy tucks’ to get the outcomes they desire, suffering through the surgical removal of the scarred skin and putting them at risk for post- procedure complications and lengthy recovery times.
Many benefits, fewer complications Unlike surgery that cuts away scarred skin, fractional non-ablative lasers work to target and destroy stretch marks at the surface. They emit high-precision microbeams to create deep, narrow columns of coagulation in the dermis and epidermis that causes new tissue to form at the site that is smoother in texture and more even in colour. It’s a less invasive alternative to
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surgery that clinical research has shown to be highly effective in minimising the appearance of stretch marks, without harming the surrounding tissue. And most importantly, as it’s affecting pigment
March 2013 |
prime-journal.com
and texture at the same time, more visible improvement can be seen immediately. This offers new hope and a
welcome option to patients who suffer from the unsightly appearance of stretch marks, including both dark red and purple striated discolouration and tell-tale skin puckering. Furthermore, it has been proven highly effective in treating old and new stretch marks, and it works equally well on all skin types, including light, tanned and very dark skin.
It also opens the door to more
effective treatment for stretch marks that appear on the legs, arms, buttocks and breasts, areas where surgery is undesirable. One recent study revealed a
51–75% improvement in the appearance of stretch marks after two to four fractional laser-based treatments, according to Francesca de Angelis, MD, a leading plastic surgeon from Naples, Italy, who led
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