microdermabrasion
{stretch marks} 2007
source:
microdermabrasionresources.com
'Is
Microdermabrasion an Effective Treatment for Stretch Marks?'
Stretch marks,
which appear as unsightly striations across the skin, are caused
by scarring within the Dermis (the skin's middle layer) during
periods of weight gain when for various reasons the skin is not
elastic enough.
A major factor
in the formation of stretch marks is the level of a certain group
of hormones, the glucocorticoids, within the bloodstream. When
present in large amounts, glucocorticoids prevent cells called
fibroblasts from forming collagen and elastin fibers--structural
proteins that are hugely important for skin elasticity. Glucocorticoid
levels are at their highest during pregnancy and puberty, which
are also periods of rapid weight gain.
So it is during
these stages of life that stretch marks most commonly form. But
how can they be treated? It has been suggested by certain spa
professionals and estheticians that the technique of microdermabrasion
might help remove stretch marks. But is this accurate? Is microdermabrasion
a good treatment for stretch marks? To answer this question we
must first understand what microdermabrasion is and how it works.
What Is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion
is a noninvasive, non-surgical procedure in which the skin is
sprayed with tiny abrasive micro crystals, usually of aluminum
oxide, which exfoliate dead skin cells and are then vacuumed away.
This result in a more even skin tone and smoother skin texture,
making the procedure very effective at erasing fine lines, pigmentation
irregularities, and other surface skin imperfections. But since
the process only affects dead skin cells in the stratum corneum,
the outermost layer of skin. How can microdermabrasion be for
treating stretch marks?
Many estheticians
advocate the use of microdermabrasion for treating stretch marks
because they say that the process increases the production of
collagen within the deeper layers of skin, but in reality there
is little or no evidence of this. The topic is still under debate,
but researchers have not yet found any connection between increased
collagen production and the microdermabrasion procedure in clinical
studies. It is probably not true, then, that microdermabrasion
is a good treatment for stretch marks.
Alternatives
to Microdermabrasion Treatment for Stretch Marks
Dermabrasion,
another sanding procedure that involves not only surface skin
cells but deeper levels as well, is much more effective for treating
stretch marks than microdermabrasion. This procedure is more expensive
than microdermabrasion and must be performed by a physician, but
the results are far superior to microdermabrasion for stretch
mark removal.
Another technique,
fractional laser resurfacing, is gaining popularity as a stretch
mark treatment. This procedure induces the production of epithelial
collagen by carefully targeting stretch mark damaged skin with
a laser. In clinical trials, as many as 75% of patients noticed
improvement over the course of several treatments.
If stretch marks
are very pronounced in the abdominal region, as can occur with
pregnancy, some patients opt for a tummy tuck, in which the skin
affected by stretch marks is removed altogether.
In short, there are many treatments available, and all of them
should be considered before microdermabrasion for treating stretch
marks, because there are simply more.
