Stretch Marks in Pregnancy

Stretch marks are a frequent reason for consultation, especially during motherhood, a time in which the skin stretches suddenly. Today, laser is one of the available treatment options: it can help make stretch marks less visible, although it does not guarantee their removal and may cause discomfort. Stretch marks are skin lesions in the form of lines produced by the rupture of elastic and collagen fibers. At the beginning, when they are in an inflammatory state, they have a purplish red color and with the passage of time they become chronic and acquire a pearly white color. They generally appear on skin that has been traumatized by the sudden and excessive distension of collagen and elastin fibers, such as after childbirth. The most common areas where they occur are the abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks, hips and arms. It's important to clarify that stretch marks are not cured: treatments can improve their appearance. Not all of them respond the same to treatments, so the sooner the consultation and the newer the stretch mark, the better the response. There are no preventive treatments, since their appearance depends on the type of skin. Very firm and tense skin does not support stretching and the elastic fibers break. To prevent the appearance of these marks, moisturizing and not gaining too much weight is recommended. Currently, some treatments can improve their appearance, with variable results: stretch marks are scars, and their removal cannot be guaranteed. Nor can it be guaranteed that new stretch marks won't appear, since this depends on each person's predisposition. Stretch marks in the postpartum period During the postpartum period, laser therapy is one of the options a qualified professional may consider for treating stretch marks, which has provided a better possibility of resolving the issue of stretch marks. Above all, because in the postpartum period, while the mother is breastfeeding, mesotherapy with the application of chemical substances cannot be used, which is what is generally used to treat stretch marks. TCA peels, mesotherapy, ultrasound, were initially the ways to address stretch marks, but some of them were annoying or painful. On the other hand, light therapy has provided a non-invasive therapeutic possibility which may be an option in the postpartum period if a qualified professional considers it appropriate. The novelty in terms of lasers is the NIR, near infrared. The number of sessions and the results vary depending on the person, the characteristics of the stretch marks and the treatment; results within a set number of sessions, or a treatment free of discomfort, cannot be guaranteed. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a qualified professional before starting any treatment. On the other hand, NIR can be used at any time of the year.