During pregnancy the skin and underlying layers of tissue pull and stretch to accommodate the growing fetus. Collagen deposits located deep in the tissues begin to break apart, leading to the development of characteristic streaks, called stretch marks, or striae distensae.

Stretch marks most often appear during the sixth and seventh month. Initially, the marks may appear as red or purple streaks over the skin. After delivery, the marks may fade somewhat, turning into depressed white streaks. Stretch marks commonly occur on the abdomen and breasts, but can also develop on the hips, thighs and buttocks.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 90 percent of women experience stretch marks during pregnancy. The condition is much more common in white women than in African-American women. Stretch marks can also occur in non-pregnant women or men who experience periods of rapid growth or weight gain.

Erasing Stretch Marks
For some women, stretch marks leave an unsightly impression in the skin. Special creams are marketed to eliminate the marks, but these products aren't often effective. Topical Retin-A may help reduce the appearance of some relatively new stretch marks. But until recently, there was little women could do to get rid of older, unsightly stretch marks.

Now, a new laser is showing great promise in the ability to effectively treat all kinds of stretch marks. It's called Coolbeam™. The Coolbeam laser uses low intensity laser light that's passed over the surface of the skin. The light energy causes the vaporization of damaged superficial skin cells and allows new skin cells to take their place. In addition, pigment and collagen production increase, restoring the appearance of healthy skin. A single treatment takes about 15 to 45 minutes, depending upon the size of the area to be treated. After treatment, patients may experience some swelling and discomfort. These side effects are usually very mild and can be treated with ice packs. There is no down time after the procedure.

Very fine stretch marks may disappear after a single treatment. However, most patients require three to five treatments to attain optimal results (not all stretch marks disappear completely). The combined cost of these treatments is about $1,500 to $2,000/area of the body. Doctors advise waiting three to six weeks between procedures for the best results. Patients receiving Coolbeam therapy must avoid sun exposure until the skin has healed sufficiently.

AUDIENCE INQUIRY
For information on Coolbeam for stretch marks: http://www.epione.com

For general information on stretch marks: American Academy of Dermatology, http://www.aad.org

Source: Medstar