Have you noticed some indented marks in your skin after putting on or losing weight quickly?

These are known as stretch marks and they are long, narrow scars that develop when the skin is stretched too quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear.

The most common areas affected include: the abdomen, breasts, hips, flank, buttocks, and thighs.

Pregnancy, puberty, and rapid weight gain can all cause stretch marks, which can be a cosmetic concern.

Treatments for stretch marks

In studies, applying active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and tretinoin seem to make early stretch marks less noticeable. Procedures such as chemical peels, lasers, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency microneedling can also help to improve the appearance of these stretch marks.

In our practice, what we have found effective is combining the latest radiofrequency microneedling treatment, Genius, with different treatments such as a CO2 skin resurfacing laser and a collagen-stimulating dermal filler to further improve your skin texture.

What is Genius?

Genius is an established radiofrequency microneedling platform as compared to its predecessor, INFINI Laser. For people unfamiliar with INFINI, it uses microneedles to deliver a series of tiny punctures to induce controlled damage and radiofrequency energy into the dermis to kick start neocollagenesis.

How is Genius different from INFINI, you might ask.

Well, firstly the needles Genius uses are better designed for easier skin penetration with less tissue injury. There is also in-built real- time tissue impedance monitoring, which allows for more precise RF energy delivery for better results. A real-time feedback mechanism also optimises needle placement and hence improved RF energy delivery.

Although you may see some results in a few days, it may take a series of treatments and a few months to see the optimal result from the treatment as collagen and elastin take time to develop.

We suggest to accelerate this skin renewal process by using Radium’s EGF Repair serum. EGF stands for Epidermal Growth Factor, which is a cell-signalling polypeptide that helps to stimulate collagen production, to lessen the appearance of the stretch marks. Radium’s EGF serum also contains a Placenta Extract, which helps to further fortify the skin barrier and boosts skin elasticity.

Conclusion:

Stretch mark treatments can be expensive. If you find yourself spending a lot of time and money without getting any results, seeing a doctor can be helpful, as clinic procedures have proven to be more effective than topical creams, lotions, and gels.