SCARS & STRETCH MARKS

A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear.
Not everyone develops these narrow bands on their skin. Fluctuating hormone levels seem to play a role. You may also have a higher risk if people in your family get stretch marks.

A scar is the body’s natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is usually composed of fibrous tissue. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue. Scars may appear anywhere on the body, and the composition of a scar may vary. A scar may appear flat, lumpy, sunken, or colored. It may be painful or itchy. The final look of a scar depends on many factors, including the skin type and location on the body, the direction of the wound, the type of injury, age of the person with the scar, and his or her nutritional status.

Both scars and stretch marks can be flat or have some texture, as well as being darker (hyper-pigmented) than your skin, or lighter (hypo-pigmented) than your natural skin tone. The texture can either be raised or indented.

• Indented Scars (Atrophic)

  • Scarring occurs when a wound fails to heal completely or heals ineffectively. This is usually due to significant amounts of inflammation, or infection, throughout the healing process. Atrophic or indented scars are a result of “too little” healing.

• Raised Scars (Hypertrophic)
  • Scarring occurs when a wound fails to heal completely or heals ineffectively. This is usually due to significant amounts of inflammation, or infection, throughout the healing process. Hypertophic or raised scars are the result of “too much” healing in response to the injury.
• Stretch Marks (Striae)
  • When connective tissue is stretched, collagen bonds and elastin fibers break and cause the tissue to retract and collapse. Stretch marks can come as a result of genetics, growth spurts, weight or muscle gain, and most commonly, with pregnancy.

Results largely depend on the type of scar or stretch mark that you have, as well as the treatment selected. Most patients will see an improvement to the overall appearance of the scar or stretch mark, even if they are older than one year. The best results occur when treatment of a scar is done within six months of formation.

• Surgical procedures or accidental injuries
• Prolonged inflammation or infection of injury
• Disrupted wound healing response
• Damaged collagen and elastin

Scarring occurs when a wound fails to heal completely or heals ineffectively. This is usually due to significant amounts of inflammation, or infection, throughout the healing process.

Stretch marks occur due to a sudden or extreme stretching of the skin, which causes damage to the connective tissue of the skin.