Laser treatment for stretch marks | Dr Benjamin Cozanet Paris

Stretch marks are areas of skin where the deep dermis, located between the epidermis and the hypodermis, has torn spontaneously. When they first appear, they take the form of streaks resembling long scars, reddish-purple in color, and are inflammatory. They lighten over time, becoming white and pearly, almost the same color as the skin. Stretch marks are mainly found on the stomach, breasts, arms, buttocks, and thighs.

Very common, they can appear during pregnancy, during significant and sudden weight changes — gain or loss — as well as during adolescence.

Stretch marks can cause real insecurities for women but also for men, who may then try many things without much success.

What are the different types of stretch marks?

Stretch marks that reveal a health problem
Cushing’s syndrome, caused by an excess of corticosteroids in the body, can lead to significant stretch marks.

These are usually wide, red, vertical, and located on the abdomen, upper thighs and arms, as well as on the breasts. Other signs may be associated with them, such as thin, very fragile skin that bruises easily, as well as muscle atrophy and weakness, or weight gain mainly around the stomach and face…

These signs should be a warning and lead to a prompt medical consultation. Cushing’s syndrome is caused by an excess of cortisol-type hormones, the stress hormone normally produced in appropriate quantities by the adrenal glands.

Cushing’s syndrome is most often linked to the excessive use of corticosteroid medications. It can also occur when the adrenal glands function abnormally and produce too much cortisol.

Classic stretch marks
Classic stretch marks are thinner and more discreet and are not associated with any particular health problem. Although they have no impact on health, they are often considered unsightly and can cause significant discomfort. Unfortunately, no treatment can make them disappear completely.
Classic stretch marks also have, at least partly, a hormonal origin, and can therefore develop during puberty or pregnancy, two periods of major hormonal changes in a woman’s life.
During the second trimester of pregnancy, the amount of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, increases and affects the suppleness and elasticity of the skin. The higher the cortisol level, the lower the collagen production. Since collagen, together with elastic fibers, is responsible for the skin’s suppleness, the skin becomes less elastic. As a result, if the skin is stretched — weight gain, pregnancy, puberty — stretch marks may form.
Sudden and significant weight gain or loss can also be responsible for the appearance of stretch marks. Weight gain may have stretched the skin, while weight loss may have pulled it.

High-level athletes are quite often prone to stretch marks because their cortisol levels are high.

How common are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are very common: nearly 80% of women have this type of small scar on certain areas of their body.
During a first pregnancy, 50 to 70% of women notice the appearance of stretch marks, often at the end of pregnancy.
At puberty, 25% of girls compared with only 10% of boys observe the formation of stretch marks.

How are stretch marks diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made simply by examining the skin. When stretch marks are significant and associated with other symptoms, the doctor will carry out tests to detect Cushing’s syndrome.

What causes them?

The appearance of stretch marks is thought to be hormonal in origin. More precisely, it is believed to be linked to excessive cortisol production.
Skin stretching combined with increased cortisol production. Rapid weight gain, puberty — when body shape changes quickly — or pregnancy can therefore combine hormonal factors with stretching of the skin.

The application of creams containing corticosteroids or prolonged use of oral corticosteroids.

The use of anabolic steroids by athletes to increase muscle mass, particularly bodybuilders. Very thin skin.

What are the treatments for stretch marks?

Depending on the type of stretch marks, Doctor Benjamin Cozanet can recommend the best treatment for your case and according to the type of stretch marks present.

In any case, the treatment of stretch marks remains complex and most often provides improvement rather than complete and permanent disappearance.

Treatments using vascular lasers — pulsed dye laser — ablative fractional CO2 laser, or Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser — Revlite — may be indicated.

Fractional radiofrequency — FSR Endymed 3Deep — which allows slight ablation of the epidermis and deep heating, requires an average of 3 sessions spaced 1 month apart to improve stretch marks.

Preventing the appearance of stretch marks through intense moisturization in situations where there is a risk of developing stretch marks remains the best way to avoid them.

Furthermore, for body contouring treatment — abdomen and buttocks — and particularly for the post-pregnancy stomach, EMSculpt is an innovative and interesting treatment for muscle strengthening and reducing abdominal muscle diastasis.