Stretch marks (striae distensae) are common dermal scarring associated with weight gain, overweight, and pregnancy. Scarring is caused by overstretching of the skin's dermis with permanent structural alteration of the collagen network fibers. Some individuals have naturally weak connective tissue and may develop major stretch marks without being overweight. Stretch marks can develop during puberty and after physical exercise with rapid muscle growth. Cortisone treatment and anabolic steroids often cause stretch marks. Stretch marks are of major cosmetic concern to many. They are red and swollen in the early sate and white and irregular in texture in the later stage. Many men and women suffer from poor self-esteem caused by stretch marks. Medical tattooing of stretch marks, also known as microneedling, can correct the skin pigmentation color in the normal direction, but not the actual textural change. However, abnormal texture may be modified by microneedling, by nonablative laser treatment, or by microdermabrasion. Treatments can also be combined, e.g., initial use of a method to flatten the skin, followed by tattooing to correct the color. Treatment options and strategies are reviewed.
Keywords: Cosmetic tattooing; Dermaroller; Medical tattooing; Microdermabrasion; Micropigmentation; Needling; Peeling; Striae alba; Striae distensae; Striae rubrae.
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