Stretch Marks

Stretch marks, also known as striae, are very common. They mostly develop in areas of the body, including the hips, thighs, stomach, upper arms, and breasts. More women experience stretch marks than men as pregnancy is a time when stretch marks are very likely to appear.

Small, indented streaks on the skin’s surface are characteristic of stretch marks. When they first appear, they may be red or purple, turning to a silvery white over time. Stretch marks will often feel soft and are smooth in texture. It is their overall appearance that causes the affected person a concern, as the skin becomes noticeably uneven.

As their name suggests, this concern is the result of marks caused by overstretched skin. When parts of the body grow or expand fairly rapidly, the skin can be unable to stretch effectively with them. This can tear the middle layers of the skin, and as the top layer of the skin stays intact, these tears become visible and are darker in colour. The body’s natural response to damaged tissues is to try and repair them. This process sends collagen to the damaged site to help knit the tissues back together. These fibres are different in texture and tone to normal skin cells, which is why stretch marks change to become paler and softer.

Many individuals get their first stretchmarks in their teens, as puberty can be when the body grows faster, with boys often having a general growth spurt, and girls developing wider hips and larger breasts.

Sunekos Body is a treatment available at The Bloom Clinic. It can be a great way to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This injectable treatment has been formulated specifically for the structure of the skin and tissues around the body and has been clinically proven to treat stretchmarks and skin laxity effectively. The quality of the skin is improved through its patented formula, which works to rebuild and restructure the skin tissues and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. SkinPen microneedling is another treatment offered at The Bloom Clinic, which is clinically proven for treating stretchmarks.