Multiple treatments are required to improve stretch marks.

Treatments should be repeated every 2-3 days. Superficial stretch marks will require a 2 months treatment to achieve about 50% to 80% improvement, whereas it may take as much as four months of treatments to significantly improve old, large and deep stretch marks.

General Guideline:

4 - 8 Weeks - for mild or minor scars or marks.

8 to 12 Weeks - for noticeable results for old and deep stretch marks.

Results are better and fewer treatments are needed with more recent and/or superficial stretch marks. It works as well for stretch marks seen during puberty or many years after pregnancy.

Before starting the treatment you should know that the final result of the appearance of your stretch marks will be an improvement but never a complete disappearance. So you have to make a final decision when to stop the treatment.

Complications : The only complication that may need management is transient hyperpigmentation usually seen around 4 weeks post-microdermabrasion, especially on darker skin types. This hyperpigmentation can be resolved with the application of a 4% hydroquinone bleaching cream twice daily.

Advantages : This form of treatment offers many advantages and stays within a safe zone. The presumed mechanisms of action are reviewed below.

The microdermabrasion is performed just deeply enough to remove the corneocytes. These cells are responsible for the impermeability of the epidermis. Removing this layer allows the cream to penetrate.

The goal of the cream is to stimulate the fibroblasts of the healthy zones between stretch marks and act also at the depth of the stretch marks.

The glycoprotein enzyme and the moisturizing and lipid enhancers contained in the cream start a partial dissociation of the corneocytes and enhance the penetration of the product by diminishing the superficial tension. Breaking of the barrier function of the epidermis creates an immediate stimulation of the lipids, DNA and growth factors into the keratinocytes that will stimulate their differentiation.

After the action of the abrasion and the cream on the healthy parts of the skin between the stretch marks, the cream also acts at the depth of the marks, stimulating re-epithelization and enhancing fibroblast production.

The aim of the procedure is to allow the cream to touch the desired level of the skin and, because of the occlusion, to remain in contact long enough with the dermis at the depth of the stretch marks, where the cream can exert its various beneficial effects on collagen synthesis and so get rid of the stretch marks.