Stretch marks are often a souvenir left behind from pregnancy or weight gain. These lines frequently appear on the hips, buttocks and stomach and can make a woman self-conscious about wearing certain types of clothing. The good news is the appearance of stretch marks can be significantly reduced with an appropriate chemical peel treatment offered at New Visage.
About Stretch Marks
Stretch marks, also known as striae, are a type of scarring that occurs below the surface of the skin. These marks begin as red or purple lines that typically fade to white over time. In addition to weight gain and pregnancy, stretch marks can also be brought on through the growth spurts of puberty, body building or hormone replacement therapy. While these lines do not signify a serious medical issue, they can be a significant cosmetic concern.
Since stretch marks originate below the skin’s surface, there is no way to remove these marks completely. However chemical peels can effectively diminish their appearance, while creating a smoother, softer surface to the skin. At the same time, chemical peels will effectively address other skin concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and other shallow imperfections that keep you from looking and feeling your best.
The Chemical Peel Process
Chemical peels work by removing the outer layer of skin cells, leaving smoother, softer skin behind. At the same time, these treatments stimulate the body’s own healing process, compelling the body to produce more collagen to support the underlying skin structure. Depending on the depth of the peel, these treatments can be temporary or provide results that are long lasting. Temporary results can also be maintained by repeating the peel treatment at regular intervals.
A TCA peel contains the active ingredient trichloroacetic acid and is often the peel recommended for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. This peel must be carefully monitored by a skin care specialist experienced in administering these types of treatments. The peel usually takes less than one hour to complete and recovery time is much shorter than it is for deeper phenol peels. However, the results of a TCA chemical peel can still be quite dramatic and long lasting, compared to lighter peels using alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxyl acids.
At New Visage, we offer the Obagi Blue Peel, which uses a combination of TCA and a blue base to slow down the penetration of the chemicals. This special formulation allows us to customize your treatment to your specific needs and desired outcome. To learn more about the Obagi Blue Peel, or other options in stretch mark treatment, contact New Visage at 252-808-2NEW.