Stretch marks can affect many different body types, due to pregnancy, weight gain, or simply through puberty when the skin is unable to keep up with the rate of growth. Anyone who has to deal with these pesky marks have most likely tried every at-home remedy to get rid of them to no avail. Even though you can never completely remove their presence, you can dramatically improve its appearance with a thought-out treatment plan.
Micro-needling is a skin resurfacing system that produces comparable results to laser treatment, without the risk of burning the skin. The DermaPen is a micro-needling devise that utilizes fine, tiny stainless steel needles to pierce the skin in an automated motion, essentially damaging the skin, allowing it to repair itself while building new collagen. What makes the DermaPen so effective are the different needle lengths that make it possible to customize the depth of treatment.
If you have done your research on at-home remedies for stretch mark removal, I am sure you have come across hand-held rolling devices that promise similar results. When puncturing the skin, it is best to leave it to the professionals or risk additional scarring and possible infection.
A topical numbing cream is applied to the skin before treatment to make the process more comfortable for the patient. The DermaPen is then glided in multiple directions to target the scar on all angles. A lubricant is constantly added in-between swipes to allow the needles to glide smoothly across the skin. This process is repeated up to four times to each area. For more noticeable scars, a stamping motion can be applied for even deeper penetration. By the end of the process the effect of the needles will become very evident on the skin. Expect for the treated area to show some redness for up to 7 – 10 days. It’s important to keep the treated area moisturized with vitamin enriched ointments during the healing process. Following micro-needling, creams that are applied to the treated area are able to penetrate to deeper levels of the skin, making the product more effective.
Micro-needling can address a variety of other skin conditions as well, including: acne scars, uneven texture, skin tightening, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. A series of at least 4 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart is recommended for maximum results.