“Dear Dr. Seckel, What treatment options are available that will help to eliminate stretch marks in African-American skin?” – Karen, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your question. The short answer is that there are no satisfactory easy, non-surgical solutions for stretch marks in any skin type, African American, Caucasian, Asian, or other.
Stretch marks are caused by disruption and damage to the collagen in the dermis of the skin, the layer just beneath the outer surface of the skin. This disruption of the dermis occurs as a result of severe stretching of the skin and stretch marks result. This profound stretching of the skin most commonly happens during pregnancy when the abdominal skin stretches so much during such a short period of time. Stretch marks can also occur, usually over the hip or thigh area, during the rapid period of body growth during adolescence. I have also seen stretch marks occur in the skin overlying muscles in body builders who have “pumped up�? their muscles over a very short period of time. Stretch marks also occur in people with Cushing’s Syndrome a medical condition which is the result of excessive levels of the adrenal hormone cortisol. This later cause of stretch marks is proof of the damaging effects of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Interestingly when the skin is stretched slowly over a period of time stretch marks do not occur. An example is breast augmentation or breast enlargement which is done frequently and almost never results in stretch marks. The only time I have seen stretch marks occur after breast augmentation or breast enlargement was in a body builder who vigorously lifted weights shortly after her breast augmentation. Another example is soft tissue expansion which we do to stretch the skin and reconstruct a new breast after mastectomy for breast cancer. These patients almost never develop stretch marks even though we stretch the skin considerably but very slowly.
Several Lasers have been advertised to remove stretch marks, but the results are not satisfactory. The laser can lighten the stretch mark color, but the stretch mark is not removed. Strivectin® and other crèmes are advertised for stretch marks but I am not impressed with results.
The only way I have been able to successfully remove stretch marks is to surgically remove them. The problem with this approach is that the surgery also leaves a scar.
The most satisfactory results for removal of stretch marks is the abdominoplasty operation. Typically a woman has loose skin and stretch marks on the abdomen after giving birth to her children. In many of these cases, the loose skin and stretch marks can be removed during the abdominoplasty operation. The tummy or abdomen is tightened and a nice flat tummy can be achieved and most if not all of the stretch marks removed. The scar is hidden underneath the “bikini line�?.
I hope this information is helpful. I am sorry there is no easy solution for stretch marks. I will address your question on Cellulite as a separate question, later. Visit my Boston Plastic Surgery Practice or read Save Your Face. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, Masachusetts