Teenage Stretch Marks: Why Treat Them Now, Cream And Laser Recommendations

Adolescence is a period when the body's shape changes and weight increases with physical development, leading to stretch marks in various areas. Very mild stretch marks may become unnoticeable after growth, but severe cases can leave unsightly marks. Stretch marks that appear during adolescence, when appearance is a major concern, are a significant worry for students and parents alike.

During puberty, our bodies grow rapidly. At this time, the skin may not keep up with the body's growth rate and tear, making stretch marks prone to appearing. In addition to physical development, changes in body shape and weight gain are also major causes of stretch marks.

Stretch marks can vary in location and severity depending on an individual's physical characteristics. Commonly affected areas include:

• Calves, Thighs: Often occur in areas where legs lengthen and muscles develop as one grows taller.
• Buttocks: May appear where the buttocks enlarge and connect to the abdomen.
• Back: In males, stretch marks tend to appear on the back when they suddenly grow taller.
• Breasts: In females, stretch marks can also occur in the breast area.

Stretch marks initially appear red, then turn white over time, often leaving a slightly depressed appearance. Very mild stretch marks may not be noticeable after growth, but severe stretch marks can progress from red to white, appearing as unevenly depressed skin surfaces.

Dry skin tends to be more prone to stretch marks. Therefore, most products known as stretch mark creams focus on moisturizing effects. Using stretch mark creams or consistently applying general moisturizers may help prevent stretch marks to some extent.

For growth-related stretch marks caused by weight gain, if they are mild in the early stages, weight loss may be helpful. However, for large or deeply depressed stretch marks, even with weight loss, they may appear more depressed as follows, so caution is needed:

It is advisable to treat stretch marks as early as possible. This is especially true for red stretch marks, as early treatment can help prevent further progression to some extent and yield better treatment results. Even existing stretch marks can be partially reversed with early treatment, so it is desirable to start treating red stretch marks as soon as possible.

The effective laser treatment method for stretch marks varies depending on their color and stage of progression.

• Red Stretch Marks: For red stretch marks, vascular lasers such as the Vbeam are commonly used.
• White Stretch Marks: When stretch marks have progressed from red to white, fractional lasers such as the Ultrapulse Encore are effective.

After laser treatment, it may take approximately 2-3 weeks for exfoliation to occur and for the skin to shed.

Considering the recovery period after laser treatment, it may be more advisable to receive treatment during school breaks. This allows sufficient time for the exfoliation process and other post-treatment changes.