Will a Chemical Peel Reduce the Depth of Stretch Marks?

Question

I am looking into treatment of new/old stretch marks. I have stretch marks on my butt, thighs, and knees. However it is not the color of the marks that bother me, it's the depth. I understand how stretch marks are caused and that they are on the dermis layer of the skin. Would a chemical peel be effective in evening out the skin? None of my stretch marks are very deep, they were caused by puberty. Also, is it possible to use a deep chemical peel such as a phenol peel on those areas of the body?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Stretch marks, also known as striae, may follow a rapid growth spurt during adolescence, pregnancy or prolonged overweight. Typically, stretch marks possess some of the microscopic characteristics of scars and for that reason may be treated in a similar fashion. Whatever their cause, stretch marks, like scars are by definition permanent.

	Happily, however, there are now a variety of successful approaches for improving the appearance of scars and making them less visible. The precise technique or combination of methods chosen must be tailored to the extent of the problem and its location(s) on the body.

	For more than a decade,  I have found combining subcision and microneedling to be quite effective. Subcision involves the insertion of a needle below the skin surface to break up the tight fibrous bands that pull the scar downward.

	Medical microneedling employs a roller containing numerous spoke-like needles to create microchannels in the skin, which besides physically breaking up the underlying abnormal collagen stimulates new collagen synthesis further improves the appearance of the stretch marks. Many treatments, including as you mention, chemical peels, and a variety of lasers, have been proposed for dealing with stretch marks. None of these methods has proven universally satisfactory and to date the results have been far from gratifying in many cases.

	I have found a combined using of a series of medical microneedling sessions followed by the injection of Radiesse at a later date to be quite helpful. The microneedling improves both the crinkly surface of the stretch mark and softens up the dermis below, making it more responsive to plumping right up when injected with the Radiesse, which also has an additional benefit of promoting native neocollagenesis (new collagen formation) several weeks following injection. Stretch marks will not disappear entirely, but they can be significantly flattened and smoothed with these techniques.

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

A chemical peel does Z E R O for stretch marks anywhere on your body.   An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck may benefit you by removing some skin and stretch out the rest.  Stretched out stretch marks are less obvious than  if not stretched out.   This is much harder to apply in other areas of the body.  No pel of any type and not laser and not dermabreasion will help stretch marks even 1 %.   Sometime a great suntan helps blend the areas.  Sometimes a long term treatment of the areas with Retin A - Hydroquinone  helps blend the area and make it less obvious.  Stay in great shape and be pleased with the great shape.  Other then the sun tan and the Retin A program there is nothing to do that works.  Do not fall prey to purveyors of FALSE HOPES.  My Best,  DR C

Will a Chemical Peel Reduce the Depth of Stretch Marks?

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Will a Chemical Peel Reduce the Depth of Stretch Marks?

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