Thread by @skinandall_

dermatologyteaching
I have been tagged so many times about the stretch marks treatment that went wrong that was posted on Instablognija. It has become imperative to write about stretch marks also called Striae distensiae.

Stretch marks occur as a result of excessive stretching of the skin which in turn causes stress on the connective tissue of the skin. The connective tissue is that part of the skin where you have collagen and elastic fibers that give strength to the skin. Like the 'power house'.

There are some factors that puts one at risk of stretch marks. Pregnancy, obesity, rapid weight loss or rapid weight gain, growth spurt in adolescence, body builders, and people that use steroids....

(Especially for a long time; either for the purpose of treatment or due to 'afowofa' from skin bleaching). There are also some certain people that are predisposed genetically to have stretch marks.

Initially, they appear thin and may be really itchy in the early stage...

(And may look red on Caucasian skin) but later become thicker when they're more established. With time, they may start to fade / thin out.

Myths about stretch marks.
1. There's a magic cream that will take it away and it will never occur again.

Its easier to manage them when it's in the early stage but it should be noted that there's no magic cream per se.

2. It occurs only in those that use bleaching creams. Not true.

The type of stretch marks that occur in those that use bleaching creams usually appears a little different; looks thicker and purplish. Stretch marks can also occur in anyone especially if they have risk factors as mentioned up there.

3. It only occurs in overweight or obese people and cannot occur in slim people. Not true. Individuals with genetic factors that puts them at risk or the growth spurt that occurs in adolescence can also have stretch marks even if they're thin.

How then is stretch marks managed?

1. Educate your patient. Don't let them get into the wrong hands like that lady did. The effects are mostly cosmetic except sometimes when the skin breaks with excessive stretching.

2. Regular moisturising and use of certain oils like purcellin oil, cocoa butter, almond oil, coconut oil amongst others help to reduce the itching and also may improve the appearance in the early stage.

3. Certain creams containing substances like retinol may also help improve the appearance. Retinol creams cannot be used in pregnancy though.

4. Procedures like dermabrasion with use of some creams, chemical peels, LASER have also been used with varying success.

Please don't fall into the hands of charlatans that would send you to the great beyond from complications of aesthetic procedures. There is no procedure without risk of complications. Be aware of any complication that may occur before you sign an informed consent.

It will be rather unfortunate to submit yourself to the wrong hands for something that is aesthetic and then you start nursing complications that may take years to correct or worse still...send you to the other side.

A nì kán àgbákò ò!!!

A nì fowó arawa serawa o...Amin

Here's a picture of how striae distensiae aka stretch marks looks like on black skin. The first from WebMD is a picture of regular stretch marks, the second from healthline is a picture of steroid induced stretch marks.

Note that stretch marks on Caucasian skin can look like steroid induced ones because of the color and composition of their skin. Both pictures via Google images.

Questions and comments will be sorted on the thread.