Stretch Marks

Stretch marks (striae) form when the skin is stretched rapidly beyond its elastic capacity. The dermis, which provides structural support, literally tears under tension. Fresh stretch marks (striae rubra) appear red or purple because the underlying blood vessels are visible through the thinned skin. Over time, they fade to silvery-white (striae alba) as the blood vessels contract and the scar matures.

The most common triggers are pregnancy (affecting up to 90% of women), rapid weight gain or loss, adolescent growth spurts, and bodybuilding. Genetic factors play a significant role in determining susceptibility: if your mother had stretch marks, you are statistically more likely to develop them. Corticosteroid use, both topical and systemic, can also weaken the dermal structure and predispose to stretch mark formation.

Treatment outcomes depend heavily on the age and color of the stretch marks. Red/purple marks respond significantly better to treatment because they still have active blood supply and the collagen remodeling window is open. At Leor, we use a combination of fractional RF microneedling (Morpheus 8) to stimulate deep collagen production, combined with radiofrequency skin tightening to improve the texture and color of stretch mark tissue.