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Stretch marks or striae affect an estimated 11-88 % of the world’s population, with the majority occurring in teenagers and pregnant women undergoing significant and rapid body changes and growth. These marks, often referred to as tiger stripes, angel scratches, or red lightning, are given positive epithets to enhance their perception. However, they still frequently cause body confidence issues and distress across all genders and ages.
In recent years, red light therapy has emerged as a promising solution for treating existing stretch marks and preventing new ones. But how? In this article, our team at ROJO Light Therapy US provides a comprehensive overview of how stretch marks form and the potential red light therapy benefits in addressing them.
Stretch marks, clinically termed striae or striae distensae, are a form of scarring that occurs when skin is rapidly stretched beyond its usual capacity, causing the dermis to tear. These lesions initially manifest as thin, slightly raised, and sometimes itchy red or purple lines. And they’re often associated with pregnancy or periods of rapid bodily changes like puberty and sudden weight fluctuations. They typically appear on body areas susceptible to rapid expansion, such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and breasts.
When the skin is stretched taut, the collagen and elastin in the dermal layer break apart. Due to the rapidity of this process, fibroblast cells in the skin cannot produce collagen quickly enough to regenerate the skin properly. In a rush to prevent infection, the body haphazardly repairs the area, leading to scar tissue formation.
Under normal circumstances, skin regeneration involves the organised arrangement of new collagen and elastin in a latticework pattern. However, in scar tissue, collagen is arranged differently, and there is a lack of elastin, rendering the stretch mark nonelastic. Additionally, the new fibroblasts forming around the scar tissue will only replicate it so while the skin regenerates, so do the stretch marks. That’s why it’s often said that these are permanent.
Prevention is crucial, yet often unavoidable. Fortunately, ongoing research and development in dermatology offer hope in reducing the appearance of these marks, with red light therapy being a prominent contender.
Numerous studies have proven red light therapy to be effective in inducing skin repair and regeneration and treating fibrosis (scarring). Utilising wavelengths of visible red light and invisible near-infrared (NIR) light, this therapy stimulates biological processes that reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks and prevent the formation of new ones. Here’s how it works:
Depleted cells struggle to perform their basic functions, but red light therapy can remedy this. According to an article co-authored by renowned red light expert and researcher Dr. Michael Hamblin, red light therapy stimulates cellular energy production, enhancing the body’s healing process.
During therapy, red light photons interact with light-sensitive chromophores in the mitochondria, known as the cell’s powerhouse. This interaction stimulates the production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s primary fuel. With this energy boost, cells, including fibroblasts responsible for collagen and elastin production, function optimally. This aids in skin rejuvenation and reduces the appearance of stretch marks, while also strengthening the skin against future damage.
A randomised, double-blind study in 2007 exploring the effectiveness of red light therapy on skin rejuvenation found a significant increase in fibroblasts, collagen, and elastin fibres. Another article in 2019 published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found similar results.
With boosted and balanced collagen production, the new tissue forming in the deepest layers of the striae will be softer and more alike to normal skin cells than scar tissue. As old skin sloughs off, these healthier skin cells emerge, reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Additionally, increased elastin strengthens the skin, fortifying it against future marks.
Inflammation, a natural response of the body’s immune system, sets the stage for repair and regeneration. However, persistent inflammation can occur even after the wound has healed, as is often seen with stretch marks. Red light therapy's benefit of increasing ATP production accelerates the healing process, effectively reducing inflammation. This hastens the fading of newer stretch marks, making them less noticeable compared to surrounding skin.
Proper blood circulation is another essential factor for fast healing and skin regeneration.
The good news is that red light therapy has been found to promote the rapid increase of endothelial cells. These cells compose the inner layer of capillaries responsible for delivering blood to the outermost layer of the skin.
Another study conducted in 2017 by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin found that red light therapy also increases blood vessel diameter, promoting better circulation. With optimal blood flow, more oxygen reaches cells for ATP synthesis, nutrient transport is uninhibited, and cellular waste is properly evacuated. These factors enhance the body's healing mechanisms, positively affecting the appearance and prevention of stretch marks.
Red light therapy stimulates the production of normal, healthier skin cells that will gradually replace the scar tissues within stretch marks. However, consistency and patience are key to this treatment. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, a series of up to 20 sessions spread over several weeks is required to see a 20 - 60% improvement in stretch mark appearance.
To learn more about red light therapy benefits or to find the right red light therapy panel for you, contact us at ROJO Light Therapy.
