Stretch Marks!!

[Kojiro]

So, Kojiro, your thought process is first to degrade and or eliminate the scar tissue then when the skin heals your hope is that the cells will not duplicate the scar tissue? Do you believe slowly wearing down the skin with Retin-A and peels would work? I'm willing to give almost anything a try and this routine sounds logical but I imagine not one single routine will work for everyone. I know you have knowledge in the science of all this, do you think we can find something that really will work?

shoo

When are cut, a huge determinate of whether the skin heals with or without a scar is based on the size of the wound created. This has effects on TGF-beta levels, and a bunch of other factors which we are trying to understand. If the wound is small it can normally be healed without a scar even if it penetrates into the dermis. When stretch marks are formed it is after the entire dermis is split so of course we get scar tissue. The idea is we want to remove a little bit of the scar tissue each time we do a peel, just enough so that we are getting progress but not resulting in more scar tissue being put down. Of course we run into other problems like the fact that scar tissue is resiliant and meant to last a lifetime. It is also very hard to get things into the dermis. When we create small wounds the healing process follows, we usually don't have to do a whole lot to stimulate that. In my opinion it is breaking down the scar tissue slowly which is the hard part of the equation.

[Guest]

Obviously the above instructions refer to a finger tip and not stretch marks. But I just thought I would post it on here in case there is anyone brave enough to give it a try and perhaps let us know how they get on..Kojiro? Nothing to lose by trying the method and if it did work on striae, we could all produce our own en mass. Obviously either needling or abrasion would have to be used to help it reach the dermis, perhaps also encorporating emu oil as the carrier.

J

I'm not convinced that acell is an overly viable treatment. Cutting open each stretch mark to apply a powder to it just isn't reasonable in my case, maybe someone with a minor case would be interested, but I still don't think it is a good idea especially without completely detailed instructions, expert opinions and sterile equipment. Also keep in mind that acell isn't needed to re-grow finger tips. This is well documented to happen without using any products. I have a friend who cut the tip of her finger off with a kitchen knife and it regrew. This regenerative ability is also believed to decline with agent.

This is true, but I do not think we can dismiss it out of hand (no pun intended). Each stretch mark would not need to be cut open, just abraded or needled, and though I agree it would be better if it was produced in a lab by a qualified tech, it seems to be quite straight forward to make for anyone who worked in that field.

I think this site has to consider this as a possible cure, until it is proven otherwise, but it would probably like you say need to be produced in the correct conditions, sterile equipment etc, so if anyone is up to the task now is the time to shout.

J

I'm not saying its not a potential cure, I'm just saying in my case it would be far too much work to be a viable solution. Also, the scar tissue still needs to be removed, that's the difference between regrowing a finger and removing a scar. To regrow you are just stimulating growth, to remove the scar you have to both stimulate growth and degradation, that's why regrowing a finger tip isn't really applicable to removing stretch marks (even Edward or whatever his name was cut his marks open I believe, never really read what he did in detail).

From what I remember, Edward just abraded and used tca peel before applying the powder and maybe emu oil (can't remember now). He definitely did not cut the marks open. Anyway, my own skin is continuing to improve using peels/occasional abrasion, so I am happy to continue with that, just thought having the option of a quicker solution to stretch marks would be good for us all.

J

[Guest]

Edward did not cut or abrade his skin before using Acell. He simply applied 50% TCA and followed it up with a mixture of Acell and emu oil. I asked him and those were his instructions.

[Guest]

Acell is coming out with their human 'variation" in the later part of this year. Do you suppose that it will only be available to doctors? I wonder if anyone in the medical field will try this to resolve stretch marks?

Shoo

[new Guy]

Hey guys and gals,

I've been following this board for a while now and finally decided to post... so quick back story if anyone cares... I initially got my stretchmarks about 10 years ago from lifting weights and although they have faded, they still bug the hell out of me, which is why I'm still looking for a cure... I've tried numerous creams, etc... over the years... anyway, long story short, I can totally relate, it sucks, b/c not to toot my own horn, I actually luv my body and eat good and workout pretty much everyday, but I can't really fully enjoy myself b/c of the damn marks, oh well!

So anyway, I'm posting b/c I came across something that seems like it'd have potential... check it out here, http://www.mtrxdsgn.com/wound_healing.php ... apparently this stuff is supposed to be great for wound healing and wrinkle reduction... it's got the basic ingredients you find in other creams to stimulate collagen, but the unique thing it has going for it (which may be more beneficial) is Elastatropin... it's supposed to mimic human Elastin... I've been trying to see if anyone's used this stuff for Stretchmarks and what kind of results they may have had... apparently, it's great for wrinkles... they even have a more potent version you can get that costs almost twice as much you can find here... http://www.dermalastylpro.com/ ....

Anyway, wanted to see if you guys heard of it, it's pricey, but perhaps I'll be the guinea pig for you guys and report back after a month of use lol

[new Guy]

Also, as far as the wound healing aspect of it goes... it kinda reminds me of what you guys want to do with Acell... I wonder if this stuff can work better if you cut/wound your stretchmark, and then apply it... seems dangerous though... I'd probably just try it over the unwounded skin first... I'm anxious to give it a go but don't really want to drop the money just yet.. perhaps in a couple of weeks while I burn through my other creams....

One in particular, Trilastin (non-SR version), has worked decently for me btw, but far from a cure.

[Mai]

hi all,
just an update, had my 6th carboxy therapy treatment a few days ago. There are STILL no results to report. I am fascinated that something which can hurt THAT badly (even after taking perscription pain meds before treatment) can produce no results.
it is all profoundly depressing.
that is all. I wish acell would hurry up. or something. anything.
Tracy - how are your stretch marks 6 months out? Could you tell me the name of your doctor in Maryland?

[Rez]

Mai, don't you get a topical anaesthetic before treatment? How many times do they inject each stretch marks?

[Rez]

By the way, I know from my experience with Fraxel that it takes several months to get a noticeable improvement in the striae. Perhaps it's the same with carboxy? I don't know.

[Kojiro]

Figured this would be a good place to ask... have any of you had success with removing calluses? I have some on my feet that I've been working at for a while. I've keep filing them down with a nail file (not a beauty nail file but one you'd use to file down stainless steel nails), this keeps them flattened but isn't removing them. I'm thinking of following something I read about soaking them in hot water then abrading them. Won't bother getting the stuff I need for a few days so I thought I'd collect some opinions here first.

[Tracy212]

Mai,

I am at exactly 6 months now and I have definitely seen improvement, but not the 80% I was told I could expect. I do believe there has been more improvement in just the last month, maybe a total of about 50%. I suspect when I see the "before" pictures at my doctor's office, it may really be more than 50%, but watching the gradual progress makes it hard to judge. I never took any of my own pictures.

The clinic is called The Aesthetic Surgery Institute. There is an office in Annapolis for consultations and an office in Prince Frederick where the actual laser resides.

I haven't made my follow-up appointment yet. I plan to do that in late June just to give it an extra month. At that point, we were going to discuss next steps. She initially told me she would do complimentary touch-ups on any areas I was not satisfied with, but that would be the whole abdomen, since only a few of the very, very small stretch marks went completely away. I'm not sure what she meant by "satisfied" since she told me best case would be 80% improvement. I guess I am satisfied to some degree, but honestly, if the stretch marks are still there at all, then I don't think I'll ever be completely satisfied.

We'll see how the next month goes and how my next conversation with the doctor goes. I will let you all know the outcome.

Tracy

[Tracy212]

Figured this would be a good place to ask... have any of you had success with removing calluses? I have some on my feet that I've been working at for a while. I've keep filing them down with a nail file (not a beauty nail file but one you'd use to file down stainless steel nails), this keeps them flattened but isn't removing them. I'm thinking of following something I read about soaking them in hot water then abrading them. Won't bother getting the stuff I need for a few days so I thought I'd collect some opinions here first.

I honestly don't know if this would work, but my daughter had a wart on the bottom of her foot. The doctor gave us a prescription for Occlusal wart remover and it dried it right up. I don't think one needs a prescription for it anymore. I think you can get it over the counter now.

I just did a Google search on Occlusal and it says it works on calluses.

Good Luck!
Tracy

[Kojiro]

Yea wart removes are generally just strong salicylic acid. I've got a couple calluses, the total area is a lot bigger than a wart so that would be fairly expensive to go that route.

[Guest]

Hi Tracy

Are you having carboxy treatments? Please tell us more... are there any optimum settings e.g temeperature, density of treatment?

Mai,

I am at exactly 6 months now and I have definitely seen improvement, but not the 80% I was told I could expect. I do believe there has been more improvement in just the last month, maybe a total of about 50%. I suspect when I see the "before" pictures at my doctor's office, it may really be more than 50%, but watching the gradual progress makes it hard to judge. I never took any of my own pictures.

The clinic is called The Aesthetic Surgery Institute. There is an office in Annapolis for consultations and an office in Prince Frederick where the actual laser resides.

I haven't made my follow-up appointment yet. I plan to do that in late June just to give it an extra month. At that point, we were going to discuss next steps. She initially told me she would do complimentary touch-ups on any areas I was not satisfied with, but that would be the whole abdomen, since only a few of the very, very small stretch marks went completely away. I'm not sure what she meant by "satisfied" since she told me best case would be 80% improvement. I guess I am satisfied to some degree, but honestly, if the stretch marks are still there at all, then I don't think I'll ever be completely satisfied.

We'll see how the next month goes and how my next conversation with the doctor goes. I will let you all know the outcome.

Tracy

[Guest]

For those of you using a dermaroller...here is a thread....

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=22460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=875

Most of the people are using this for their face but around page 10 and 33 (i think) some mention use on stretch marks.