Whether you’re looking for a way to get rid of your white stretch marks, or you want to prevent them in the first place, Ipl laser is a great option. Ipl stands for Intense Pulsed Light—and it’s a form of laser treatment that can be used to treat both brown and white stretch marks. The procedure involves using a handpiece that emits light onto your skin, which is then absorbed by melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color). This causes the pigmentation of your skin to change, which helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
The best part about Ipl laser treatment is that it doesn’t require anesthesia or downtime—you can go back to work after just 15 minutes! You’ll notice results after just one session (which takes about 30 minutes), but we recommend three sessions spaced about six weeks apart for maximum effectiveness.
White stretch marks are the most common type of stretch mark, and they occur when skin is rapidly stretched. They appear as streaks, lines or spots and are typically white in colour. White stretch marks have been found to be less elastic than normal skin and may leave discolouration after they fade away. Read on to learn more on white stretch marks vs red/home ipl for stretch marks.
IPL Laser for White Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are colored lines or streaks that appear on your skin from weight gain or growth. They’re essentially tears on the skin, but aren’t an indication of a health issue.
Stretch marks often begin as red or purple marks, and slowly fade to white or silver over time. The difference in color distinguishes how old the marks are. Though they may never disappear completely, treatment can lighten the color of your marks and shrink them. In other cases, stretch marks fade away on their own.
Newer, red-tinged stretch marks (striae rubra) are easier to treat. They begin red because blood vessels are present under the skin. The presence of functioning blood vessels allows red stretch marks to be more responsive to treatment.
White stretch marks (striae alba) are older and more difficult to treat. Over time, your blood vessels will narrow, making it hard to stimulate collagen production. Treatment results may not be as drastic compared to those of red stretch marks, but there are options available to help them fade more naturally and at a faster pace.
Removing White Stretch Marks
1. Exfoliate
A simple way to treat white stretch marks is through regular exfoliation. This removes excess dead skin from your body and new skin from your stretch marks.
Exfoliating alongside other treatment methods can also enhance your results. Removing dead skin from your stretch marks allows other skin treatments to penetrate more deeply and work faster.
2. Topical treatments
Topical creams and ointments are more affordable methods for reducing the appearance of white stretch marks. Some creams are available over-the-counter, while others are prescribed by a doctor.
Applied regularly, topical creams can lighten the tone of stretch marks but they may not completely remove them. Before using any topical treatment, discuss your risks with your doctor. Some creams can trigger an allergic reaction or may not be strong enough to treat your condition.
3. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a painless procedure to reduce the appearance of white stretch marks. This procedure targets the upper layer of skin (epidermis), and works by stimulating the skin to tighten collagen and elastin fibers.
In the procedure, tiny exfoliating crystals are sprayed onto the affected area or a special tipped wand is rubbed over the area. Using a wand-like device, the crystals are gently removed, taking with them dead skin from the epidermis layer. For effective results, microdermabrasion needs to be repeated over a period of time.
After the procedure, your skin may feel tight and dry. There may be some redness from the exfoliation. It typically takes 24 hours for your skin to heal. Though effective, this procedure isn’t guaranteed to fully remove stretch marks. The severity of your stretch marks will influence your results.
4. Microneedling
Microneedling targets the dermis, the middle layer of your skin where stretch marks form. Within this procedure, tiny needles are poked into your skin to trigger collagen production. Increased collagen and elastin promotes skin regeneration that can improve your skin’s appearance and reduce stretch marks.
To effectively treat stretch marks, you’ll need to participate in more than one treatment over a course of months. Microneedling has been shownTrusted Source to be an effective treatment for reducing stretch marks, specifically for patients with darker skin.
5. Laser therapy
Laser therapy is a common treatment option to remove white stretch marks. In the procedure, lasers penetrate the skin, triggering regeneration. This stimulates the tissues around your stretch marks to heal at a faster rate.
Laser therapy stimulates melanin production on the affected area, activating pigment cells in your skin. This causes your stretch marks to blend in with your normal skin tone. Though effective, laser therapy requires more than one session to notice results.
There are a number of different laser therapies used to treat stretch marks and other skin issues. Discuss your options with your dermatologist.
6. Cosmetic surgery
If other treatments are unsuccessful, cosmetic surgery is an option. This expensive, yet effective, option can permanently remove white stretch marks from your body. However, it’s important to understand that surgery can leave scars of its own.
A tummy tuck, medically known as an abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that not only removes stretch marks, but also removes excess skin and fat from your abdomen. This procedure gives the skin and abdomen a flatter and firmer look. However, a surgical procedure comes with a number of health risks. Before pursuing this treatment, discuss your options with your doctor.
Outlook
Stretch marks are a very common skin issue. White stretch marks are older skin scars that are more difficult to treat than newer stretch marks. However, there are options available to reduce the appearance of your scars if you so choose.
Prior to pursuing treatment, understand there’s a possibility your stretch marks may not disappear completely. If you have questions or concerns about treatment or potential side effects, schedule a visit with a dermatologist.
White Stretch Marks Vs Red
The red hue indicates the presence of blood vessels under the skin. These blood vessels may respond well to treatment. Once the marks turn white, however, it suggests that the blood vessels have narrowed.
Stretch marks are superficial tears in the skin. Some appear as red lines across the skin, while others may look white or silvery. The color of the marks indicates whether they occurred recently or are older.
In the beginning, stretch marks will appear on the skin as red or purple lesions. These are known as striae rubra.
Over time, these red marks will typically fade to white or silver (striae alba). Eventually, some stretch marks may disappear completely. Not all marks will vanish, however.
Red stretch marks are typically easier to treat. The red hue indicates the presence of blood vessels under the skin. These blood vessels may respond well to treatment.
Once the marks turn white, however, it suggests that the blood vessels have narrowed. Narrow blood vessels make successful treatment less likely.
Nonetheless, it may be possible to reduce the appearance of some white stretch marks using cosmetic treatments or home remedies.
Treatments
Available treatments for stretch marks include prescription retinoid creams and dermatological procedures.
The sections below discuss these options in more detail.
Retinoid creams
Topical retinoid creams, which come from vitamin A, may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
These creams tend to be most effective for red stretch marks. The effects may be less drastic on white stretch marks, or there may be no observable difference at all.
People who wish to try topical creams can ask their doctor about a retinoid called tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, or Avita).
Tretinoin helps rebuild collagen, though it may cause skin irritation and may not be safe for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy uses powerful beams of light to trigger skin regeneration. Even if laser removal does not completely get rid of stretch marks, it can make them smoother and reduce their appearance.
According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, it may be necessary to have up to 20 sessions over several weeks in order to see a 20–60% improvement.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive and painless procedure that involves the use of fine crystals and a wand-like device to exfoliate and remove the top layer of skin.
Some side effects of microdermabrasion include short-term swelling and sunburn-like sensations.
People will need several sessions before they see results, and even then, microdermabrasion may not fully heal all stretch marks. Results typically depend on the age and severity of the stretch marks.
Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny needles to puncture the skin. This prompts the skin to heal itself by producing new collagen.
Microneedling can treat stretch marks and minor scarring, as well as sun damage and wrinkles.
Several treatment sessions will be necessary to see results.
Cosmetic surgery
If stretch marks on the abdomen are accompanied by loose, sagging skin, a surgical procedure called abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, may help.
The procedure will remove the excess skin that contains the stretch marks.
A tummy tuck is only suitable in certain situations and for certain people. It is not suitable for those who have stretch marks without excess skin, and it may not be suitable for people who smoke or those with obesity.
Home remedies
Home remedies may help in some cases of white stretch marks, but they are not usually as effective as professional stretch mark treatments.
Some options include:
Exfoliation
Regular exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells. Exfoliating before using other treatments, such as topical creams, may help them penetrate the skin more deeply and improve the treatment’s effectiveness.
Always ask a doctor or dermatologist if it is safe to exfoliate before or between cosmetic treatments, especially when using prescription creams.
Over-the-counter topical treatments
Many over-the-counter (OTC) creams and ointments aim to reduce the appearance of white stretch marks.
Some options include:
- Collagen therapies. These are products that aim to stimulate collagen production.
- Hydrating creams and oils. According to some, certain creams and oils may improve the skin’s elasticity and hydration. Examples of these include cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.
- Skin cell growth creams. These topical treatments aim to stimulate cell growth and reproduction, and they include many creams marketed specifically for stretch marks.
IPL Laser for White Stretch Marks Before and After
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is typically used for hair removal, but it can also be an effective way to reduce skin pigmentation issues. But how does it work and is at-home IPL for dark spots—i.e. the DIY option—a safe solution?
Whether you call them age spots, sun spots or just pesky annoyances, those dark spots on your complexion can be tough to get rid of. They’re caused by pigment-making cells called melanocytes that live under the surface of your skin. As your skin matures, or gets aggravated by sun exposure, those melanocytes get to work, producing melanin that leaves you with the appearance of dark spots.
So how exactly do you get rid of them? While you might have considered using at-home laser hair removal for, you know, actual hair removal—it’s also effective when it comes to erasing dark spots too.
We spoke with several skincare experts to learn more about how (and how well) intense pulsed light treatments help clear up pigmentation issues—and whether it’s something you should try at home.
WHAT IS AN IPL TREATMENT?
How does IPL therapy work, then?
“IPL uses light energy at different specific wavelengths to treat many skin concerns,” explains Dr. Robert Morrell, M.D., founder and director of Medical Rejuvenation Centre(opens in new tab) and Di Morelli Skin Care(opens in new tab).
“It’s used for many therapeutic purposes due to the broad spectrum of wavelengths in IPL treatments,” he says. More specifically, IPL can be used to treat pigmentation, rosacea, veins, acne and hair removal, too.
HOW DOES IPL HELP REDUCE DARK SPOTS?
As Dr. Morrell explains, “IPL works to fade dark spots by selectively heating up the brown color with a band of light specific for brown pigment. Typically, these spots will become coffee-like granules that will shed off on the surface of the skin in five to seven days.”
When the light penetrates your skin, the targeted heat zaps only the spots with excess melanin, and leaves the rest alone. It works to eliminate the pigmentation that you see toward the surface of your skin so that you can naturally slough off or exfoliate those cells.
Unfortunately, IPL doesn’t permanently stop or remove melanocytes from producing melanin, so your dark spots will likely return in time. However, a lot of women see significant reductions in visible dark spots after professional treatments.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF USING AN IPL LASER AT HOME?
So if getting IPL done in a professional setting works well on dark spots, can we try at-home IPL for dark spots? Using this kind of advanced technology at home sounds like risky business—and, according to the experts we consulted, it is.
“In the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in home light devices that have had very little testing,” says plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Simone Matousek(opens in new tab). “Home IPL devices are unregulated and should not be used for management of pigmentation, or any skin problems,” she advises.
Both doctors noted that these DIY devices aren’t really strong enough to produce significant results. In fact, they can actually cause “darkening of pigmentation, as the intensity of home IPL units is too weak,” says Dr. Morrell. “And, if the intensity is stronger, there is a possibility of burns.”
So, zapping your skin with an at-home IPL device might actually worsen your unwanted dark spots, by making them even darker.
“Even in the hands of trained medical practitioners, an IPL device can cause side effects,” adds Dr. Matousek. Clinical trials(opens in new tab) have found that these can include redness, rashes, blistering, swelling, and hypopigmentation—patches of skin lightening—in addition to dark spots. If powerful IPL technology is misused, it can even lead to eye injuries and scarring.
AT-HOME IPL VS PROFESSIONAL IPL
If you’re comparing at-home IPL devices against professional-grade equipment, the latter will always be safer and more sophisticated.
“The more high-end IPL devices that are operated in medical practices are more tunable, have more precise targeting of skin problems, and are safer in darker skin types. Medical-grade broadband light is one such device, and is more effective and has inbuilt cooling to make it safe,” explains Dr. Matousek.
She continued, “At-home devices will likely be too weak to have any real impact, as any manufacturer would be worried about the potential of being sued. The machines that will actually have a real impact on skin problems are way more powerful than is safe for any consumer to use.”
Moreover, despite how easy at-home IPL for dark spots might sound, managing pigmentation concerns isn’t as simple as zapping your skin a few times. According to Dr. Matousek, “It requires correct topical medication before and after such treatments; some of these can only be prescribed by a doctor.”
So, if an at-home IPL product promises to clear up dark spots in no time—without any medical oversight, topical treatment, or training—it’s probably too good to be true.
HOW TO USE IPL TO TREAT DARK SPOTS
If you want to proceed with an IPL treatment for dark spots, “You should always go see a professional; do not try it at home,” advises Dr. Morrell.
The price tag for professional treatment might be higher, but experts advise against trying a DIY device as a way to cut costs on skincare.
As Dr. Matousek suggests, “Going to a trained plastic surgeon or dermatologist, having a proper skin assessment and treatment plan, and getting effective, evidence-based therapies is a far better use of time and money than buying a home device. There’s a reason the best lasers and light devices cost hundreds and thousands of dollars; they require precise engineering and regular checkups and tuning to keep your skin safe.”
CAN I STILL USE AN AT-HOME IPL FOR HAIR REMOVAL?
So, what if you’re already using an at-home IPL device for hair removal? Is that still safe?
These at-home devices aren’t suitable for treating skin pigmentation concerns, but they can be useful when it comes to hair removal.
Gia Jurosky, director of influencer marketing and brand strategy at RoseSkinCo(opens in new tab), a brand that makes an at-home IPL handset, notes that they are not intended as a treatment for your complexion. “While IPL can be used to treat acne scars, melasma, and other concerns, we recommend the devices for long-term hair removal,” she says. “Someone looking for an IPL skin treatment should consult a physician beforehand.”
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Home IPL for Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are a result of two components: stretching of the skin and hormonal changes. First, stretch marks are the direct result of the dermis (the middle layer of skin) stretching too far, too fast. Additionally, stretch marks can result when there is an increase of cortisone (a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands) in your system. Too much cortisone can cause your skin to lose its elasticity, which means once it is stretched it cannot return to its normal, smooth state.
When you think about stretch marks you most likely picture a woman’s belly distended due to pregnancy. While pregnancy is a very common cause of stretch marks, any activity that either stretches the skin too far or increases cortisone levels (or in some cases both) can lead to them. Other common causes of stretch marks include growth spurts during puberty, overuse of topical corticosteroids, bodybuilding, hormone replacement therapy, and certain adrenal gland disorders.
Even though stretch marks are often completely normal, you shouldn’t have to live with them if you’re bothered by their appearance. While there are many different creams, lotions, and serums on the market that claim to get rid of them, it’s important to understand that no topical treatments have proven efficacy for treating stretch marks. However, a treatment that can effectively remove unsightly stretch marks is IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light. Keep reading to learn how IPL can get rid of stretch marks.
What is IPL?
IPL is a noninvasive procedure that treats the skin with quick and powerful flashes of light. IPL devices are non-laser light sources that make use of a high-powered, handheld, computer-controlled flashgun to deliver an intense, broad-spectrum pulse of light to the treatment area. IPL treatments can also improve the appearance of sun damage, acne scars, lines and wrinkles, and other skin imperfections.
At this point, anyone who feels compelled to try hair removal can choose from an array of options. From depilatory creams to sugaring to old-school razors, there are more ways to eliminate hair than you could count on both hands.
IPL hair removal is one common option, which offers a more lasting result than shaving or even waxing. (In fact, it was one of the top five most popular minimally-invasive procedures in 2020, according to the most recent Plastic Surgery Statistics Report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons [ASPS].) While you may associate the treatment with med spas, numerous at-home IPL devices have hit the market, promising an alternative for people who’d rather take matters into their own hands. If you’re wondering whether the ability to use the tech from your home is too good to be true, here’s the full scoop.
What are at-home IPL devices?
IPL stands for intense pulsed light, the form of scattered light that these handheld tools give off. “These are devices that emit a wide spectrum of light to treat the skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The technology is similar to but different from laser hair removal. “Technically [IPL devices] are not lasers since lasers emit only a single wavelength of light,” while IPL emits multiple wavelengths, explains Dr. Zeichner. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Trying Laser Hair Removal at Home)
IPL can be used to treat brown spots or broken capillaries and redness in addition to its application in reducing hair production. “Different filters are used to limit the light that is delivered by the device to offer a customized treatment that addresses your particular need,” says Dr. Zeichner.
“[IPL] uses a big [dose] of light to capture certain targets in the skin,” says Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at La Jolla Laser Dermatology. “In terms of hair removal, the target would be melanin.” (Reminder: Melanin is a natural pigment in your skin and hair.) When the goal is hair removal, IPL devices are filtered to emit light at a wavelength of 600 to 700 nanometers, which can selectively heat and destroy melanin without heating the surrounding skin, she explains. When the light heats the melanin in a hair follicle, that causes the strand of hair to fall out and kills the hair follicle, thereby decreasing regrowth. (Although it takes multiple sessions to achieve full results, which only ever amounts to a reduction of hair growthrather than permanently eliminating new growth, according to Dr. Shirazi.)
Home IPL devices — e.g. Kenzzi, SmoothSkin, and Braun IPL devices — use the same technology at lower energies compared to what the pros use, according to Dr. Zeichner. Of course, that comes with a tradeoff. “The IPL devices in the office are obviously going to be a lot more powerful and hopefully are being used by trained professionals, whereas the IPL devices at home are going to be much weaker in terms of the amount of energy that they’re able to deliver so the results aren’t going to be as good,” says Dr. Shirazi. That said, a small study on at-home IPL devices published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology reported a 78 percent reduction in amount of hair at the one-month mark and a 72 percent reduction after three months, with participants receiving biweekly treatments with an at-home device over the course of six weeks.
What are the perks of using at-home IPL devices?
You can use at-home IPL devices on any area of the body where hair is found, whether that means treating your facial hair or giving yourself a full Brazilian, according to Dr. Shirazi. Investing in an at-home IPL device can also save you money compared to in-office treatments. Home IPL devices typically cost around $150 to several hundred dollars, while the average cost of a single session of professional IPL cost roughly $412 in 2020, according to the ASPS report. Most people need six to 12 IPL treatments to achieve full results, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Then there’s the convenience factor. Switching to using an IPL at home will save you time if you normally shave. To give you an idea, Braun recommends using its Silk Expert Pro 5 once a week for four to 12 weeks, then every one to two months for maintenance. Taking matters into your own hands also eliminates any awkwardness you might feel around having a stranger treat your bikini area while you attempt to make small talk. (Related: How to Shave Your Bikini Area Without Causing Irritation)
What are the downsides of trying IPL at home?
IPL can be moderately painful. It also comes with potential side effects, which is one reason why Corey L. Hartman, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, finds the idea of putting the technology in the hands of non-professionals unsettling. When used improperly, IPL can cause “blistering, redness, scarring, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, pain, oozing, or crusting,” says Dr. Hartman. “IPL devices are not casual.”
“I’ve seen some terrible burns and terrible scarring from IPL done in the office and done at home,” echoes Dr. Shirazi. “It’s tricky because you’re playing around with energy and heat and if the skin absorbs all of that, you can certainly get a burn.”
Additionally, both IPL and laser devices have the potential to do the exact opposite of what you want. “If you use conservative settings or low energy settings of light to try to remove hair,” you can actually stimulate growth,says Dr. Shirazi. “You could end up with a condition called paradoxical hair stimulation from laser treatments. The low energy is not enough to chill the hair follicle, but it’s enough to stimulate the hair follicle to grow.” That’s why you may have heard of low-level laser-emitting caps designed to promote hair growth.
Another major downside? IPL isn’t well-suited to dark skin tones or light-colored hair. “IPL is high-risk for people with dark skin tones,” who naturally have more melanin, according to Dr. Shirazi. “What happens, as the light passes through it’s going to capture the melanin on the surface of the skin. The more melanin there is on the surface of the skin the more likely it is to absorb all the energy, and then you can end up with a burn.” IPL device brands often provide charts on their websites indicating which skin tones should avoid using their products altogether.
All in all, is at-home IPL worth trying?
The experts interviewed for this story were divided on whether at-home IPL is worthwhile or even okay to try. If you buy an at-home IPL device, you can assume that it uses lower energy than professional devices, making it safe to use at home, says Dr. Zeichner. “The biggest potential risk associated with using IPL devices is the development of hyperpigmentation,” he says. “This risk is very low with at-home devices because of the safety measures put in place that allow them to be used without professional supervision.”
Not everyone gives at-home IPL devices a thumbs up. Any IPL device will be either be able to “really do some harm” or they’ll be ineffective, and that there’s no in-between, says Dr. Hartman. “I don’t understand at-home IPL devices,” he says. “I’m scared of them. I do not recommend.”
IPL technology is better suited for treating brown spots, redness, and sun damage than hair removal, he adds. When his patients ask him about IPL for hair removal, Dr. Hartman steers them toward laser hair removal instead. More specifically, Nd:YAG and alexandrite laser hair removal are ideal for dark and light skin tones, respectively, he says.”They just work better, and they have more science and studies behind them,” says Dr. Hartman. (Related: I Was ~This Close~ to Lasering Off My Pubes for Life—Here’s What Stopped Me)
Finally, IPL is fine to try at home provided you a) don’t have a dark skin tone, b) have read up on IPL, and c) have managed your expectations, in Dr. Shirazi’s opinion. “I always recommend that people do a test spot, wait a day or two and make sure that your skin is not reacting in an adverse fashion,” before using one of the devices on a large area, she says. Another pointer: “You have to be really careful around going around curved areas, so particularly around the bikini or contours of the face it’s really important to have good contact [between your skin and] the device, because if you’re at an angle or you don’t have full contact of the light with the skin you could just be delivering pure heat rather than the light,” preventing the device from functioning properly, she adds.
If you’re after a dramatic reduction in hair growth, it’s probably best to visit a pro, since they’ll use a much more powerful device, says Dr. Shirazi. “I think [at-home IPL] is fine to use as a maintenance treatment but it’s really not going to work as effectively as in-office IPL.” And IPL in general is “much weaker” than lasers for hair removal to begin with, she adds.
One thing’s for sure: If you want to remove your body hair but at-home IPL doesn’t feel quite right, you’ve got plenty of other options to consider.
