Cosmetic Surgery & Beauty #72

skin
gas permeable and waterproof. Stratamark hydrates
and protects the skin, allowing the skin to normalise the
collagen synthesis cycle to efficiently prevent and treat
stretch marks.
Hydration
Stratamark is semi-occlusive and gas permeable,
which allows the skin to breathe and remain hydrated.
It is also hydrophobic, which prevents water being
lost from the dermal layers of the skin. This helps in
decreasing the transepithelial water loss and therefore
increases skin hydration.
Protection
Stratamark forms a durable, flexible and waterproof
sheet and does not penetrate the epidermis or dermis.
It protects stretch marks from local irritants including
friction from clothing. This assists in normalising the level of
collagen production.
Modulation
Stratamark influences an epidermal-dermal signalling
cascade via a regulatory role of the epidermis on fibroblast
production. Keratinocytes have been shown to activate
the fibroblasts, hence collagen and glycosaminoglycan
production.
This leads to the normalising of the keratinocyte
hydration status and the normalising of tissue growth
factors, which signals dermal fibroblasts to normalise the
collagen synthesis cycle of stretch marks.
how to apply
Stratamark is applied directly to clean, dry skin. It is applied
as a thin layer, which dries quickly within five to six minutes,
after which it can be covered by garments, sunscreens and
other cosmetics. Stratamark should be applied once daily,
or after each wash.
For women seeking to prevent the formation of stretch
marks during pregnancy, Stratamark is recommended for
use from the beginning of the second trimester (from week
13) or at the first sign of stretch mark formation. Application
should continue following birth for a minimum of 60 to
90 days.
For the treatment of existing stretch marks, Stratamark
should be used for at least 60 to 90 days. Continued use is
recommended until no further improvement is seen. Severe
and/or older striae may need longer treatment. The product
should be in constant contact with the stretch mark –
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Due to its unique formulation and efficacy, only a very
small amount of gel is required per application. It can also
be used in combination with other stretch mark treatment,
including laser therapy.
Stratamark can be used throughout pregnancy and
breastfeeding and on sensitive skin.
The clinical evidence
behind Stratamark
Sixty-one obstetricians and 303 patients participated in an
open-label prospective cohort study in Europe. Application
of Stratamark was shown to significantly reduce the risk
of developing stretch marks when used during pregnancy.
Eight-one percent (eight out of 10 patients) did not
develop stretch marks in the prevention phase of the study
(compared to the accepted prevalence of between 50
and 90 percent of patients not using Stratamark), with no
“severe” or “very severe” cases reported.
In the treatment phase of the trial, 83 percent of
participants experienced reduced itchiness, 86 percent
reported reduced stretch mark visibility, and 88 percent
saw improvement in colour. These statistics highlight that
Stratamark is clinically proven to be effective for both
preventing and treating stretch marks. csbm
www.cosbeauty.com.au 73