Stretch marks are one of the most common reasons people seek a dermatology consultation, and one of the most persistent to treat. Carboxytherapy is among the approaches used to improve their appearance, and it works through a mechanism quite different from resurfacing treatments. What Carboxytherapy is and How It Works Carboxytherapy involves introducing medical-grade carbon …
Stretch marks are one of the most common reasons people seek a dermatology consultation, and one of the most persistent to treat. Carboxytherapy is among the approaches used to improve their appearance, and it works through a mechanism quite different from resurfacing treatments.
What Carboxytherapy is and How It Works
Carboxytherapy involves introducing medical-grade carbon dioxide gas just beneath the skin surface using a very fine needle. The body responds to the localised rise in carbon dioxide by increasing blood flow to the area, because haemoglobin releases oxygen more readily where carbon dioxide concentration is higher. This is a well-described physiological effect known as the Bohr effect.
The practical consequence is a temporary surge of oxygenated blood through tissue that is typically poorly supplied. Stretch-marked skin is exactly that kind of tissue, and the improved circulation is thought to stimulate fibroblast activity and new collagen formation over the following weeks.
Why Stretch Marks Form in the Skin
Stretch marks are scars in the dermis. They appear when skin is stretched faster than its collagen and elastin framework can adapt, during growth spurts, pregnancy, rapid weight change or muscle gain. The dermal fibres tear, and the thinner scar tissue that replaces them sits visibly below the surrounding skin.
Striae Rubrae and Striae Albae
Newer marks, striae rubrae, appear red or purple because the damaged dermis still carries an active blood supply. Older marks, striae albae, have faded to white or silver as that supply has receded and the tissue has become less active. The distinction matters for treatment: newer marks generally respond better, because there is still living, reactive tissue to stimulate.
Abdomen, Thighs and Other Areas Commonly Treated
The abdomen after pregnancy or weight change, the thighs and hips, the upper arms, the breasts and the lower back are the areas most often presented. Carboxytherapy is also used outside stretch-mark treatment, for circulation-related concerns and for skin laxity, but stretch marks remain one of its most frequent applications.
What to Expect During a Carboxytherapy Session
A consultation and skin assessment come first. During treatment, gas is introduced at several points across the treated area through a very fine needle. Most people describe a sensation of pressure, warmth or mild tingling as the gas disperses, which settles within minutes. Treatment is typically delivered as a course rather than as a single session, with the number of sessions and the interval between them set by your clinician after assessing the marks.
Carboxytherapy Compared with Laser and Microneedling
These approaches work on different principles. Laser resurfacing removes or heats tissue to prompt renewal. Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries to trigger a repair response. Carboxytherapy works on the blood supply and the oxygenation of the tissue rather than injuring it.
That difference is why they are often combined rather than chosen between: improving circulation in the area can support the tissue response to a resurfacing treatment. You can review our body treatments and facial treatments for the broader range.
Who is a Candidate for Carboxytherapy
Carboxytherapy is not suitable for everyone. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, certain cardiac and respiratory conditions, active infection in the treatment area and some medications affecting circulation or clotting can all make it inappropriate or require deferral. Because the treatment acts directly on circulation, the cardiovascular and respiratory history is assessed carefully rather than briefly.
It is also worth being clear about expectations. Treatment aims to improve the texture and visibility of stretch marks, not to erase them. Marks that have been present for many years respond more slowly than recent ones.
Booking a Carboxytherapy Consultation at Derma Medical Center
Whether carboxytherapy is the right approach depends on the age and type of your stretch marks, the area involved, and your medical history. A consultation with our dermatology team establishes which treatment, or combination, suits your situation. Book an appointment to arrange an assessment.
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