With over 80% of women who have had children and more men than you'd think suffering from stretch marks, the stretch mark cream market is massive. But how do you know which products will really work for stretch mark removal and which ones are just overpriced moisturizers?
Stretch marks, also known as Striae, are scars that occur when the layer of skin known as the dermis is torn. This can be caused by rapid weight gain or growth spurts (as may often happen in puberty), as well as pregnancy or bodybuilding. Hormonal changes and taking medications which influence your hormones can also play a factor in the likelihood of them occurring.
Once they have made an appearance, they are notoriously difficult to shift.
So what can we do to get rid of them? Which creams will work?
A good stretch mark cream should fulfill the following essential functions:-
1. Tackling the scar tissue - since stretch marks are actually scars, you need a cream that will actively address the scarring. There are a number of ingredients that can do this. The pure-fused corundum crystals* contained within a high quality microdermabrasion cream for stretch marks are a good example. When massaged into the skin these corundum crystals will take off the top layers of skin and the top of the scar tissue with it. Removing the top layers of skin & scar tissue means the body treats this as a 'wound' to be healed and goes to work rebuilding the skin and replacing the scar tissue with new cells. This is the first step in healing the skin. (*not to be confused with standard aluminium oxide crystals which are less effective. Look for a product that states 'pure-fused corundum crystals' to be sure the crystals are hard enough to significantly impact the skin).
Some creams also contain blends of peptides which are claimed to be able to heal scars. Copper peptides in particular are reputed to be beneficial in the treatment of scars.
2. Support skin regeneration with ingredients that help to heal and support the rebuilding of fresh skin. Nature has an abundance of compounds believed to aid skin regeneration and collagen production. Just a few examples which make good stretch mark cream ingredients are:-
Keratin - thought to be a building block of collagen which is absorbable through the skin
Chamomile - soothing and full of flavonoids to increase circulation to the applied area
Rose hip oil - good for scars and repairing damaged skin as well as hydrating & smoothing skin
Horsetail - used for rejuvenating connective tissue
Aloe vera - soothing, healing, known for minimising scarring, and contains skin loving vitamins C & E
Lavender - well-known for its impressive healing and restorative properties on the skin
Elder flower - soothing, toning and firming.
These are just a small sample of the many, many more beneficial plant extracts available for skin care.
3. Moisturize the surrounding tissue to keep it supple and hydrated. Your cream should also contain some oils to moisturise the area of use. There are no shortage of oils which will perform this task although for long-term skin health it is recommended to use natural plant oils such as grape seed or sunflower oil rather than petroleum derived ones such as mineral oil or paraffin.
Look for a stretch mark cream that contains the right ingredients to address all 3 of the above requirements, and that will help ensure you get the results you want in getting rid of your marks and having beautiful skin again.
For honest stretch mark cream reviews, little-known information about the causes and treatment of stretch marks and the latest stretch mark removal methods visit http://www.StretchMarkCream.net
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