Stretch marks are a form of scarring that can occur when a person’s skin is overstretched. When they first appear, stretch marks are red or purple streaks on your skin. Over time, they will fade until they are pale in color.
Obesity and pregnancy are the most common reasons for the development of stretch marks. Stretch marks are a very common condition. A large percentage of the population has been overweight or pregnant at some time in their lives! It’s not just women who get stretch marks, either. It might surprise you to know that male body builders suffer from this condition also.
Fortunately, there are some very effective scientific remedies available to treat stretch marks. Following is some information on the top three methods of treating this problem.
1. Dermabrasion. General anesthesia is required when you undergo this kind of stretch mark surgery. The aim of dermabrasion is to remove or lessen the appearance of scars, damage from the sun or dark spots. In this procedure, the surface of your skin is sanded off using special equipment.
Dermabrasion works best when the scar or mark being treated is above the surface of the skin. For the treatment of sunken scars, though, it’s not nearly as effective. This surgery involves a fair bit of pain and it can take months to heal completely. However, the results can be truly amazing.
2. Microdermabrasion. Popularly known as microderm, this treatment is much less invasive. It’s a popular, easily accessible treatment that doesn’t require an anesthetic. It involves removing the surface layer of the skin by using a special wand with a roughened surface to lightly sand the skin. People like microdermabrasion because it has a reputation for being a safe, painless procedure.
3. Creams and lotions. There are hundreds of products marketed these days that claim to prevent or eliminate stretch marks. Creams and lotions containing Vitamin A, cocoa butter or an assortment of other ingredients are highly popular.
There are several of these treatments that have scientific evidence showing that they can minimize the look of stretch marks. Some of the more effective treatments for stretch marks are Trilastin, Revitol and NuVectin. You should be aware that most of these products are best for preventing rather than eliminating stretch marks.
However, many products tend to overstate their ability to get rid of stretch marks. It’s important that you read some independent customer reviews on any stretch mark product before you buy it. Search the internet, and look for sites that aren’t tied to the product being sold. Also, check out the company’s website and try to follow through on any of their claims.