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Does Exfoliation Help Eliminate Stretch Marks

October 4th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

For those affected by those angry red and purple stretch marks, the fight against these skin defects has become paramount and there is precious little that they won’t do to rid themselves of the unsightly marks.  Some are satisfied to just lessen their visibility, but the ultimate goal is to eliminate stretch marks totally.

The absolute method for ridding yourself of stretch marks is a surgical solution.  However, the best stretch mark solution is to just prevent them from forming.   Yet in those times when even prevention did not completely put a stop to the formation of the stretch marks, treatment is all that is left.

Many home remedies and magic cures have developed around the fight against stretch marks.  But while all these salves, lotions, home made creams, and commercially available treatments are marketed as the absolute stretch mark treatment, they generally all have one thing in common — exfoliation.

What Does Exfoliation Involve?

In a nutshell, exfoliation is a process commonly used during regular skin care and maintenance.  But beware –  too much of a good thing can backfire with dire consequences.  In order to ensure that you understand exfoliation and stretch marks, their relationship, and the proper methodology of the former, here are some fast facts you do not want to be without:

- In broad terms, exfoliation is quite simply a way to remove dead skin cells that are still adjoined to the live skin cells.  What this means is that only the outer most surface of the skin is being affected and removed during the exfoliation process.  The goal of exfoliation in the removal of stretch marks is to permit, and promote, the live skin to be displayed in its totality, rather than being obscured by the dead skin cells.  It is this live, energized skin that is actually healthier looking and provides that “glow” so often associated with pregnant women.

- The exfoliation process may be enhanced with the assistance of chemical agents, such as, commercially available scrubs made from a wide variety of fruit enzymes mixed with citric acid and oatmeal extracts.  This process may also rely on the use of a scrubbing agent, such as a loofah, a pumice stone, or a home made scrub made from kosher salt.

Exfoliation - Beneficial for Numerous Skin Conditions

Exfoliation can greatly improve skin conditions that are known to be aggravated by dead skin cells, e.g. acne, black heads, pimples, and even ingrown hairs.  Unfortunately, the process has a very limited effect on stretch marks.  The reason being is that the visible stretch marks are nestled into the dermis, or the deeper layer of the skin and this layer is not affected by the exfoliation process directly.

Using a quality stretch mark product in conjunction with exfoliation can have a dramatic effect on the appearance of your stretch marks.  Even though the stretch marks are indirectly affected by proper exfoliation, the combination of a stretch mark removal cream and exfoliation can lessen their appearance.  The healthier looking skin surrounding the stretch mark helps fade stretch marks to the point where they actually blend in with the healthier skin tissue.

Also, the fact that stretch marks naturally fade, the healthier looking skin will appear even more consistent with the damage skin and can even provide the illusion of stretch marks disappearing, which is not really the case.  One word of caution is in order here - improper or excessive exfoliation will irritate the sensitive skin, thus creating a skin condition that will display the stretch marks more clearly.  So, don’t be in too big a hurry to eliminate stretch marks.  A measured and consistent approach to stretch mark treatment will ensure that you experience a positive result without aggravating the skin you intend to repair.

Watch Out For These Supposed Stretch Mark Cures

October 3rd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The unsightly stretch mark is a reality that knows no boundaries, including race, age, sex or country of origin.  The fight against stretch marks is truly global!   The sad part is that the battle against stretch marks will rage on until a miracle stretch mark cure is discovered that will eradicate these unsightly marks.

But fear not, literature and advise related to skin conditions is brimming with tips on how to prevent stretch marks and how to eliminate stretch marks if they do develop.  While much has been written about the subject, even more is being sold in the name of avoiding and treating stretch marks.

Some Stretch Mark Treatments are Quite Effective

The truth is that many stretch mark treatments are quite effective at reducing the appearance of stretch marks.  This is  not so much because of a miracle ingredient, but rather due to the fact that  a stretch mark sufferer is applying a daily moisturizer or cream to the skin and hopefully exfoliating the damaged area a few times a week.

Beware These Stretch Mark Cures

The problem is that several other supposed stretch mark cures were never meant to be used for this skin condition and are often packaged and sold as the latest, greatest cures.  One example is that of pearl powder — a substance that is often tied to claims of healing that are simply not supported by any modern scientific research.  The origin is China and often it is hawked as a traditional and mysterious ingredient in many secret skin potions that supposedly increases the porcelain beauty of many an empress.  However, in its purest form, you will find that pearl powder is little more than a ground up powder made from fresh water pearls.

The supposed logic behind the claims is that pearl powder contains a number of amino acids, which in turn will promote healthy skin growth on the dermis level.  Those unscrupulous marketers who prey on the uninformed sell this “mircle” cure in lotions, potions, and supplements.  While it is true that cell renewal has been associated with amino acids, it is doubtful that the powder when ingested will actually provide the amino acids to your skin in the quantities needed. A topical application is shown to have a limited effect on increasing the supple appearance of the skin, but in now way will this powder make stretch marks disappear.  Avoid this stretch mark scam!

Here is another product that is sometimes marketed as having a dual purpose.  No doubt you have heard of the popular acne product, Proactiv.  The primary ingredient in it is benzoyl peroxide.   Depending on the concentration and your ability to tolerate it, Proactiv will act like a low impact chemical peel that will reveal healthy looking skin underneath.  Unfortunately, Proactiv will not make stretch marks disappear.  But the source of its mystery powers over stretch marks is that it can lessen their visibility by increasing the healthy appearance of the surrounding skin.  A word of caution is warranted here — allergic reactions to benzoyl peroxide has been reported and have actually led to severe outbreaks, rashes, and in extreme cases, can lead to skin damage from excessive scratching and subsequent infections and scarring.

Witch hazel has been used for centuries and was commonplace in most people’s medicine cabinet.  This substance is extracted from the witch hazel shrub and generally used to alleviate bruising and swelling, as well as, sores in related cases.  It is a natural cleanser and has shown good results when used on acne.  The unfortunate part is that none of these medicinal effects have any bearing on the outer layer of the skin.  This is just another urban legend that supports this extract as one of the more effective stretch mark cures — not so!

Stick With Proven Stretch Mark Products

Your best bet is to stay with quality stretch mark cures that have proven themselves over time and can be supported with facts and strong testimonials from satisfied customers.   Save your money and go with stretch mark products that can effectively fade stretch marks or have a track record of reducing the development of stretch marks during times of rapid growth, like pregnancy.

Can Stretch Marks Go Away On Their Own?

January 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

After nine moths of pregnancy, most new mothers can hardly wait for life to return to normal. After surviving the physical and emotional effects of pregnancy, your body’s hormones and weight will return to a more normal state.

Unfortunately, there are certain aspects of pregnancy that will leave a more permanent reminder of your experience – stretch marks. Most women are left wondering, can stretch marks go away on their own? The answer is – they will need a little help from you.

Are Stretch Marks Really a Scar?

There are a number of medical terms associated with stretch marks. They are: atrophicae, lineae atrophicae, linea albicante, striae, striae cutis distensae, striae distensae, striae gravidarum and vergetures.

Stretch marks can be found on both men and women and can be caused by:

- Some medications such as steroids or hormones,
- Weight gain from bodybuilding,
- Obesity,
- Pregnancy,
- Puberty, and
- Certain diseases, such as Cushing’s Syndrome.

Stretch Marks are actually a type of scarring that occurs when the skin is stretched and the dermis, or middle layer of skin, is torn. Upon the initial occurrence of stretch marks, they appear to be deep furrows of red or purple. Over time, they fade to silver or white in color, with some of the furrowing becoming shallower as the body heals and the skin returns to its original size.

The good news is that stretch marks are harmless and pose no medical issues. Although our cultural quest for the ever-youthful body can cause many to balk at the thought of living with such unsightly skin issues. Dermatologists receive many calls from patients inquiring what can ever be done to make these embarrassing stretch marks go away.

What Can I Do To Get Rid of Stretch Marks Permanently?

The answer to this debated question is a qualified “yes”- but only if you are willing to undergo plastic surgery to have them removed. This is the most radical approach to eliminate stretch marks permanently and can be quite costly and has certain risks involved with the procedure.

A newer treatment on the market is laser treatment which is intended to reduce the visibility of stretch marks that have already formed but cannot make the stretch marks can go away completely. These treatments are being offered in many OB/GYN and urological offices and in health clinics across the country. The medical community scoffs at the claims of manufacturers that their product can “erase” stretch marks. Since stretch marks are actually scar tissue, the only way to erase them would be surgical removal the affected skin.

So, if you are not ready to go under the “knife” to rid yourself of your stretch marks, then a program of topical creams and oils may help you prevent further stretch marks from forming, eradicate current stretch marks, or lessen the appearance of existing scarring.

Can stretch marks go away on their own? With all but the most radical procedures, stretch marks are here to stay. However, you can take a proactive approach and fade scarring through the use of the best stretch mark cream and lotion products on the market. They are both effective and far more affordable than cosmetic surgery or laser procedures.

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