Stretch Marks

Prevent Stretch Marks The Smart Way

May 11th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Most women are keenly aware of the ugly, discolored scarring known as stretch marks. As a matter of fact, there is an entire beauty industry centered around the removal of these unsightly skin defects. But what about stretch mark prevention?

You may be wondering if it is just a myth or whether a person can really do something to prevent stretch marks from developing. Clinical studies tend to be inconclusive in this area, but a large number of women have learned through personal experience that certain preventive actions can help minimize the risk of getting stretch marks.

These actions are detailed below and should be seriously considered by any woman that wishes to take a proactive approach in the fight against stretch marks. But first, let’s take a look at the real cause of stretch marks.

What Causes Stretch Marks?

The surface of the skin is generally fairly elastic, but when it is stretched beyond its capacity, damage can result. It is usually during periods of rapid weight gain and subsequent loss that you are at the greatest risk of developing stretch marks.

Prime examples of this weight change cycle can be identified during:

Pregnancy

Weight training

Rapid weight gain and loss

Growth spurts in teens

During these periods of physiological change, the normal production of collagen is disrupted. It should be noted that collagen is an important protein, with an essential role in providing pliability and elasticity to your skin. As a result of this disruption, the skin loses some elasticity and when stretched beyond its limits, white or red scars may appear. These scars are what are traditionally known as stretch marks.

Will a Stretch Mark Prevention Program Really Help?

Obviously, if you had a choice, you would agree that it is preferable to prevent stretch marks from developing in the first place, rather than trying to treat them after the fact. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed method of preventing stretch marks, even though there are a number of products on the market that will make this claim. It is just not true.

The good news is that there are products that are proven effective in increasing the elasticity of the skin. It is believed that these natural creams and oils prevent stretch marks by attacking their root causes – loss of elasticity and sudden trauma through overstretching. To increase the effectiveness of these products, it is recommended that they be used as part of an overall skin conditioning program.

Stretch Mark Prevention Tips

As Ben Franklin so aptly put; ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!’ And no truer words have been spoken regarding an approach to stretch marks and their treatment. So, to help give you a jump start with your stretch mark prevention program, a number of helpful tips are provided below:

1. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, or are presently in the mother-to-be state, try starting an exercise program. Continue this regimen throughout your pregnancy and it should help in reducing a lot of the stretch marks that may have developed naturally during the process. An exercise program works by helping you to limit your weight gain and, therefore, limit the trauma and overstretching of your affected skin. Of course, before you start any exercise program, please check with your doctor.

2. Try using natural stretch mark products that inherently have the exceptional ability to increase the skin’s elasticity. Products made with cocoa butter and other natural ingredients are your best bet. Many women who have endured pregnancy swear to the effectiveness of this method.

3. To supplement stretch mark creams and oils, you should consider using a body brush to massage the affected areas where you want to prevent stretch marks from forming. This is usually on the thighs, breasts, buttocks, and arms. This extra effort helps increase the circulation to the skin and helps the absorption of the cream into the affected area.

4. If you are on a diet, moderation is the ‘keyword’. A diet encouraging slow weight loss will minimize trauma to the skin and allow the skin to better adjust to the weight changes. This will help reduce the likelihood of stretch marks.

At the end of the day, there really is no single fail-safe method to prevent the formation of stretch marks. But a stretch mark prevention program, based on a combination of natural stretch mark products and the helpful tips provided above, should dramatically increase your odds of reducing or eliminating stretch mark development. Give it a try - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Barmon Stretch Mark Cream Fall Sale

October 7th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Thought you might like to know that Barmon is having a Fall Sale on their popular stretchmark cream. For a limited time, you can save $10 on each tube of this proven stretchmark treatment. Regularly priced at $29.95, they are offering Barmon® Stretch Mark Cream for $19.95 for all online orders of two or more tubes! And if you spend at least $30.00 on your order, the shipping is FREE! And remember - if you are not completely satisfied with their stretchmark cream, they will give you your money back. Sounds like a no-risk proposition to us!

You may have heard from others that laser or plastic surgery is the only effective alternative to remove stretch marks. But what they usually don’t tell you is that the cost of these treatments are sky-high! Barmon’s has proven results to show that their affordable stretchmark cream is an effective alternative to high priced treatments like those above. The fact is that Barmon Stretch Mark Cream is guaranteed to fade away your unsightly stretchmarks or you can get your money back.

Another benefit of using Barmon’s is that it is an all-natural product. This means that it is safe for pregnant women to use to actually PREVENT stretchmarks from developing throughout their pregnancy. This is a proactive approach that helps you avoid stretch marks altogether rather than trying to treat them after-the-fact!

Isn’t it time to check out the testimonials on Barmon’s website - they have a large and dedicated following of happy customers whose comments just might surprise you…

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.