Stretchmark Removal

Is there an ideal stretch mark remover that will work for all stretch mark sufferers?  Not likely.  However, there are a number of stretch mark removal methods that are utilized with varying degrees of success.  Some of these tend to lean toward the natural approach while others involve a more extreme approach, such as cosmetic surgery.  As you can see, removing stretch marks can be an involved and time-consuming endeavor with the investment ranging from around $30 for stretch mark removal creams to thousands of dollars for plastic surgery or laser treatments.  

Which cure works best for you will be determined by the age of your stretch marks, your type of skin, and budgetary limits.  Here is a summary of the more popular ways to eliminate stretch marks:

Don’t Forget To Hydrate Yourself

Drink just as much or more water as you drink coffee, tea, or soda. Stretchmarks may also be caused by some nutritional dificiencies. Drink lots of water (at least 2 litres every day) - not soda or juices - because it helps your skin stay elastic. If you drink a lot of coffee or black/green tea, drink 3l of water a day.

Take Skin Supportive Vitamins

Vitamin E is a very essential vitamin to take during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks. In addition, a cream or lotion containing Vitamin D will help in preventing stretch marks. But, because Vitamin E alone won’t work due to the large size of their molecule; the addition of lanolin, which has smaller molecules, can be used to deliver the ingredients past the top layer of skin and help with skin elasticity.  If you have existing stretch marks, Vitamin E is believed to improve them by fading their appearance.  

Stretch Mark Products

The fact is that stretch mark creams and lotions will not remove your stretch marks completely, but can generally fade your stretch marks appearance to where the damaged skin blends with the surrounding normal skin.  There are many stretch mark lotions and oils that have been specifically designed to mantain your skin taut and firm during pregnancy and actually help prevent stretch marks from beginning.  The creams and lotions that penetrate the skin deeply will provide longer-lasting moisture that is essential to healthy skin. These creams are best used as night creams.

Surgical Alternatives

Surgical procedures are generally the most expensive of the stretch mark elimination methods, though repeated laser treatments can result in similar prices.  The facts indicate that surgical methods are considered to be the most effective and conventional method in removing stretch marks. This method generally involves the removal of areas of skin where the stretch marks have developed.  The second type of surgical treatment that can help remove stretch marks is laser scar removal. This type of procedure is minimally invasive and does not involve scarring or incisions.

Laser treatment of stretch marks and scars are claimed to stimulate collagen production below the skin as the dermal skin layer absorbs the laser light, filling out the skin and helping to return pigment to the scarred area. However, there is still disagreement within the health care industry regarding using lasers to treat scars and stretch marks and many physicians and plastic surgeons believe that lasers cannot treat stretch marks.

To sum it up, the stretch mark remover alternatives detailed above are all proven to work to varying degrees, depending on the sufferer’s skin type, age of the stretch marks, and available budget.  The least costly of the stretch mark removal techniques are the creams and lotions, which fade existing stretch marks and allow them to blend in with the surrounding skin.  This method is one of the easiest treatments and should be considered first — you may just be very pleased with the results while saving your hard-earned dollars!

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