Monday, February 23, 2009

Getting Rid of Stretch Marks Isn't Impossible

By Keira Adams

Stretch marks are a form of scarring that can occur when a person's skin is overstretched. Stretch marks have the initial appearance of purple or red looking lines. 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. Many people will get stretch marks at one time or another. 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. Few people realize that they are a common complaint of male body builders as well.

The good news is that there are several treatments for stretch marks that have been shown to be highly effective. Following is some information on the top three methods of treating this problem.

1. Dermabrasion. This is a type of stretch mark surgery that takes place under general anesthetic. Dermabrasion is useful for reducing the visibility of abnormalities on your skin such as sun damage, dark spots and scars. The surface of the skin is literally sanded off during this procedure.

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. The procedure is very painful and the healing process can take several months.

2. Microdermabrasion. Popularly known as microderm, this treatment is much less invasive. You can easily undergo this procedure at any number of convenient providers, and you won't need an anesthetic to dull the pain. A special tool is used to gently sand the surface layer of the skin in order to remove it. Microdermabrasion enjoys a reputation as a painless treatment that is perfectly safe.

3. Skin treatment creams. There are hundreds of products marketed these days that claim to prevent or eliminate stretch marks. Some people swear by remedies such as Vitamin A cream, cocoa butter or various specially formulated creams.

Some of these products have a lot of research behind them and can be quite effective at reducing the appearance 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. Do a web search for the product you're considering, and examine sites that aren't associated with the manufacturer. Be sure to investigate the manufacturer's website and research the source of their product claims if you can. - 15634

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