by Maia Pells
There are many creams and lotions that will claim to be able to work well on stretch marks. You should know what to look for in an anti stretch mark cream so you don’t get duped by fake or ineffective products.
Combination of Ingredients
There are many ingredients that a manufacturer can include in an anti stretch mark cream. You should however, check for ingredients that have been carefully combined for a more concentrated effect. Each individual ingredient should have an individual impact on stretch marks. Since stretch marks are essentially scars that result from dermal tearing, you should look for ingredients that can help repair the skin and improve collagen and elastin strength.
Preventive Properties
Scars are never easy to wipe out completely. A good anti stretch mark cream should hold prevention as the key to stopping the appearance of stretch marks altogether. An anti stretch mark cream that can prevent stretch marks does so by first of all nourishing the skin. A good anti stretch mark cream however can still be used even by those who have severe stretch marks. It is reasonable to imagine though that in severe cases, a good product can only effectively diminish the appearance of stretch marks.
Something Safe
Because of the quick expansion of the abdomen, stretch mark problems in women usually occur during pregnancy. It is therefore important to look for an anti stretch mark cream that is safe enough to use even on pregnant women. Although pregnant women are still advised to go by the advice of their doctors, a 100% natural product can be a safe choice. Natural ingredients reduce the chances of side effects regardless of whether an individual is pregnant or not. Just be sure to check with your doctor first.
Safe Against Allergies
Aside from pregnant women, those who have allergies would also benefit more from natural anti stretch mark cream products. The natural ingredients are already naturally occurring in the body or the environment so there is a small chance that they could promote allergies. To be on the safe side, try an anti stretch mark cream product on a patch of skin first and observe after 24 hours if any allergy signs appear.
Expectation Setting
A good anti stretch mark cream should also be clear about what you can expect. Makes sure that product instructions will tell you exactly how long you should wait for results and how often or how much a product should be used.
These creams are usually applied twice a day for a couple of weeks. To give your cream the best chances of providing results, you should use the cream after taking a shower when the skin is clean and the pores are open. The application should also be allowed to seep in before you put on your clothes.
Honest Claims
Avoid products that claim to have miracle effects. The effectiveness of a product will depend on such factors as your skin type, genetic predisposition and severity of stretch marks.
July 29th, 2008
Posted by
Maia Pells |
Health & Fitness |
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by Maia Pells
It may take some time to look for the right stretch mark removal treatment. There are so many methods of treatment in the market that one can easily get lost in the choices. They are even more available to the public now more than ever before. What one really has to do is study what the different procedures are to get rid of stretch marks. Then a person can discern what the best procedure to take is.
The Natural Way
Early Detection Means Early Treatment - Early detection and prevention is the key to getting rid of stretch marks. Of course, preventing them from occurring in the first place is ideal. But there are times in life when one does not realize he or she is gaining weight at a quick pace and it is at these times that stretch marks can start to form.
How do stretch marks occur? Stretch marks are scars and these scars are the result from the dermis tearing because of the quick growth and stretching of skin. To be extra sure that you treat stretch marks correctly, you must first inspect if you have any. They will usually look like reddened or purplish lines and the skin around them is more sensitive or softer than the rest of the surrounding skin. If you do detect this, then it is still early and you can still treat the stretch marks by exercising and also by hydrating your body. 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and a healthy diet will help the skin repair itself and thus stop stretch marks forming into something that is more permanent.
Medications & Creams
For people who already have stretch marks that are in a phase beyond prevention there is another way. Some dermatologists will prescribe specially medicated creams as a treatment for stretch marks. These creams can be used by simply massaging them into the affected area. Regular use of these creams will ultimately result in better skin conditions and less scarring caused by stretch marks.
Plastic Surgery & Laser Treatment
Tummy Tuck and Laser Treatment- For more serious cases of stretch marks, there are the choices of a tummy tuck or laser treatment. Since most people get stretch marks below the belly button or around the abdominal area, they can opt for a tummy tuck. Of course, this is probably only best for people who actually need a tummy tuck because the procedure is intended to get rid of excess loose skin that has come about after losing a significant amount of weight.
More Laser Options - For other areas of the body, there is also laser treatment that involves the stripping away of layers of the dead skin cells left behind by stretch marks. By burning these layers away with a laser, the skin can then be left to heal properly and then normalize so that it can take on the tone and color of the surrounding skin.
July 28th, 2008
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Maia Pells |
Product Reviews |
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by Maia Pells
Stretch marks indiscriminately affect both men and women. But because of the life events in a woman’s life cycle such as pregnancy, birthing and the rapid gaining and losing of weight due to these events, women may suffer from more severe stretch mark conditions than men do.
What May Cause Stretch Mark Signs
For both men and women, the main cause of stretch mark signs is the same. A rapid expansion of the body can cause inner skin tissues to overstretch and eventually tear. The torn tissues later become scar tissues that become white or silver in color through time. Women however may be more prone to this skin condition because of one natural cause of stretch mark signs that men do not experience-pregnancy. The rapid expansion of the abdomen in pregnant women may particularly result in ugly ragged lines.
Can Stretch Marks Affect Your Life?
Most experts will tell you that, regardless of the cause of stretch mark signs, stretch marks are harmless and non life threatening. Stretch marks however can be socially limiting and can cause insecurities in women. Women with stretch marks can no longer enjoy the beauty of current revealing fashion. Stretch marks may even affect relationships. You only need to go to online forums and a number of honest men will tell you that they do understand the cause of stretch mark signs in women but would still secretly prefer their women to be stretch mark free.
Not All Conditions are the Same
Women may be affected by different causes of stretch marks and may even experience it at varying degrees of condition. Even if women were to have the same cause of stretch mark signs, still, different women are still bound to have darker and heavier scars than others. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle and habits can influence such stretch mark sign conditions. Therefore, what cures the stretch mark of one woman may not necessarily cure another.
Permanent Stretch Marks For Some Women
While it is sad to note that some women may have to carry and bear stretch mark signs for the rest of their lives, sadder still is the fact that they could have done something to lessen the condition but didn’t. Stretch marks often become permanent and lasting when its early signs are left to develop without early remedies and treatments. If your family is known to experience abrupt weight gains, chances are that you are also prone to these rapid gaining of weight that only causes stretch marks.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Stretch mark signs are generally treated as scars because of its stubborn nature. Therefore, stretch marks are often easier to prevent rather than cure. If you are experiencing rapid weight increase or other possible body changes that may cause stretch mark signs, it is advisable to seek prevention right away rather than wait until the condition becomes more pronounced or worsen.
No Clear Surgical of Medical Solutions
Stretch marks are often seen by the medical world as a cosmetic problem. There are therefore hardly any medical solutions for the problem. The only way to truly get rid of stretch marks in the abdomen area for example is to undergo a painful and expensive tummy tuck that is not even really a procedure for stretch mark removal. Keep yourself safe by looking for natural options to stretch mark removal.
July 16th, 2008
Posted by
Maia Pells |
Health & Fitness |
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by Maia Pells
Stretch marks both plague men and women. However, because of the many life-changing events in the women’s life cycle such as pregnancy and the rapid increase and decrease of weight that accompany it, women are more likely to suffer more from the negative effects of stretch marks than men do.
What May Cause Stretch Mark Signs
Men and women share the same primary cause of stretch mark which is the rapid or abrupt expansion of the skin. When a body gains weight, the inner skin tissues stretch to accommodate the added weight and thus, tears on the skin, resulting to stretch mark signs. These torn skin tissues eventually turn to silver or white in color. As mentioned, however, women experience more severe stretch mark conditions due to pregnancy.
Stretch Marks Can Affect Your Life
People are most likely to tell you that no matter how severe your stretch mark condition is, stretch marks are harmless and non-fatal. Still, stretch marks are not only skin-deep. Severe stretch mark conditions can have negative effects on a woman’s social life. And no matter how much others may consider it a great triviality, physical insecurities caused by stretch marks can even go so far as ruin relationships. Online forums and chat rooms are proof enough that although men don’t mind their women with stretch mark signs, they would still prefer women who are blemish and stretch-mark free.
Not All Conditions are the Same
Women are plagued by different causes of stretch mark conditions and suffer different degrees of condition. Even if we are to say that causes of stretch marks in women are the same, its condition would still vary depending on the individual’s lifestyle, genetic disposition as well as habits and physical activities. Thus, different women and different stretch mark conditions call for different treatment and remedies.
May Be Permanent For Some
It is an unfortunate fact that some women may have to carry stretch mark signs for the rest of their lives than others. However, it is a more unfortunate fact even to know that these women could have easily done something to prevent it from becoming more severe and thus, more lasting and permanent. Stretch marks when spotted at an early stage can still be helped and remedied.
It is Easier to Prevent Than To Cure
Stretch marks are scars and because of the stubborn nature of scars, they are often easier to prevent than to heal. If you are experiencing a probable cause of stretch mark signs, you should immediately get your hands on a good preventive product to limit the appearance of the ugly scars.
No Surgical Stretch Mark Solutions
Stretch mark condition is often viewed as a cosmetic problem rather than a medical one. Therefore, there is really no medical or surgical procedure to get rid of stretch marks. And even if an individual undergoes tummy tuck to get rid of stretch marks on the abdomen, this procedure is not even truly considered as a surgical or medical solution to the problem. It is advisable to go for more natural stretch mark solutions such as natural creams and ointments.
July 16th, 2008
Posted by
Maia Pells |
Health & Fitness |
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by Maia Pells
Most people usually do not want to go through surgery to get rid of stretch marks but also do not want to go through life with permanent stretch marks. If you feel the same way, then a good home remedy for stretch marks may be your only hope.
How Vitamin E Can Help
Many people will attest that applying vitamin E on stretch marks scars is the best home remedy for stretch marks. All you have to do is to buy vitamin E caplets, cut them open and apply the solution on the affected area of stretch mark. Although the method of application is somewhat questionable, it is a known fact that the vitamin E called alpha tocopherol is an antioxidant needed to regenerate the skin and improve skin elasticity by promoting the growth of cells to replace scars.
Although caplets may be somewhat effective, vitamin E in a natural skin care solution may prove to be a better alternative to a home remedy for stretch marks. This is because other ingredients such as squalene enhance the effects of vitamin E. Squalene oil in particular is a natural antioxidant that also promotes skin regeneration.
Aloe Vera and Vitamin E
Aloe vera may also be mixed with the contents of a vitamin E caplet to promote skin regeneration and healing. Base oil like olive oil may be used for the mixture to allow easier and smoother application. If you are not sure about the amount of ingredients that should be included in this home remedy for stretch marks you can always look for a natural cream that both contains aloe vera and vitamin E.
Adequate Water
The most simple and the most inexpensive home remedy for stretch marks is to drink plenty of water. Water, as the most natural form of body hydration, can keep skin cells elastic as well as internally moisturized. Keeping yourself properly hydrated would mean however that you may have to deal with a bloated tummy and frequent trips to the comfort room. Furthermore, not everyone can stand more than eight glasses of water a day. Taking in more than the daily 8-glass requirement can make you feel a queasy especially when not naturally thirsty.
Cut Nails and Apply Oil
Pregnant women are advised to cut nails to avoid unnecessary scratching that would trigger scars and marks. Because the skin is expanded to accommodate the additional weight, a pregnant woman’s stomach skin is understandably more itchy than other parts of her body. Rough unnecessary scratching may worsen dermis tears that further results to worse stretch marks. When you feel an itch coming, it is advisable to simply apply any doctor-recommended body oil on the stomach and move the tips of fingers in a gentle motion to relieve the itch.
Reminders
Natural home treatment for stretch marks is almost always a better alternative than drugstore-bought chemical solutions especially for pregnant women. In order to be safe, though, always consult your doctor before you start using a home remedy for stretch marks especially when pregnant.
It is advisable to apply your natural home remedy for stretch mark after a warm bath when the pores are still open and receptive. Simply apply the natural stretch mark solution on the scars and allow time for the solution to seep through the area and to work.
July 14th, 2008
Posted by
Maia Pells |
Health & Fitness |
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