Stretch Mark Cream

Just what are stretch marks anyway?

Stretch marks can occur on any skin that has been forced to stretch beyond its natural elasticity. When it expands too much and too fast, collagen production is interrupted and tiny tears occur beneath the surface, causing visible lines of demarcation, similar to scars. They can first appear as raised pink or brownish lines, depending upon the color of your complexion. Then over time, they flatten and fade, finally becoming a few shades lighter than the surrounding skin. On some people, they are shiny. Pregnant women, body builders, young people going through puberty, and the obese are some of the people who experience them. No matter who you are, you probably want to get rid of them.

How do I make stretch marks go away?

There is no magic bullet to make them totally disappear. However, there are a number of methods on the market today that can make them less noticeable. They range from the very costly, such as laser surgery to over the counter topical creams that are very inexpensive.

What about stretch mark creams, do they really work?

The honest answer would be both yes and no. Unfortunately, the best time to use a stretch mark cream is while the skin is expanding. Many mothers to be have had good success in keeping their bellies relatively line free by using topical creams throughout their pregnancies. Cocoa butter has been used for generations in this way. However, unless you are pregnant, most people wouldn’t think of using an emollient to counteract the process – or even realize that they might experience stretch marks, for that matter.

Many manufactures of stretch mark creams claim to get dramatic results when their products are used after the skin has stretched. However, the best that most people can expect on previously stretched skin is fading, not complete eradication of the lines.

What are the best creams to use?

According to some doctors, the best way to take care of stretch marks is to stimulate the body to make new connective tissue to seal the tears that made the marks in the first place. Collagen and elastin are what make the skin supple and elastic. They are active components in making new tissue. Although many manufacturers of stretch mark creams make many claims, creams that contain retinoids (such as Retin-A) and alphahydroxy acids have been scientifically proven to help generate collagen production. Be patient. Sometimes these types of creams need to be used on a regular basis for months before results are seen.

Some doctors claim that laser surgery is the best option, although it doesn’t totally get rid of them. It just makes them fade quite dramatically. Many emollient creams that are applied topically, make similar claims. Luckily, over time, stretch marks can fade to such a degree that they are no longer noticeable at all. So, many people don’t do anything at all to get rid of them.

** Please be aware that creams containing Retin-A or steroids such as hydrocortisone should never be used during pregnancy.