Stretch Mark Removal – Is It Really Possible?

There are three main stretch marks removal methods available to those who suffer from these unsightly scars – Stretch mark creams, laser surgery, and cosmetic surgery. Sadly, though, not all of these mentioned treatments can effectively eliminate stretch marks 100%. They may be able to reduce the appearance of the scars to the point of not being as visible as before. Cosmetic surgery is the only treatment so far that can totally eradicate stretch marks.

Stretch marks are caused by skin scarring brought about by abrupt weight gain and weight loss. This is very common during pregnancy when the skin in the stomach area stretches beyond its elasticity limit. Stretch marks can also develop when there is an abrupt growth spurt such as puberty. There also have been studies that prove that obesity and bodybuilding are major causes of stretch marks. When this happens, the deeper layer of the skin which is called the dermis is stretched beyond its limit. This causes damage to the small fibers in the dermis. As these heal, they develop into scars, which can be deep and purple in appearance.

The most popular stretch mark removal treatment  nowadays is stretch mark creams. Most of these creams are advertised to help not only reduce the appearance of the scars but also to eliminate them altogether. Undoubtedly, there are stretch mark creams that can effectively reduce the visibility of the scars and keep the skin moisturized. However, to date, it is quite impossible to totally get rid of stretch marks with creams alone.

Creams that have active ingredients such as aloe, lanolin, germ oil, and most especially cocoa butter help in keeping the skin amply moisturized. They also help in improving the skin’s elasticity. These components enhances the production of collagen and elastin of the skin making the appearance of the scars less visible. Ingredients such as Alpha Hydroxyl Acids, Retin A, Vitamins A and E helps in enhancing cell rejuvination which helps replace damage cells. So it also helps to exfoliate the skin every so often to speed up the eradication of dead skin cells..

A method that works better than creams in eliminating stretch marks is laser surgery. It is known to increase the production of collagen faster than any other active ingredients found in stretch mark creams. The new collagen produced fills up the skin bottom up forcing the damaged cells upwards and fills up the void that has been caused by the scars. It will take a couple of visits to your dermatologist to get the results you desire in laser surgery. In the first treatments, there may be signs of swelling and bruising in the treated area. This is the result of the new skin cells that are produced over the area.

As mentioned earlier, the most effective stretch mark removal method is cosmetic surgery. Sad news is cosmetic surgery for stretch marks can only be done on the lower abdominal area of the body. As for the other parts of the body, there is no cosmetic surgery that can be performed to remove stretch marks. This procedure is done exactly as how they do tummy tucks. With this surgery, excess skin is removed from the stomach area and the remaining portion of the skin is pulled taut thus getting rid of all signs of damages on that area of the skin.

These are the different stretch marks removal methods. Stretch mark creams of course are the least costly of the three. That is really not the case, even the best stretch mark creams in the market can only do so much in eliminating those embarassing scars. Nonetheless, with the right active ingredients, these creams can significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks and prevent further scars to develop.