Dealing with the stretch marks can be a frustrating experience and you will be looking at a number of options to get rid of it.
However, in reality, there are no products available in the market to erase the stretch marks fully. The best thing possible is a lightening of these marks.
If you were looking for an affordable option, the best thing would be to find a best stretch mark cream that can reduce the appearance of it and prevents it from occurring again.
What are stretch mark creams?
Stretch mark creams can be an effective option in lowering its appearance.
The formulations of these work on three different layers of the skin - the epidermis, stratum, and the dermis with the primary aim being ensuring good hydration.
The creams also help the stretch marks to fade and reduce the appearance of the scars.
What do stretch mark creams generally contain?
If you are having stretch marks, it is essential that you find the best stretch mark cream that has effective ingredients that are safe for your skin.
Almost every stretch mark cream talks about a different ingredient but targets the same thing – ensuring that your skin remains well hydrated.
These days, most of the stretch mark creams have natural ingredients that make it ideal to be used by those who have sensitive skin.
The stretch mark creams might contain one or more ingredients that are listed below.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a widely used ingredient in stretch mark creams, which contains pectin and glucomannan.
Aloe vera is popular for its hydrating, healing abilities and soothing properties that make it be effective on stretch marks.
The hydrating and healing effect of aloe vera helps the skin to become soft and reduces the occurrence of stretch marks.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is a potent moisturizer and is a very effective ingredient of stretch mark creams that has rich moisturizing properties and can nourish the skin layers and erase the appearance of stretch marks.
Elastin
This protein aids in enhancing skin elasticity and this is why it is found in stretch mark creams.
This would help your skin to get essential proteins while reducing the appearance of the stretch marks on the skin.
Collagen
When the skin with stretch marks has a wrinkled look, the main reason behind it might be loss of collagen protein in the skin.
The stretch mark creams that contain this ingredient would help in locking the nourishment of the skin thereby making it to stay healthy by fading the appearance of stretch marks.
Vitamins A & E
These Vitamins A & E are called as anti-oxidant nutrients.
The stretch mark cream with these vitamins offers nourishment and increases the skin elasticity while eradicating the stretch marks.
Vitamin D
This natural vitamin source is available in the artificial form through stretch mark creams and it helps in the development of new cells.
Extracts of grape fruit seed
Grapefruit seed extract helps in elastin production, which would offer the skin good strength and would improve skin elasticity while reducing the appearance of stretch marks on the skin.
The above mentioned (and many more) ingredients present in the stretch mark creams work together on the skin making it elastic, supple and soft.
The stretch mark cream prevents the tearing of dermis, which helps in preventing the stretch marks from appearing again.
The natural ingredients with curing abilities such as aloe vera repair the skin and works against the stretch marks by kindling the healing process in the layers of skin.
The stretch mark creams can lower the appearance or fade the stretch marks appearing due to teenage, pregnancy, hormone imbalance, obesity and bodybuilding.
The stretch mark creams can be used on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, breasts, legs, hands and so on.
What Stretch Mark Creams do ?
So, what these stretch marks creams can really achieve? Here is the list.
Lightens the color of stretch marks
When the stretch mark creams are applied on the stretch marks, it makes the stretch marks to have a lighter tone and upon regular use, changes the tone to your natural skin color.
This is very effective on stretch marks with a red shade, as it means that the marks are fresh and hence can be healed faster.
This is especially helpful for pregnant women, as it does not allow the stretch marks to become darker as the lightening ingredients prevent the skin from scars.
Moisturizes and nourishes
As you apply stretch mark creams on the skin, it moisturizes both the epidermis and the dermis layer thereby lending a glow and radiant look to the skin.
The effective ingredients present ion the stretch mark creams smoothes out all the bumps and ridges on the skin’s surface and rejuvenates it.
Skin protection
When the stretch mark creams are applied regularly, the elasticity of the skin improves, it is free from wrinkles and is protected which lowers the risk of experiencing more stretch marks.
Precautions while using stretch mark creams
If you are planning to buy a stretch mark cream, make sure that you follow the precautions discussed below.
- Make sure you buy stretch mark cream offered by reputed brands as it generally is more reliable
- If you are pregnant or nursing, take extra care in choosing stretch mark creams as some ingredients might be harmful for your baby
- In case, you have stretch marks following hormonal issues, seek the advice of a medical practitioner who might prescribe you a stretch mark cream for your issue.
- While buying a stretch mark cream with natural ingredients, take some time to learn about other ingredients in the pack to see whether it is free from allergic ones.
- Always make a patch test to check whether you are experiencing tingling or burning sensation, if yes, wash it off immediately and consult a doctor.
Summary
Using stretch mark cream can be a good and inexpensive method to address stretch mark issues.
While they cannot help you get rid of the marks they can help in decreasing their visibility and nourish skin.