Whenever stretch marks appear you ought to have them treated as quickly as possible because when you catch them early on you will find they disappear much easier. If your stretch marks are red, brown, pink or purple then you will find it easier to treat than if you allow them to become white or silver.
When it comes to treating red stretch marks you will see that the products on the market vary greatly in terms of the type and the price. More and more products seem to be entering the market place so knowing which ones to try is very tricky. If you want an at-home treatment option then you can look for creams that contain any of the following ingredients:-
Tretinoin - reduces the size of the stretch marks
Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates - used to prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place
Cocoa butter - moisturizes the skin and increases the elasticity
retinoids retinol and retinaldehyde from Vitamin A can increase cell regeneration and can lessen the marks
If you think that you may get stretch marks in the near future because of pregnancy or weight loss it’s a very good idea to try and prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place by using products that moisturize the skin and repairs the collagen. Lanolin, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil are all good for this purpose.
Although there are so many products on the market they haven’t necessarily been proven to work. If you want a proven treatment then you need to look at laser therapy. A beam of light is utilized to remove layers of skin in the affected area is not as scary as it might appear. The healing time is very quick however there will be some tenderness to begin with. A single treatment can cost in the region of $200 and how many treatments you require will depend on the stretch marks you have. A dermatologist can have a look at your skin and give you an idea of how many treatments you are likely to require.
If your red stretch marks are really a big problem to you, it’s a good idea to fully research every treatment out there. Just because a treatment is expensive doesn’t mean it will automatically be more effective. You might want to start out with cocoa butter with Vitamin E and see how you get on. Of course, taking to a dermatologist means you will receive advice tailored to you.
Ideally you should treat stretch marks as soon as they appear on your skin because then you’ll have a better chance at getting rid of them. At first they will be red, pink, purple or brown depending on your skin color and end up a silver or white color. When they are silver or white they are normally accompanied by deep indentations.
If your stretch marks are silver then it’s probably because you’ve had them for some time. Now, it will be more difficult to eliminate them however please don’t despair. There are still a number of options at your disposal including topical treatments, laser treatments and microdermabrasion.
You will see certain treatments on the market including cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, vitamin c, retinoids, topical tretinoin however these are better suited to stretch marks that are early on in their development. There are also treatments such as glycolic acid, relastin and products containing peptides however they really haven’t been proven to be affective.
Stretch Mark Laser Treatment
A better option, albeit expensive, is laser treatment. Laser treatments can be used for both early and established stretchmarks. Basically a beam of light removes the thin layers of skin that surround the stretch marks. This might worry you because lasers are often used as cutting tools.
When it comes to laser stretch mark removal an excimer laser used and puts out a high-energy UV light to disrupt the molecular bonds in the skin tissue. This is a process known as ablation. The beauty of this kind of cosmetic surgery is that the healing time is very quick and effective. However at first the treated area will be red and tender. This is due to the fact that the scarred skin has been taken away.
Remember, if you have silver stretch marks it’s because they are old so having laser treatment might not work 100% first time. It might be that you need as many as 10 treatments for the problem to be completely eradicated. Each treatment costs in the region of $200 so it’s not cheap. Everyone is unique and will respond to the treatment differently. Have a talk with a surgeon or dermatologist to get their feedback on your individual case.
Microdermabrasion For Stretch Mark Treatment
The process of microdermabrasion involves a crystal flow to sandblast the skin so that the marks effectively become eroded. It also encourages the formation of new collagen and elastin. You will probably need anywhere in the region of 6 to 12 treatments to see the results you are looking for.
Conclusion
Many people waste a lot of money trying to get rid of stretch marks because most of the products on the market don’t work very well if at all. Having silver stretch marks means you will also need to be more careful because the age of the marks means you will need treatment that is that bit more intensive. Talking to a dermatologist is a good idea because they will be able to look at your skin and decide what the best course of action is.
Acne is a skin condition which affects many people from all around the world. It’s not just white people who can get acne; people with black skin can suffer from it just as much. Luckily there are treatments available to African Americans with acne. If you aren’t sure what to do, you should ideally talk to a dermatologist. Many people are under the illusion that black skin don’t have as many problems with their skin compared to those with light skin. It’s believed that dark skin doesn’t suffer as much from the sun. The problem is, however, that those with dark skin actually have more melanin which in turn makes the skin more sensitive and prone to injury. As a result, scarring is more likely to occur due to acne.
The good news, is that people in the industry now recognize that black skin requires a different skin care regime. A lot of the products on the market for acne are OK for those with light skin but aren’t so suitable for black skin. Luckily you can now find products on the market which have been created for people of different ethnicity. They have been developed to be much gentler and less harsh on the skin.
All too often, darker skinned people end up with dark marks and scarring around the spots. You will find that the reason for this is because of the fact that more melanin is produced. It’s the melanin that gives the skin a dark color. The body produces melanin in order to protect itself from infections. This is called hypopigmentation. Unfortunately, the melanin doesn’t go away after the acne has gone. This results in scarring which can fade but it can take quite a long time to do so.
There are now products that reduce the risk of hypopigmentation and the treatments come in the form of chemical peels which are of a lower-strength. There are also lasers that use longer pulses can be used too. However it’s best to stay away from collagen injections as raised scarring called keloids can occur.
So if you have dark skin and also have acne, be very careful about what products you use. Make sure that they have been developed with your skin type in mind so as to avoid any unnecessary problems. A good dermatologist will also be able to give you more specific advice.
According to history, Cleopatra is thought to have been the one to start using goats’ milk because of the benefits it gives to the skin. She is well-known to have bathed in goats’ milk on a regular basis.
You might think that she was simply eccentric however there are some scientific facts to support the use of goats’ milk as a beauty product. First of all, there is a special type of protein in the milk that can be absorbed by our skin. If you suffer from certain skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis you will be pleased to know that the milk can normalize our pH balance. In addition to this it can moisturize the skin and also contains a multitude of vitamins such as A, E, B6 and B12. So don’t assume that goats’ milk in beauty products is simply a fad that will go away soon.
If you have been using regular soap, you might find that it contains surfactants (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphatem) which are added so that absorption through the skin increases. They are also used to get rid of oils from your skin. The downside to this is that it can severely dry out the skin which augments the aging process. If you are using soaps with goats’ milk in it then it’s more than likely not going to contain any “nasty” ingredients like this.
Another issue to think about is acne, there are so many people who suffer from acne and it can be really embarrassing. Desperate people who don’t know what else to do will often turn to anti-acne products that are filled with really harsh ingredients. Often they cause inflammation and only serve to make the acne even worse! This is because they are really good at killing the bacteria that causes acne, but in turn irritates the skin causing it to go fiery red and swollen. You don’t have to worry about this happening with goats’ milk soap however because it’s so gentle.
Strange as it may sound, the goat’s milk can also work as an exfoliant to get rid of the dead skin cells that frequently clog up the pores, in turn causing pimples to appear. The alpha-hydroxy acid which is naturally present will take away the dead skin cells reducing the chance of acne appearing whilst also giving you a healthy glow.
So if you are looking at your daily beauty regime and want to change the soap you use, try some goat’s milk soap. There are plenty of places you can buy it now, including the internet. Some popular brands include Sassy, Zum and Canus. Alternatively you might want to look at the possibilities of making your own. That way you know exactly what ingredients have gone into it.
