Stretch Mark Solutions - The Secret Revealed

March 15th, 2008

4 Stretch Mark Creams Reviewed - Which one wins?

 

Hi! Do you Suffer from Stretch Marks? Are you looking for a way to prevent stretch marks from forming?

Then today’s blog post is for you.

We are going to talk about Stretch Mark Treatments to review which ones work and what to avoid. Like a rubber band that has snapped when pulled to far, Stretch Marks occur when the skin is extended to the breaking point. Usually the result of hormonal changes in pregnancy or some other dramatic increase in weight or height, Stretch Marks appear when skin literally tears apart in the middle epidermal layer.

What not to look for!

On this point, my main advice is DON’T GET SCAMMED! If you’re dead set on buying some kind of Stretch Mark Cream or treatment, then Take 2 minutes and read this article — we will enlighten you and save you from wasting your money.

There are many web sites that are selling Stretch Mark Creams, and they’ll likely push the product that makes them the most money - or they’ll rate it #1 because of that reason — when behind the scenes, it’s only #1 in terms of making money for them.

Do you really want to trust them?

Read this review and order whatever you want directly from the manufacturer. I have included links to the manufacturers websites.

The Recent Buzz on Stretch Mark Creams

You’re here because you’re looking for Stretch Mark Treatments that work, right? You don’t want to waste your money, do you? Good… so read on.

Many of my readers have lost weight over the years or have gotten Pregnant and have asked me what I recommend to prevent stretch marks or even erase their current stretch marks … and FAST. Nobody wants any ugly scarring of the skin that they didn’t have before.

So what should a person do?

The big buzz as of late in the skin care circles have been treatments that help support and repair the collagen in the Skin. Collagen if you not aware of is the support infrastructure for you skin.

It’s very different from older stretch mark treatments that only moisturize the skin. The new stretch mark treatments go beyond moisturizing. Dermatologist say the key to stretch marks is supporting and repairing the collagen that you have.

The second thing to look for in a stretch mark treatment is the ability to repair or strengthen the elastin fibres in the skin. Elasticity is what gives the skin the ability to flex or stretch. Weak elastin fibres will tear. What you want is to support healthy elastin-rich tissues in the skin so you can prevent the stretch marks from forming in the first place

Technically stretch marks are scars, but I’m not going to go into a lot of detail here about what Stretch Marks are and its basis in Science - you can research that on your own if you want.

You are here looking for solutions, so what I am going to do is show you results from many months of testing stretch mark creams, on real people… clients, friends and people I know, and let you decide if these treatments are for you.

Why did I do the study?

As you probably already know, I work in a hair and skin salon, so I do a lot of facials, waxings and other skin treatments on my clients. I have the pleasure of meeting all kinds of great people in the salon - those with fabulously great skin, and those that need a lot of help.

Many of my friends and people that I know asked me about what works with stretch marks, and many were going to try various creams regardless of what I told them, so I asked if I could document their results.

I actually had over 10 people on some kind of Stretch Mark treatment last year. Some of the products they used ranged from traditional cocoa butter to organic home remedies but I’m only going to cover a few of them here right now that we saw great results with.

The two results you are about to see are what I consider pretty inspiring. They followed every word I said and achieved spectacular results. They have also given me permission to post their photos and their story:

Rose’s Story

Rose was one our best test cases in the prevention of Stretch Marks and the inspiration behind today’s post.

Rose was 2 months pregnant with her first child and was really worried about getting stretch marks because her mom had gotten stretch mark in her pregnancy. Rose was a client of mine and I have done many exfoliating and skin care treatments on her so having great skin was very important.

When Rose first came to me she was literally sobbing because her OBGYN told her that stretch marks were hereditary and there was nothing that she could do.

I usually have a belief there is always a way to make anything happen so when people tell me “You Can’t” do something that usually gets my blood boiling.

Anyways back to Rose… We did some research on different Stretch Mark Prevention Creams and we decided to use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter to try and keep the skin taught and firm and plus we heard some good things about it.

In the beginning we saw some initial good results. However Rose started noticing some ugly stretch marks (see photo A) forming in her belly so we decided to switch to Plan B.

We started using the Revitol line of Skin Care products and specifically the Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention Cream. After a few weeks Rose noticed the stretch marks that were forming were diminishing.

Around the 8 month of her Pregnancy the results were pretty dramatic as you can see from the Picture B.

Peggy’s Story

Peggy was one tough cookie when it came to her stretch marks. She was very overweight when she was a teenager and in her 20’s. Then a few years ago she lost over 60 pounds in a rigorous 4 month fitness and dietary boot camp.

Even though Peggy was happy about the weight loss, the rapid weight loss resulted in stretch marks in and around her stomach and butt.

Peggy searched for some kind of solution over the past couple of years and she thought about giving up on finding any that would work when I started this test….and needless to say she didn’t have any hope at all.

You can see in the photo below that Peggy started the test her stretch marks were not pretty to say the least, (Are there any stretch marks that are pretty?)

After doing some research we decided to try out a Stretch Mark Cream called TriLastin from EC Research. We used the cream through out a 6 month period and the results were pretty promising.

You can see in the photo below that Peggy’s stretch marks were visibly reduced from when we started the test. Not only were the stretch marks less apparent than before, Peggy was very happy with the results.

 

 

THE FINAL RESULTS:

I ran tests on 10 different people, all with varying degrees of success. Of the four Stretch Mark products we tested, the results were pretty unanimous:

1st Place: Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention - www.Revitol.com 6 month supply: $159.95 (Best Value)

2nd Place: (Very Close) EC Research’s TriLastin- www.TriLastin.com 6 month supply: $179.85

3rd Place: HydroDerm’s BodyShape - www.Hydroderm.com: Free Trial

4th Place: (Very Good) Stretta - www.Zenmed.com 6 month supply: $199.96

Read the rest of this entry »

Revitol Stretch Mark Cream Video Review

March 15th, 2008

One of my readers decided to share her experiences with using Revitol Stretch Mark Cream after using it to help prevent stretch marks during her pregnancy.

Tips to Apply Sunscreen More Effectively

March 13th, 2008

Before going out in the sun, question that strikes the brain is how to prevent the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. The answer is simple- by using sunscreen lotions. However, sometimes sunscreen lotions are used quite inappropriately, which prevents from accessing its full benefits. However, before applying any sunscreen lotion make sure that it suits your skin. Here are some genuine tips to use sunscreen lotions:-

Make sure that you apply sunscreen lotion at least 30 minutes before you go out, as it would allow skin to absorb the lotion.

Applying sunscreen lotion just once is not sufficient. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors, especially if you’re swimming or sweating.

Skin around the tops of the ears, nose, and cheeks is quite susceptible to sunburn, so apply sunscreen on these areas, liberally.

Use roughly a handful to cover your entire body.

These were some of the authentic ways of applying sunscreen lotion, however, it should not be forgot that clothes serve as the best shield against UV rays, therefore, try to dress up in such a manner that most of your body parts are covered. In addition, don’t forget to drink lots of water.

Get Youthful Skin in 30 Days with Dr. Brandt’s Formula

March 13th, 2008

If you are heaving a sigh when you look at your pictures taken ten years ago and wished you could freeze that young look again, here’s some hope. Dr Fredric Brandt, author of ‘10 Minutes/10 Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and Youthful Appearance’ tells you how you can turn your sagging skin into a youthful one in 30 days.

According to him, sugar is the no.1 enemy of your skin that is responsible for all skin problems. He says that you can you can turn back the clock by ten years and improve the texture, tone and radiance of your skin by reducing or eliminating your sugar intake.

Dr. Brandt says that sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins. The sugar triggers a process in the The sugar triggers a process in the body called glycation. This is where the sugar molecules bind to your protein fibres - those wonderfully springy and resilient collagen and elastin fibres - which are the building blocks of skin.

Imagine that your collagen is your skin’s mattress and the elastin fibres are the coils holding it together. The sugar attacks these fibres, making them less elastic and more brittle so they break. The result is that your once-youthful skin starts to sag and look old.

Try this:
For 30 days, cut out all sugars, including honey, maple syrup, fructose and artificial sweeteners because they’ll keep your cravings going. Eliminate all wheat-based peoducts, which releases sugar during digestion, all dairy, most fruit, grains with gluten, yeast and any foods high on the glycemic index - that indicates they’re full of sugar or that it is a by-product of breaking them down in the stomach.

But you are allowed to eat almost all types of protein, such as chicken, fish and shellfish; non-roasted nuts and seeds; non-gluten grains such as millet and spelt; non starchy vegetables, such as broccoli; and gluten-free bread and cereals. You are allowed to eat foods that have low glycemic index like brown rice, rice milk, blueberries and green apples, etc.

Want to Look 10 Years Younger? Stay Away from Sugar!

March 13th, 2008

Sugar is not sugary anymore. Apart from contributing to your inches all over, it is suspected to speed-up the process of wrinkling.

And this is being stated by the world-famous dermatologist Dr Fredric Brandt, also known as the The Baron of Botox, a very unlikely author to say so.. In his new book he explains why sugar is not good for the skin; “Sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins and finally actively ages you. The sugar triggers a process in the body called glycation, whereby, the sugar molecules bind to protein fibres (which are springy and resilient) collagen and elastin fibres (which are the building blocks of skin). Collagen has been compared to as skin’s mattress and the elastin fibres as the coils holding it together. The sugar attacks these fibres, making them less elastic and more brittle so they break. As a result the youthful skin starts to sag and look old.”

More worse, “the glycation process causes these proteins to mutate, creating harmful new molecules called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), which accumulate and cause further inflammation and damage to collagen and elastin. In a normal, healthy collagen and elastin, the skin will snap back to its original position, but if the collagen and elastin have been made brittle by glycation and so is prone to breaking, the skin can’t snap back, and then the fine lines and wrinkles appear - and don’t go away. “
So, before you put those treats into your mouth, think again, for your skin’s sake.

5-point makeover for a healthy, glowing summer skin

March 13th, 2008

So, if your are worried about being outside in less clothing, showing some of your skin, than used to, or concerned about looking odd on the beach, the WebMD is here to your rescue:



1. Exfoliate

Regularly exfoliate your skin to get rid of that winter-gifted dry, dull skin and get it ready to boast in the summer days. Audrey Kunin MD, a dermatologist in Kansas City, Mo. recommends you a chemical or physical exfoliation to keep your skin looking fresher.

But, don’t go overboard; less is more when it comes to exfoliating.

2. Moisturize:

Exfoliation should always be followed by moisturizing or hydrating your dry skin created by the harshness of the winters. Use a liquid moisturizer or a cream moisturizer depending on your skin type to keep your skin supple.

3. Sunscreen:
Considering the factor that people having fairer skin, lighter hair, and lighter eyes often need stronger sun block compared to their darker counterparts, you have to apply it both generously and the right amount.

You can put on enough that can cover your entire body. But, since it lasts only for about two hours, you need to reapply it frequently.

4. Shaving:

All, who are in love with their looks, are aware that nothing can ruin the look of a clean shave like ingrown hairs. But, one should know how to shave – yes, in the opposite direction from which hair grows.

Waxing, is rather a popular hair-removing practice, though it takes one more time than shaving. But rewax should be done only when your hair grows back to a minimal length.

5. Skin treatment:
Though many have the tendency to neglect their feet, and don’t mind much staying with those fungal and ugly toenails — Being closer to dust, they are more prone to infections.

To avoid those fungal attacks and discoloration of nails, there are many topical whitening and antifungal agents available in the market shelves.
Trust me, toes and tails add to your beauty and your cleanliness-awareness to a considerable extend.

Hope these 5 summer tips would help you transform that winter-given dry, scaly skin to a healthy, glowing summer skin – all ready for their boastful exposure.

Stretch Mark Removal

January 25th, 2008

Experiencing stretch marks during pregnancy is one of the most common problems faced by almost 90% of the women. These scars appear in purplish or dark red shades between the shining white lines and look ugly if closely observed. Other than pregnancy, puberty, excessive physical exercise, and obesity are some of the leading causes of developing stretch marks. But, pregnancy still remains a stronger cause of developing stretch marks in more than 90 percent of cases.

Though stretch marks are often caused during pregnancy, but most of the people including athletes, wrestlers, or body builders can develop them due to excessive physical activity. Additionally, rapid weight gain is another major reason that triggers the development of stretch marks. So whenever there are changes in the elastic supportive tissue, which lies just beneath your skin, you are likely to develop stretch marks.

Various studies done in this field indicate that genetics play a major role in determining whether or not you will develop stretch marks during pregnancy. So, if your mother or sister has developed stretch marks, you are more likely to get them too!

You have greater chances of getting stretch marks if you rapidly put on excessive weight or carrying multiple or large-sized babies. Fortunately, it is possible to control the appearance of unwanted scars on your body if you take effectives measures on time. If you are putting on weight due to pregnancy or for any other reason, it is recommended to gain it at a slower pace so as to reduce your chances of getting unwanted stretch marks.

However, you can also start using an effective stretch mark removal cream well in advance. It is strongly recommend using a stretch marks removal cream having natural ingredients. The natural therapy ensures positive results and provides you with immediate relief from the stretch marks. Since these stretch marks removal creams are made of natural oils and herbal ingredients, they help the collagen to grow new cells and strengthen the old ones. This therapy may minimize the appearance of the stretch marks.
There are certain other conventional measures and traditional therapies available using which you can limit the appearance of stretch marks. For example, you must drink a lot of water if you are pregnant as this helps in improving the elasticity of the collagen. Moreover, taking well- balanced and nutritious diet help you keep your weight under control, which in turn helps you prevent the occurrence of stretch marks.
Other than diet, massaging is another excellent remedy to remove stretch marks. There are various oils available for remedial massaging including olive oil, cod liver oil, vitamin E oil, and flaxseed oil. Also, regular work outs such as yoga and exercises help you maintain your weight and thus prevent developing stretch marks.

Other than using natural therapies and remedies, you can go for laser plastic surgery, which is much-advanced and promises faster and more effective stretch mark removal. The plastic surgery aims at promoting the growth of new tissues of collagen from the bottom of the layer. But, there not many people prefer plastic surgery due to the cost and amount of pain associated with it.

However, you are strongly recommended to consult your physician before using any of the stretch mark removal products, making any change in your lifestyle, or modifying dietary habits.

Go Here To See the Best Stretch Mark Removers