5 Tips For Flawless Skin

• Stay Hydrated – It has been proven that a person who stays well hydrated will have healthier skin. By drinking plenty of water and green/herbal teas the body is able to remove a lot of toxins from the skin, and can also improve the elasticity of the skin. To help improve the glow of your skin, try to avoid sugary drinks, like sodas, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
• Eat Right – A healthy diet is one of the easiest ways to not only improve your skin’s appearance, but to also improve your overall health. Avoid fatty and fried foods, and try to eat several full servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Some people believe that eating only organically grown foods can enhance the appearance of skin.
• Start Clean – Washing away oils that build up overnight is a great way to start the morning skin care routine. Use a gentle soap and always use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water can damage the skin. After washing with lukewarm water, a few splashes of cooler water can help increase circulation, giving the skin a slight glow.
• Restful Nights – The skin naturally replenishes itself when we are asleep. So anyone wanting flawless skin should try for a good eight hours of sleep every night. Face masks can be worn at night to help the rejuvenation process. Also try to avoid and relive stress when possible. Stress can cause flaws to appear on skin, and it can keep a person from getting their needed sleep.
• Avoid the Sun – While you can still go out and enjoy a bright beautiful day, try to remember to put on sunblock. Too much sun exposure is the fastest way to damage skin. So if you are wanting flawless smooth skin try packing a big floppy hat for those days out on the beach, or when you spend the day gardening.

A Few Helpful Tips

• Moisturize – Keep the skin moisturized. Make sure to wash the skin before applying any moisturizing creams. This helps to keep the pores from blocking, and washes away excess oils.
• Know your skin. Find a moisturizing cream that is made for your skin type, whether you skin is oily or dry there is a moisturizer out there.
• Natural Look – Try to go a day or two every week without makeup. This gives the skin some time to breath, and clear out any blockages. This is also a great way to show yourself how much the look of your skin has improved.

By taking a few easy steps, and setting up a skin care routine anyone can have healthy, flawless skin. A few minutes in the morning and a few minutes at night devoted to this routine can keep you looking a little younger, and a lot happier with your skin’s appearance.

Is it Safe to Use Antibacterial Soap on a Daily Basis?

Using this soap each day is fine and can be healthy. This will help get rid of bacteria from your skin so it’s not transferred to other people. This is why health care professionals, like doctors, need to wash their hands so often. You also need to make sure you are washing your hands before you cook, especially if you’re cooking with raw meats.

If you have harmful bacteria on your hands, it could easily transfer to other people. This could end up getting the people around you really sick or causing you to get sick. Bacteria can easily travel on your hands and then through your mouth when you eat or touch your face. Not using antibacterial hand soap could prove to be really bad for you.

What Happens if You Use Antibacterial Soap too Much?

Using this type of soap in moderation is really important. That is because there is good bacteria on our hands that we need to have. This bacteria can help fight viruses and other illnesses. When you use a lot of antibacterial soap, you will kill both the good and the bad bacteria. This can end up causing a lot of health issues because you don’t have anything fighting what’s bad.

You don’t always have to use antibacterial soap, there are other types of soap available to purchase. These will still get rid of germs on your hands that you don’t want to transfer to other things or people. It’s generally a good idea to use moisturizer as well, which will keep your hands soft and supple. Most people who wash their hands quite often will end up with dry and scaly skin that doesn’t feel soft to touch.

How Often to Use Different Hand Soaps?

It’s best to stick to regular soap and water when you aren’t somewhere where you need to kill bacteria. This is still going to get rid of germs and will aid with getting rid of the bacteria that can make you sick. When you know you are in contact with someone who is sick, use the antibacterial soap. Either way, washing your hands in general is going to help out a lot when it comes to getting sick throughout the year. When you use the right type of soap at the right time you will find that you really don’t get sick that often!

Antibacterial soaps are full of a lot of chemicals that aren’t good for the skin. Using them on an occasional basis is going to be just fine. Using them too often could end up causing a lot of adverse reactions to the skin. There are a lot of products, choose which ones you use wisely!

• Healthy Blood Vessels
• Healthier Skin
• Valuable Hormonal Nutrients
• Potent Antioxidant
• Can reduce Oxidative Stress
• Strengthen Immune System
• Assist in Iron Absorption
• Aid in Scar Tissue Growth
• Could even reduce cancer rate

Now that we know what Vitamin C can do for us, we need to determine the Top 10 Sources to find the Vitamin. Some of these sources may surprise you and you may not like a few of them at all. However, if you can find a way to include them in your daily diet your body will thank you again and again. Here are the ten top sources of Vitamin C:

1. Hot Chili Peppers – This is a hard sell for some people, but if you can find a way to add a little zip to your diet with red or green chili peppers you will be getting the most potent dose of Vitamin C on the globe, which is over 400% of a 100 gram portion.

2. Guava – This is another hard sell for some picky eaters who don’t want to pay the price to get these fruits, but they offer 350% of Vitamin C for a 100 gram portion and that is not to hard to take.

3. Thyme – This herb can be used to season many types of food and delivers 260% of your needed Vitamin C intake per a 100 gram portion.

4. Bell Peppers – This source is a little more reasonable to some because it can be used in so many dishes. Keep in mind that if you want enhanced Vitamin C in your bell pepper than pick one that is a bit more yellow. You can expect 200% of Vitamin C in a 100 gram portion.

5. Kale – The closest some people get to kale is when they see it being used for decoration around salad bars, but this dark green leaf food offers 200% of the Vitamin C you need.

6. Kiwi – Great fruit and not as sweet as some. Kiwi offers 150% of the Vitamin C you need, and is great for salads, or just to eat on the run.

7. Broccoli – Some people love broccoli and some don’t, but this little green veggie provides 150% of your daily intake of Vitamin C.

8. Oranges – When most people think about Vitamin C they think of citrus fruits. It is a good source and offers around 98% per 100 gram serving.

9. Papaya – Not everyone can afford papaya on a daily basis, but this fruit provides 100% per 100 gram portion.

10. Strawberries – Many people love strawberries and you can’t go wrong with this Vitamin C source. This fruit provides 100% of your daily need and is easy to eat on the run or in many fruit or dessert dishes.

Of course you will find Vitamin C in other sources as well, but you can get plenty of these vitamins in the 10 sources listed above. The important thing is to get your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C each and every day.

Who Suffers From Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks occur when the dermis of the skin is stretched quickly and the normal elasticity of the skin reaches breaking point. Tears are then formed in this middle layer and it is the tears that are seen as stretch marks.

As everybody has skin, and there are many factors which may contribute to the skin being stretched in such a way, almost anyone can suffer from stretch marks.

• Teenagers – Males and females going through puberty experience hormone imbalances which may affect the amount of collagen being produced which is where the skin gets its elasticity from. This, coupled with growth spurts, can make the perfect recipe for the formation of stretch marks.
• Pregnant women – Again, hormone changes and rapid weight gain due to pregnancy can mean that 75-90% of women suffer from stretch marks during pregnancy.
• Rapid weight gain or weight loss – Males and females who go through these changes to their weight may suffer from stretch marks.
• Bodybuilders – Increase in muscle size will stretch the skin and could cause stretch marks.

Stretch can appear anywhere but are particularly common to the following areas:

• Tummy
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Breasts/chest
• Shoulders and back – especially in males
• Upper arms

Treatment

People of all ethnicities suffer from stretch marks and as a rule the marks will appear as darker pinkish marks for people with light skin tones and lighter lines for people with darker skin tones. So they have a tendency to stand out on all skin types.

Over time, the stretch marks will fade, eventually becoming a pale silvery color. The time frame for this to happen varies from person to person depending on skin type and severity of the marks. Generally speaking though it can take a long time for stretch marks to fade which is why some people who are embarrassed by the marks, may seek to find other options on how to fade stretch marks.

The most common treatments can be placed in to three general categories; Surgery, natural and over the counter products.

Surgery

Tummy tucks are the most successful way to clear stretch marks from the lower abdomen. The surgery is the most invasive option, but provides brilliant results, as the skin containing the stretch marks is actually removed altogether. People who might opt for this surgery are those who have experienced rapid weight gain and weight loss.

Laser surgery uses a variety of different lasers depending on which particular treatment is chosen to effectively burn the layers of the scarred skin away, leaving the marks faded and less prominent.

Microdermabrasion uses a solution of crystals which removes the top layer of the skin, giving the skin a more even look and feel, diminishing the raised lines somewhat. Because it works only on the very top layer of the skin, and not on the dermis, many people use a combination of this treatment with other topical treatments.

Natural

There are many people who will offer up advice on natural home remedies on how to fade stretch marks. People who use such methods gin varying degrees of success, although the popular opinion is that such remedies are well worth a try as they are a natural, cheap option. The following are some remedies that seem to be popular:

• Massaging Vitamin E oil into the area twice daily may reduce appearance of stretch marks. Vitamin E promotes the growth of healthy skin tissue and is a popular ingredient in many skin care creams.
• Mix equal parts of coconut oil, lime juice and cocoa butter. Massage into the marks twice daily. Some people claim to see definite fading after a couple of weeks with this. It is thought that the acids in the lime juice along with skin rejuvenating qualities within the coconut oil and cocoa butter serve to diminish the marks, whilst keeping skin soft and supple.
• Making n exfoliating scrub with coffee, bicarbonate of soda, vitamin E oil and cocoa butter and exfoliating the skin with it twice daily is said to help even the skin out, and may help some of the cocoa butter and vitamin E oil to be absorbed better by the skin.

Over the counter products

Creams, gels and other topical treatments such as Trilastin are extremely popular. They are relatively cheap compared to the surgical options and can gleam good results. Good creams use ingredients which are seen to promote production of collagen and have skin plumping agents. This can give the skin a more even texture around the marks and serve to fade them. Find more information about creams here: top stretch mark creams.

Why Stretch Marks Occur During Pregnancy

Stretch marks appear as lines across the skin which can look almost scar-like. They are formed when the middle layer of skin (dermis) which provides support for the upper layer stretches in a way which makes it rupture. It is the tears in the skin that are known as stretch marks.

A hormone called corticosteroid is associated with stretch marks due to its tendency to slow the production of collagen within the body. Collagen provides strength and elasticity to the dermis, so with diminished amounts of collagen, the dermis is more susceptible to breaks and tears.

In pregnancy, hormones are unbalanced and of course the skin is stretched rapidly over a short period of time. The combination of these factors is what leads to 75-90% of women incurring stretch marks whilst they are pregnant.

Tips to Prevent Stretch Marks

There are no magical formula preventing stretch marks while pregnant unfortunately. The following groups of women have a higher chance of suffering from stretch marks:

• Fair skinned women
• Those whose mothers suffered from stretch marks
• Those who gained stretch marks in the past from weight gain or puberty

That being said, there are steps to be taken for women who would like to do as much as possible to avoid the marks.

Creams – Firstly, choosing a good cream or oil which is advertised for stretch marks is a good starting point. The creams are often rich in vitamin A or E which gives the skin important nutrients. They will also keep the skin moisturized and suppler, helping it to stretch when needed. In addition to this, the action itself of massaging the cream into the skin is soothing for mother and baby, as well as being good for the circulation.

It is important to take this step as soon as possible. Starting with the use of creams and such half way through the third trimester is unlikely to make any real difference for stretch marks, it is best to begin applying such creams twice a day to the most troublesome areas.

Diet – Eating healthily through pregnancy is possibly even more necessary than at any other time. The saying “eating for two” can often lead to trouble for women. Although it is recommended that women eat 500 calories extra or thereabouts each day for the baby It is important not to use pregnancy as an excuse to eat twice as much junk food as normal. Realistically, twice the amount of nutrients should be taken in daily.

The extra 500 calories can be found in healthy foods which are good for mother and baby, rich in vitamins which are good for the skin and allow women to gain weight gradually. This gradual weight gain makes it easier for the dermis to react to the stretching, whereas women who eat unhealthily and put on a lot more than the recommended 25 to 35 pounds over the course of pregnancy are much more likely to suffer with stretch marks.

Exercise – Whilst it is not good for pregnant women to over exert themselves, gentle exercise throughout pregnancy is a good way to help with limit rapid weight gain. Walking in particular helps get the blood circulation going.

Keep hydrated – Creams do their bit to moisturize the skin from the outside, whereas drinking plenty of water will keep it hydrated from the inside. It is also a great natural way to help the body flush any toxins out that may be harmful to the baby.

What if Nothing Works?

Some women do everything they can to avoid stretch marks and still get them. This may be to do with one of the factors mentioned previously or simply bad luck. However taking these steps can reduce the effect and possibly amount of stretch marks. They are also excellent ways of making pregnant women look and feel better whilst giving their babies the best head start in the world.

For women who have stretch marks, they will fade over time and many women come to be proud of the marks as it shows that they are mothers.

Causes

In answer to the question “how do you get stretch marks?” Common causes of stretch marks are

• Rapid weight gain
• Rapid weight loss
• Pregnancy
• Change in hormones
• Body building
• Puberty
• Growth spurts

Put simply, if the skin is forced to stretch very quickly, it is likely to tear or rupture. This is why body, builders, teenagers and pregnant women can suffer from them. Their bodies go through rapid growth spurts and weight gain in certain areas.

Of course everybody has growth spurts, but not everybody has stretch marks. This is because, the stretching of the skin is not the only factor involved in receiving stretch marks. One reason pregnant women may suffer from stretch marks, apart from the fact that they experience rapid weight gain over a few short months, is that their hormones are thrown off balance. This imbalance leads to less collagen being produced meaning the skins natural defense against stretch marks appearing, is diminished.

The same is true for those who go through puberty. Changes in the hormone inhibit the body from protecting the middle layer of skin, so when some teenagers experience growth spurts, they will end up having stretch marks.

One of the major factors that will decide whether or not a person is to suffer from stretch marks is actually whether or not the parents are sufferers. Production of collagen and the amount produced is a trait that is passed down genetically through generations. So if a girl’s mum suffered with stretch marks as a teenager, then it is likely that she will as well.

Getting Rid of Stretch Marks

Once people figure out the causes, they often start to wonder how do you get stretch marks to disappear. The simple answer unfortunately is: you can’t remove them completely.

There is no treatment on today’s market which completely erases stretch marks. At best, some marks can be lightened so much that they are hardly visible and this is often done with some kind of laser surgery, cream or peel.

Some women undergo tummy tucks in which the folds of skin containing stretch marks are no longer seen. Even this though, does not get rid of all stretch marks, because if they are on the tummy they are likely to be other places as well. In particular, the more fleshy places of the body where fat is stored. It is these places that seem to gain weight the quickest and expand the fastest. Areas such as

• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Stomach
• Hips
• Breasts
• Back and shoulders

Using body moisturizer rich in vitamin E can serve to try and keep the skin moisturized. This may not prevent stretch marks altogether, but it will go a good way towards lessening the effects. Below you will find StretchMarks24 articles, that contain valuable information on stretch mark surgery and natural removal.

• Surgery procedures
• Home remedies for stretch marks

What are Stretch Marks?

Weight gain and weight loss will undoubtedly stretch the skin. If this happens too fast, as with pregnancy or body building, the skin is sometimes unable to adjust itself properly. This will result in stretch marks.

During pregnancy and puberty, hormonal imbalances can lead to an alteration in the amount of collagen and elastin produced by the body. When coupled with the growth spurts that happen during these times, it is a perfect recipe for stretch marks.

Once stretch marks appear, there is often very little a person can do to remove them. In fact complete removal is impossible and treatments to fade them dramatically may be costly or otherwise ineffective. However they will fade naturally over time.

How to Avoid Stretch Marks?

One of the best ways to treat them is to learn how to avoid stretch marks in the first place. Prevention is often better than treatment.

There are really two main factors to combat when preventing the appearance of stretch marks. These are hormone imbalances and the elasticity of the skin.

Eating healthily is a great way to give skin the nutrients it needs in order to look good. Foods which are rich in vitamins and minerals will provide the body with much needed antioxidants, as well as working to balancing the hormones.

Keeping the skin moisturized is also extremely important to avoid stretch marks. This should be done on from the inside as well as on the outside. Drinking plenty of water each day will keep skin hydrated so it is suppler and less likely to tear. In addition to this, creams and oils rich in natural ingredients that are proven to help improve skins elasticity are also recommended. Special care should be taken to apply creams to the main problem areas which are:

• Belly
• Hips
• Breasts and chest
• Shoulders and backs (for boys particularly)
• Thighs
• Upper arms
• Buttocks

All of these places are susceptible to growth spurts through weight gain or puberty and as such are the most common places that stretch marks can be found.

Cardio vascular exercise is a good way to avoid stretch marks in that the increased heart rate and blood flow promotes healthy skin tissue. As well as this, with a good exercise regime, rapid weight gain and weight loss are less likely to occur, eliminating two of the major causes of stretch marks.

Natural Remedies

Many of the natural remedies for stretch marks include the use of coconut butter or oil. When massaged into the skin, it is said that the properties contained within the coconut improve the elastin fibers in the skin. T is recommended that the oil or butter is applied directly to the skin in all the problem areas. Also, if done in the shower whilst the skin is wet, then rinsed and pat-dried, this is said to help the skin absorb the oil better.

Another remedy which people claim does wonders for stretch marks is a mixture of:

• Half a cup of baking soda
• Quarter cup of water
• Small amount of cocoa butter
• Small amount of vitamin E oil

Once the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, apply to the skin and leave for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing off.

Both methods are reportedly good for both treatment and prevention of stretch marks.

Causes

The skin has 3 main layers:

• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Hypodermis

The epidermis consists of dead skin cells forming a protection over new skin. This protective barrier keeps particles from penetrating to the lower skin levels.

The dermis is the thick layer of skin which provides support and structure to the top layer. It is quite a tough layer of skin and can be pulled and prodded, bouncing back into shape. This is because skin has a fair amount of elasticity contained in it thanks to the proteins Collagen and Elastin.

Stretch marks appear when the production of these proteins is slowed in some way and the skin stretches an extensive expanse in a short amount of time through rapid weight gain, pregnancy, growth spurts or muscle building. Without the normal elasticity to cope with such stretching, the fibers of the dermis which keep it strong tear. These tears present themselves as stretch marks.

Prevention

As there are so many different causes for stretch marks in buttocks, not forgetting the fact that people may be pre-disposed to having stretch marks through their genes, prevention is not guaranteed by any means.

A good diet rich in minerals and vitamins is key for healthy skin, hair and nails. This will supply the body with important ingredients that stimulate healthy tissue growth and encourage the production of collagen and elastin. A healthy diet will also control weight and protect against big fluctuations in body mass.

With growth spurts and pregnancy where it is absolutely unavoidable for the skin to be stretched suddenly, application of creams all over the body, moisturizing the skin to try to keep it supple may work. However there is no proof to suggest this.

Treatment

For those who have found stretch marks on their buttocks and want to treat the problem there are a number of options available.

Natural ingredients such as fruits and plant extracts are well documented to promote the growth of healthy skin tissue. Aloe Vera, Lavender Oil, Avocado and many more have such qualities. Below are some home remedies using natural ingredients:

• Mix ½ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup Aloe Vera Gel, liquid from 6 capsules of Vitamin E and 4 capsules of vitamin A. Apply the mixture to areas with stretch marks and massage into skin. Refrigerate mixture between uses.
• Mix coffee, sugar, bi-carb and aloe vera with some water to make a paste. Use on affected areas, leave for 10-15 mins then rinse off with warm water. Follow up with a home-made moisturizer made from Vitamin E oil, Cocoa butter and Vitamin C powder.
• Apply lemon juice to affected areas and leave to dry. Cover area with aloe vera and leave overnight. Rinse off in the morning and repeat nightly.

These methods may work on some people and not on others, it really comes down to the type of skin each person has and the severity of their stretch marks. There is no fast fix for stretch marks so if a treatment is to be used, the user must be prepared to persevere.

Over the counter products for stretch marks use a combination of natural and chemical ingredients. Many women and men swear by the effects of using such creams though there is no proof that they will work at all. Creams vary in expense and it is not hard to find creams with similar active ingredients differing wildly in price. Again, with creams, it is often said that results happen slowly over time so users should exercise their patience.

Surgery is by far the most expensive and risky treatment for stretch marks. Laser surgery are definitely more effective ways to abolish or reduce stretch marks (although even with laser surgery there is no guarantee and a number of sittings must be had) but carry more risk.

Microdermabrasion is a good middle ground, being a non-invasive procedure that removes the top layer of skin (epidermis), evening out skin tone and texture thus reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Laser, tummy tuck and microdermabrasion are all extremely expensive. As stretch marks can occur at almost any point in life, many question the validity of spending such a large amount of money to have more stretch marks appear later on in life.

As the whole of the body is covered in skin, it is reasonable to assume that stretch marks might appear anywhere. Although this is true, it is really the fleshier parts of the body that are at risk and of those, the areas that are known for weight gain are the areas commonly associated with stretch marks.

These include:

• Stomach
• Thighs (inner and outer)
• Breasts
• Hips
• Upper arms
• Buttocks

Causes of Stomach Stretch Marks

The two causes of stretch marks on the stomach are pregnancy and rapid changes in weight.

• Stretch marks during pregnancy or almost inevitable and many women expect them to appear during this time. A lot of this is to do with the combination of hormone changes which occur during pregnancy and the rapid rate at which the skin has to stretch to accommodate the unborn child.
• Hormonal imbalances when pregnant can lead to overproduction of glucocorticoid. This hinders the production of collagen and elastin meaning the skin loses much of its elasticity. Add to this the rapid growth and need for the skin to stretch around the stomach and it is not hard to see why stretch marks are formed often in this area through pregnancy.
• Rapid weight gain and loss in normal life has exactly the same effect as pregnancy. Even the hormonal balances come into play when weight is changed suddenly over short periods of time. This is the reason many people find stretch marks if they shift from diet to diet, gaining and losing weight quickly time after time.

Prevention

There are many creams and oils which claim to prevent the onset of stretch marks. These are often aimed towards pregnant women. Whilst there is no proof that this creams actually work, many of the ingredients in such creams have values that may help increase skin elasticity. It is thought that the action of massaging them into the skin in itself helps stimulate healthy tissue growth whilst the moisturizing elements work to help keep the skin supple.

Doctors have said that a great way to try to prevent stretch marks on the stomach is to eat balanced healthy diets rich in different vitamins. Not only will this strive toward keeping large fluctuations in weight to a minimum, but vitamins E and A are known to be powerful boosters for collagen and elastin levels.

A healthy diet and regular moisturizing of the skin are two really great steps to take anyway, whether it is to try to prevent stretch marks or not. A huge factor of whether a person is likely to get stretch marks in life is if their parents suffer from them. The amount of collagen and elastin in skin is genetic. In this case prevention might not be realistic but that is not to say that the overall appearance of stretch marks cannot be managed. Consultation with a dermatologist will ultimately shed more light on the subject and quite often give people piece of mind.

Hormones

Teenagers are incredibly susceptible to stretch marks because of the changes in hormones they go through during the course of puberty. These hormonal imbalances can affect the levels of collagen elastin produced. These two proteins ensure that the dermis (middle layer of skin) is able to provide structure and support with a certain level of elasticity. When the proteins are not as apparent in the skin through puberty, any sudden prominent stretching of the skin will often lead to tears in the dermis which are stretch marks.

A perfect example of such stretching of the skin can be seen in growth spurts. Teenagers bodies change so much in such a short space of time that their skin is constantly being stretched under extreme circumstances, hence the reason such a high percentage of them suffer with stretch marks.

Medications

Some medications are known to contain ingredients which increase levels of the glucocorticoid hormone which impairs production of collagen and elastin. Medications for common skin diseases amongst teenagers and birth control shots are included in this group.

Heredity

For many teenagers, their stretch mark fate is almost pre-determined by their genes. Hormone levels and elasticity of the skin is something that is passed down the blood line. This means that a teenager with parents who suffer with stretch marks is at high risk of suffering from them also. Whilst this might seem disheartening, knowing this fat can be used as a reason for extra diligence when it comes to preventative measures being taken. Although skin may be more prone to stretch marks, good care routines may see the avoidance of them occurring.

Weight lifting

As young men and women mature, they often become more body conscious. For young men, muscle tone and definition can quickly become an issue and many choose to begin to lift weights in order to build muscles and sculpt their bodies. Whilst being active is commendable, rapid increase in muscle size is known to cause stretch marks as the skin is stretched abruptly over a short amount of time.

Affected areas

Because of the way in which male and female bodies mature, common areas for stretch marks in teenagers differ in each gender.

Boys tend to incur stretch marks around the:

• Shoulders
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Back

Whereas girls often see stretch marks on their:

• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Breasts

Treatment

Various creams are available to massage into the problem areas. The most effective of these are said to be the solutions containing active ingredients that stimulate collagen growth in the body. Although there is a choice of surgeries available for the removal or reduction of stretch marks, these are rarely recommended for teenagers as their bodies are likely to continue to change making the occurrence of more stretch marks probable.

A healthy diet containing vitamins and minerals is strongly suggested by health care professionals for teenagers. A healthy active lifestyle will work to balance hormones in addition to providing the nutrients the whole body, including the skin, will need to endure the changes brought about by puberty.

How Microdermabrasion Works For Stretch Marks

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive technique used to remove the very top layer of skin called the Stratum Corneum. This is the layer of skin which obstructs foreign objects from reaching the deeper skin levels. In the past, movie stars have opted for the treatment in facials, over more invasive cosmetic surgery or chemical face peels.

Using oxide crystals, this procedure is an extreme form of exfoliation. The crystals are blown across the surface of the skin, peeling off the top layer of dead skin cells. All used skin crystals and skin cells are vacuumed up and disposed of by the same hand held tool. When used on stretch marks, the treatment works to even out the contours of the skin in the affected area in addition to stimulating the growth of new tissue. This all works to significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Benefits of Microdermabrasion

Currently the treatments are being used to reduce stretch marks as well and are often thought of as the middle ground between stretch mark creams and surgery. This is because the procedure is brusquer on the stretch marks than creams whilst maintaining a more confined approach to the problem than surgery.

The nature of the procedure means it can be used on all skin types with and whilst still being effective on even the most stubborn of stretch marks. This safe and impressive treatment is so painless that patients are able to continue their daily routine with no special care immediately after each treatment.

Disadvantages

Many people are astounded at the brilliant results they receive from this exfoliating peel. However patients must not expect complete eradication of stretch marks. This is because stretch marks originate in the dermis or middle layer of the skin and microdermabrasion does not treat this layer.

Whilst this information should be kept in mind, it must also be noted that no other treatment for stretch marks penetrates to the dermis layer either. This means that microdermabrasion for stretch marks should not be discredited for results that are less than 100%.

Another factor that must be taken into consideration is the cost of the overall process. Microdermabrasion stretch marks treatments often occur in 30 minute sittings, spanning a 6 month period in most cases, depending on the severity of the stretch marks. The cost of each sitting is dependent on the area, and the individual aesthetician who is performing the procedure. Patients should expect to pay in the region of at least $1200 for a 6 month course.

Where to Go for Microdermabrasion

There are 2 options when considering where to go to receive microdermabrasion stretch marks treatment:

• With a specialist in a skin care studio/doctors surgery – When choosing a specialist it is important to thoroughly check their background. As with everything in life, there are good specialists and bad ones. A consultation with the chosen professional will decide whether microdermabrasion is the best form of action to take for the patient, taking into account the severity of the marks and the patient’s personal goals.
• At home – A far cheaper option than going to a clinic is to purchase a microdermabrasion home kit. Again, some kits are better than others so the decision of which one to purchase should not be taken lightly. As with the clinic treatment, severity of the stretch marks must be taken into consideration when using a home kit to ensure the right depth of skin is removed in the process. Too much could damage the fresh skin below and cause complications which will warrant a trip to a specialist anyway.

Does it Really Work?

There are professionals who will say that because the procedure works on the upper layer of the skin, that it is not a truly effective way to diminish stretch marks. Whilst this may be scientifically logical, the success stories seem to be happily illogical.

The best success documented tends to be from a combined use of microdermabrasion and stretch mark creams. It is thought that on their own, stretch mark creams find it difficult to penetrate the stratum corneum layer of the skin and access the dermis layer beneath. As microdermabrasion removes this natural barrier, stretch mark creams are free to make a more concerted effort in reaching the targeted layer.

Technically speaking, stretch marks are scars, and like any other form of scar on the skin from any source; they will never heal and disappear completely. In that respect, they are most certainly permanent. However, the reassurance for most people is that if they discover a fresh stretch mark, red in color and often fairly obvious, it is unlikely to remain that way forever.

Managing Permanent Stretch Marks

The option open to most people when questioning whether stretch marks are permanent is some form of treatment. Various options are available, with a number of solutions being widely promoted by medical companies and treatment centers around the country. While they will never really go away, they can be tackled in such a way that their impact is reduced, with both their visibility and their texture reverting almost to that of normal skin.

Most treatments work by augmenting the body’s natural defense systems. The stretch mark forms initially due to a rush of collagen sent to the affected area, whereby the body is preventing the skin from literally tearing apart as it struggles to keep up with the growth taking place within the body itself. This in itself is a defense mechanism, although the body takes little care of the resulting color or texture as long as any potential wound is prevented.

• Some products that can be found in general stores include properties that assist the skin in ensuring that stretch marks are not overly visible. They either make the skin softer or firmer, depending on the product used. This have the converse effects of either making the skin more amenable to growth, or not giving much of an opportunity for a stretch mark to appear in the first place respectively. Both aloe oil and cocoa butter, together with a range of vitamin products have some kind of effect in the prevention and management of stretch marks. As mentioned, stretch marks are permanent and none of these remedies will cause them to disappear completely. They will, however, cause them to blend in and become barely visible in many cases.
• Medical products are an extension of these natural remedies, which usually utilize those properties as part of their treatment. They generally include many ingredients so that they can be useful to a wide range of people. Everything from skin color to general health can affect the visibility of stretch marks, and so the more a product treats directly, the more useful it will be to a wider range of people.
• Many people do not feel surgery to be required for their stretch marks as they wait for them to fade naturally or treat them in a more casual way. However, more severe cases can be treated through laser surgery. Again, it is impossible to eliminate the stretch mark entirely, but its size, shape and color can be managed to a great extent.

Conclusion

Stretch marks are permanent by their nature, but there are numerous options for sufferers allowing them to generally reduce the effects to the point that the stretch marks may as well not be there at all.

There are numerous falsities associated with stretch marks on the back, often made popular as incorrect information is passed on from one person to another as they encounter the problem. Some people, for example, believe that they may have acquired stretch marks on their back due to an incorrect posture while either seated or standing. However, this is highly unlikely. While stretch marks are caused by the skin being extended, the posture is neither stressful enough nor quick enough to cause the marks themselves.

Instead, stretch marks on the back are caused in a similar way to other parts of the body, with rapid growth occurring faster than the skin can keep up. Rather than allowing for tears in the skin, it rapidly fills any potential tears with collagen, causing the red and eventually white marks to appear. The back is somewhat unusual in that it is not usually associated with fat deposits. The thighs and stomach, on the other hand, often attract fatty deposits to cause the growth required for stretch marks to form.

How do Stretch Marks on the Back Appear?

The most common time for stretch marks to appear on the back is during puberty. As with many other parts of the body, the back gets larger naturally during this time and often at an accelerated rate. Almost everyone knows someone who grew a couple of feet in a noticeably short period of time. This is the kind of person that will experience stretch marks on the back at this stage in life. They most commonly appear on the lower back, particularly in females, as the stress of the growth of the back muscles and hips concurrently can have a particularly damaging effect on the skin tissue.

Alternatively, the back is one of the main focus areas for those exercising with the intention of building muscle. While fat on the back is uncommon, the muscles are some of the strongest in the body and will develop as part of any upper body workout. Again, muscle development is quickest during the teenage years, but frequent muscle building exercises can cause stretch marks on the back at any point in life.

Treating Stretch Marks

For some, stretch marks on the back are so common that they are generally accepted. While they can be somewhat unsightly initially, the white or silver tone that they develop as they age generally stands out to a much smaller extent.

Those who do prefer to treat or prevent the marks often purchase either cocoa butter or a product that uses it as a key ingredient. A particularly common combination is using a stick of cocoa butter to directly treat the area, and then using a lotion that contains both the same ingredient and various vitamin supplements to support the initial application. They serve to make the skin more flexible and adaptable to changes, allowing them to act as both a preventative measure and a treatment. Neither will make stretch marks disappear entirely, but will often reduce their visibility to a significant extent.

The stretch marks can also be treated by the direct application of vitamin capsules. Instead of swallowing them, they are broken open and the liquid inside is applied to the stretch mark. A lack of vitamins C and E in the body have a very real effect on the creation of stretch marks and adding such vitamins from other sources aids the body in repairing itself.

It can be important to remember that stretch marks on the back do eventually end up almost disappearing on their own. They will never truly disappear completely as they are scars. However, over a period of years, they will almost blend in to the skin and whereas they can initially be very rough or obvious to the touch, even this wears off over time.

Stretch marks are noted as the main downside to building muscle quickly. For some bodybuilders, they are a sign of progress as anyone who truly is building muscle quickly enough to acquire them is truly committed. However, the sport places a lot of emphasis on appearance, and for many bodybuilders they are simply not acceptable.

Medically, they are pretty much unavoidable. Regardless of an individual’s age, rapid growth in any respect, from working out to overeating, will result in a situation where the growth levels exceed the speed at which the skin can compensate. Therefore, stretch marks are almost inevitable.

Bodybuilding Stretch Marks

Stretch marks in bodybuilders are most commonly found in areas of rapid growth, such as the arms and legs. They are also prominent wherever the bodybuilder allocates most of their routine. Some, for example, work primarily on the arms and upper body. In this case, they are most likely to find stretch marks on the back of the arms and around the shoulder joint. Conversely, a leg-based program can often induce stretch marks on the back of the thighs and near the buttocks. They are, unfortunately, part and parcel of rapid growth in any context. However, they can be managed or even prevented in many cases and it is often easier to do so for a bodybuilder as many methods already fit into the style of diet and supplement changes.

Preventing Bodybuilding Stretch Marks

The best way to prevent the acquisition of stretch marks as part of working out is to ensure that both the diet and any supplements ensure that the body is receiving sufficient vitamin E and C resources. These specifically help the skin to repair itself and give the individual a greater chance of any potential tears being replaced by healthy skin rather than scars. Fortunately for bodybuilders, their general activity supplements often incorporate vitamins as a matter of course, automatically placing them in a position where their defenses against stretch marks are better than average.

However, it is generally accepted that a bodybuilder who sticks to his or her routine will develop some stretch marks, regardless of any precautions taken. For many, a few here and there will not be an issue although competitive enthusiasts and those who base their success on their appearance will be more likely to require some form of treatment or maintenance.

Treating Stretch Marks on Bodybuilders

Regardless of supplements, many body builders will still find that there is simply not enough vitamin E in their diet to thoroughly combat the onset of stretch marks. In these cases, it is commonly accepted that a vitamin E-based lotion applied to the affected area can do wonders for reducing the aesthetic impact. The lotion works by effectively accelerating the healing, causing the scar tissue to disappear faster and be replaced by healthy skin cells. Again, bodybuilders have a somewhat fortuitous source of such treatments, as their tanning lotions can often be adapted to include vitamin supplements.

Tanning itself is another popular remedy. Many bodybuilders are characterized by their dark, bronze tans, many of which are artificial. As would be expected, a good spray tan will cover both normal skin and stretch marks alike, ensuring a smooth, even finish. While the stretch mark is still there, it simply cannot be seen, which is enough for many people.

What are White Stretch Marks?

White stretch marks, aside from their color, are characterized by being particularly thin. They appear more as threads than larger marks and are generally less noticeable. However, many find them to be deeper than red stretch marks with their presence being particularly obvious when running a finger along the afflicted area.

The actual formation of stretch marks is caused by collagen. This substance is the main part of connective tissues and basically acts to hold various parts of the body together, such as tendons, ligaments and in the case of stretch marks, the skin. As the body grows through various means, the collagen is rapidly deployed to the stretched areas to ensure that the skin does not simply tear apart. Unfortunately, the body has little time to ensure that the color of the collagen matches the skin, leaving the person with stretch marks, which are essentially fillings to ensure that the skin stays together.

Almost all stretch marks are noticed when they are red. This is the early stage of the filling. As they get older they also proceed to get lighter, until they eventually turn white. This indicated a more matured stage of the body holding the skin together. It is also final in terms of leaving a lasting impression – without further treatment, the stretch marks are permanent and unlikely to disappear, especially in later life.

Removing White Stretch Marks

There are three main methods for removing stretch marks. Many people who are not content to simply live with them initially attempt natural removal methods. The next step can be specially formulated products that are designed to alter the skin. Finally, the most extreme but often most successful step is surgery. It is important to remember that treatments for stretch marks either disguise or neutralize their appearance rather than getting rid of them completely. The full disappearance of stretch marks is relatively rare.

• Natural remedies. As with many medical conditions, many people swear by certain homemade methods when deciding how to get rid of white stretch marks. The most popular component of many home-made recipes is cocoa butter. It works by both moisturizing the skin and making it more flexible in the areas to which it is applied. Dry skin can be particularly susceptible to stretch marks, making cocoa butter one of the more successful methods. Its usefulness is well known, with many professional products even incorporating it into the recipe.
• Medical products. Most professional treatments for stretch marks come in the form of creams which must be applied directly to the afflicted area. In the same way as cocoa butter, they treat the skin in such a way that the likelihood of the appearance of stretch marks is reduced and existing stretch marks are either disguised or reduced in size. No product guarantees success. As stretch marks are scars, no cream can remove them completely. However, they can reduce the cosmetic effects and also reduce the likelihood of white stretch marks appearing if used as a preventative measure. Most users of medical products report the best results when the stretch marks are treated as early as possible.
• Surgery. The most common form of surgery is laser surgery, although various techniques are practiced around the world. The treatment of white stretch marks is actually one of the simplest procedures in the surgical profession. It is completely non-invasive and takes around thirty minutes for a full procedure. There is also a very low likelihood of any pain or discomfort, with most people who opt for surgery needing literally no recovery time. The surgery works in a similar way to the removal of most other types of scar tissue. The laser breaks down the scar tissue, encouraging the body to replace it with healthy tissue. This healthy tissue is generally much closer to the normal skin color and virtually identical in texture. As before, it is impossible to eliminate white stretch marks entirely, but their unusual texture and coloring can be reduced by up to 75 per cent through surgery.

The severity of stretch marks varies from person to person and can depend on the exact cause of the stretch marks, plus their skin color. When considering how to get rid of white stretch marks, it can be important to consider all possibilities. Many will fade over time, but where this is not an option, many individuals will find various measures of success from the various products and treatments available both from healthcare stores and medical facilities.

The exact results will vary, but can certainly be worth a try as many basic remedies are relatively inexpensive, although surgery can become costly, particularly for those who require numerous sessions to begin to see results.

Visit The Official Website of Skinception

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Guarantee	60 Days	90 Days	-
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Positive Clinical Results

Skinception sets itself apart from the many other stretch mark creams that are available on the market as they not only have the positive reviews but also the scientific proof to back up their claims about the performance of the cream. There have been many trials conducted to show just how effective Skinception is.

The individual ingredients used in this revolutionary product have been shown to achieve significant improvement in at least 70% of participants in the clinical trial; these are certainly extremely encouraging numbers. Other trials conducted have shown that over 50% of women are able to see the effective results in as little as four weeks; although the full course of three months is recommended for optimum and ongoing results.

Innovative ingredients

The success rate enjoyed in these clinical trials certainly seems to correlate to the positive reviews being reported by individual users of the product. These fantastic results can only be attributed to the complex mix of active ingredients that make up the Skinception formula. The ingredients include:

• Registril, which is proven to tackle all aspects of the appearance of the stretch mark by reducing the length and width of it and also causing the colour of the stretch mark to fade and blend in with the skin.
• Pro-Sveltyl, another of the active ingredients, is proven to increase the production of Collagen in the skin which helps to prevent further stretch marks from occurring. Many people, especially new mothers-to-be, are choosing to use the treatment as a precautionary measure to help minimise the amount of potential stretch marks that would usually appear.
• Darutoside promises to reduce the overall length of the worst of your stretch marks, and Pro-Call-One is designed to increase the smoothness of your skin by up to 78%.

Try for yourself

The success of this cream is providing hope for many people who have suffered with low confidence since developing stretch marks. By using these cream many people are now able to enjoy bathing at the beach, wearing summer clothes without feeling self-conscious, and being more open and intimate with their significant other. The best thing about the product is that you can try it for yourself without worry as the product comes with a money-back guarantee should you not be satisfied with the results you see.

Skinception is favoured over many other treatments, not only because it has been proven to be much more effective, but also because it comes at a fantastically reasonable price making it a viable option whatever your budget is. The fact that there are no harmful ingredients in this product make it safe to use and a much better alternative to other treatments that maybe loaded with ingredients that cause unwanted side-effects. The cream is designed to be use over a period of three months for maximum effectiveness, but as many of you will start seeing results from as early as within the first month you are advised to not delay and order your course today.

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If you want to know whether tattoos hide your stretch marks or make them look worse, then you need to consider the kind of stretch marks you have and to what extent they may be disguised or accentuated by a tattoo.

Can You Tattoo Over Stretch Marks?

Some women may not have considered that they might hide stretch marks with a tattoo. Tattooing over stretch marks is certainly possible, but may not be advisable in all cases. If you are not sure about whether to have tattoos over your stretch marks then you may want to consider getting some professional advice before you do. Tattoos tend to look better over small areas of stretch marks, as a tattoo over a large area may only serve to accentuate the damage to your skin.

Tattoos Over Stretch Marks

Some women have tattoos over stretch marks without giving due consideration as to whether the tattoo will work, and whether their skin is sufficiently healed to cope with a tattoo. Stretch marks appear when the epidermis or lower layer of skin is damaged, this usually happens when the skin has been stretched, as it is in pregnancy, and then loses its elasticity. Tattooing over stretch marks may be a more painful process than having normal tattoos because the skin is damaged and thinner than normal.

If you do have post pregnancy stretch marks, you should wait at least a year before you consider tattoos. Old scars tend to hold tattoo ink better than recent stretch marks. You should also wait a year because it will give your skin a bit of time to recover before it is tattooed. Experts advise that you have a small tattoo to see how that works and if it looks okay then you might decide to have tattoos on stretch marks over a larger area.

Tattoos to Cover Stretch Marks

Providing you wait a year before you undertake to have tattoos to cover stretch marks, it’s worth starting with a very small tattoo to begin with. Black ink does not fade in the same way as some colored inks when you have a tattoo over stretch marks but there is a possibility that the ink will run, staining the skin next to the tattoo. For the best results in using tattoos to cover stretch marks, you need an experienced tattoo artist. You should not try to use a tattoo to cover a raised stretch mark as the process doesn’t work on these types of scars.

It can take a lot longer for a tattoo artist to use tattoos to cover stretch marks than it does for them to tattoo unscarred skin. While the process may differ depending on the individual and the nature of their scars, tattooing over stretch marks can take as much as three times as long as a normal tattoo.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy that uses beneficial natural oils to help the patient relax and feel better about themselves. Some of the oils that are used in aromatherapy may also make some improvement in the scarring that results from stretch marks. Even if the stretch marks do not disappear most people who have experienced the use of aromatic oils as a stretch mark therapy, say that they feel better after the treatment. Reflexology, exercise and massage are all things that may be used for stretch mark therapy.

Reflexology

Reflexology is an alternative therapy that can reduce the discomfort of certain conditions, mainly by inducing a feeling of well being in the patient. Reflexologies claim that what they do has many benefits but more than anything else it makes the patient feel better. When you generally feel better about things they are often easier to cope with. When you feel better in yourself you are less likely to worry about scarring that by and large is hidden from view most of the time.

Stretch mark therapy, including aromatherapy and reflexology may not deal with the scarring directly but they can help with any underlying feelings that affect your sense of self worth. Many women who develop stretch marks through the process of child birth say that they feel unattractive afterwards. Alternative therapies are genially accepted to help with people’s sense of self worth and accepting that their intrinsic value goes beyond the purely physical.

Massage and Exercise

Massage and gentle exercise help to increase the production of serotonin in the brain, the chemical that is supposed to increase our sense of well being. Massage and exercise may also help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks because there is a tendency for the body to feel more supple and sometimes the skin will feel less tight. When you exercise your body becomes more toned and this can often help to improve the appearance of stretch marks to some extent.

Massaging the skin around your abdomen, both during and after pregnancy, with moisturizers and oils, can often prevent if not improve the scarring that is the result of stretch marks. Many women who massage their abdomen daily while they are pregnant tend to suffer less from stretch marks than those who don’t.

Stretch marks, like any other kind of scar can affect how a person feels about themselves. Stretch mark therapies such as massage, aromatherapy and reflexology will generally improve a person’s sense of well being and thereby their self esteem.

Anyone who is troubled by the thin, linear scars that are stretch marks wants to know whether there are treatments that will hide or remove them. Generally speaking once you have stretch marks, it is a rare occurrence for them to completely disappear. There are a number of ways that you can hide stretch marks, some of them with more permanent effects than others.

Using Fake Tan to Hide Stretch Marks

Many women try fake tan to hide their stretch marks when they want to sunbathe in a bikini. Whether fake tan will work for you will depend on how deep the scarring is and what type of discoloration you may have experienced. Many women have tiny, white, post pregnancy scars and may use some fake tan to achieve a more even skin colour on their stomach. If you already have a tan in the summer then you can use the fake tan sparingly just to hide the areas marked by stretch marks.

Using Foundation to Hide Stretch Marks

If you use a foundation that contains collagen, then this may be used to hide your stretch marks to some extent, and may even improve the elasticity of your skin a little. Use a foundation tone that is closest to your natural skin colour, remembering that the skin on the stomach is often a couple of shades lighter than the skin on your face. You will need to buy a foundation in a slightly darker colour than the one you normally if you want to disguise the thin white lines of stretch marks.

Using Tattoos to Hide Stretch Marks

Having the stomach tattooed by an experienced tattoo artist to hide stretch marks is becoming increasingly popular. If you are wondering how to hide stretch marks then you might want to think about having those marks tattooed over. You should wait a year before you have your stretch marks hidden by tattoos, as the ink will take better on old scars.

Tattooing to hide stretch marks is a slow process and can take up to three times as long as it takes a tattoo artist to normally complete a tattoo. Choose a small area of skin and have that tattooed to start with as this will give you an idea of the appearance and help you to decide whether further tattooing is for you. Using tattoos to hide stretch marks can be uncomfortable to say the least. Stretch marks mean that the epidermis is damaged because your skin has thinned. If you are not keen on unnecessary pain then you may want to think twice about having tattoos to hide your stretch marks.

Step Number One -Cleansing

Between cosmetics, environmental dirt, and the skin’s natural oils, it’s easy for pores to be clogged and the top layer of skin cells to be damaged. Proper cleansing will reduce that cell damage and help promote healthy looking skin. However, be careful not to cleanse too often. Most dermatologists suggest a once-nightly cleansing using a product specifically designed for that purpose. If you have dry skin you might consider using a moisturizing cleansing cream.

Step Number Two – Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells in order to promote the growth of new ones. We exfoliate by gently rubbing the surface of the skin with a soft cloth or commercial exfoliating product. Dermatologists also suggest that good skin care requires those with acne to be gentle with exfoliation, so as not to further agitate the condition. For some acne suffers vigorous exfoliating can cause acne to spread.

Step Number Three – Moisturize

Regardless of whether or not you have oily skin, you can still benefit from using moisturizer. We all can. That’s because our modern, natural environment robs the skin of moisture and nutrients, which can in turn, make it look unhealthy. Use a good quality moisturizer you find at the pharmacy or an online cosmetics dealer. Also be sure to use the moisturizer according to the package instructions. Over moisturizing can clog pores and contributes to unhealthy skin.

Step Number Four – Use Sunscreen

Perhaps the most damaging part of our environment as far as the skin is concerned is the sun. The sun does more damage to skin than environmental pollutants because it saps the life from the skin cells. For good skin care you should be careful to use sunscreen whenever you’re going to be outside during the peak sunlight hours. In the northern hemisphere the most dangerous time to be in the sun is between the hours of 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.