Dermatology defines stretch marks as striae, and it refers to the scarring of skin that leaves a silvery white mark. Technically, this happens when there is a tearing of the dermis and the problem is these marks do not disappear very quickly and some can even last a lifetime.

Why do people get stretch marks? Stretch marks occur when there is rapid growth in the body that the skin cannot catch up with and this the tears. The skin, of course, is very elastic so it does not tear completely. They are usually associated with rapid weight gain and the question on most people’s minds is how to eliminate stretch marks.

The Symptoms

Stretch marks are not a disease. However, just like diseases, there are warning signs present so you will know if these marks will be occurring any time soon. The sign you must look for are red or purplish lines on the skin that are quite light and almost fading. These areas are soft to the touch.

On The Body – They can occur anywhere on the body and do not necessarily appear because of the stretching of the skin but because the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) is not healthy enough to support itself. They usually appear on the chest, abdomen, breasts, thighs, hips, and buttocks.

Prevention

How To Prevent It – The best solution to any problem is to prevent it from happening. Most women get stretch marks during pregnancy since their skin is stretched as their babies grow. It is important, therefore, for them to use certain creams that contain vitamin E, and collagen-elastin to help the dermis stretch correctly.

With regular use, stretch mark cream is one of the easiest ways how to eliminate stretch marks. But for those who are not pregnant and got stretch marks from weight gain or just plain non-healthy habits, there are other ways on how to get rid of stretch marks and this includes laser surgery, and prescription medication. The medication comes in the form of retinoids that must be taken daily for a month but they are very effective.

Maintenance

Another way to get rid of stretch marks and make sure that they don’t come back is to maintain a healthy skin regimen. It’s really a simple process and it involves maintaining a strict diet. For you to be able to have healthy skin that will not be prone to stretch marks, you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and eat foods that are not fatty but are rich in essential fatty acids. These foods include fish, fruits, and vegetables.

Moisturize – The next thing to do is to keep your skin moisturized. If you do have stretch mark signs you can get rid of them by using top products out in the market.

Appetite suppressants are commonly taken by people on weight loss programs. If you are planning of undergoing one yourself, then you might need some suppressant if you are dangerously obese and if you are having a difficult time losing weight.

Purpose of Suppressants

Aid in Adjustment – Doctor prescribed oral appetite reduction tablets and capsules shouldn’t be used alone. They aren?t really intended as separate weight loss solutions. What doctors normally do is that they prescribe these medicines for oral intake in conjunction with other weight loss solutions such as exercise and diet. The real purpose of these suppressants is not to control your appetite permanently. They are only intended to help individuals adjust to new diet plans and prescribed eating habits. Eventually, using these medications for a long period of time will reduce their overall effectiveness in reducing appetite.

Following Doctor’s Orders

The safest thing is to take only prescribed medications. Since individual conditions differ per person, your doctor may recommend a different dosage for you. This is why it is important to always pay attention to doctor?s instructions for the safe and optimum use of oral suppressants. Do remember too that you have to reveal as much as you can about your medical history to your doctor before accepting your prescription. Your doctor has to know if you are pregnant, if you have underlying medical conditions or if you are under some type of medication. There may be serious complications if you take appetite suppressants under these conditions.

Living a Healthy Lifestyle

A Combination – As already mentioned, you cannot rely solely on your medication to reduce appetite. It is important to follow your weight loss exercise program and your diet plan to the letter. Remember that medications to control your appetite only work on your craving to eat. They cannot control your food choices, your lifestyle habits or your desire to perform your daily or weekly exercise routines.

Side Effects

Suppressants may lead to side effects. Naturally though, not everyone experiences all of these side effects and not in the same degree. Some possible side effects include nausea, dizziness, constipation, dryness of mouth, stomach pain, insomnia and headache. Some individuals may also experience chest pains, paranoia and depression. With suppressants, you may be at risk of becoming dependent.

Alternatives

Going Natural – Oral medications to control your appetite may be safely used in a lot of cases. Some people however may prefer to try safer alternatives first. There are a couple of natural options. You can try hypnosis or meditation. You could also manage your food choices and eating habits. Eating more fiber and eating in smaller more frequent portions for example may be helpful. A final alternative would be to use all natural supplements that can also help suppress your appetite. You can try products containing Hoodia or the more recently discovered suppressant herb Caralluma.

Getting stretch marks is like getting hit by lightning; no one is really safe from it. Young, old, fat, thin, woman, or man, stretch marks are common skin woes that many people get embarrassed about in a world where beauty equates to perfection. Fortunately no one is perfect, however, many still strive to be so for individual reasons.

Stretch marks are scars caused by excessive pulling of the skin. The overstretching disrupted the collagen and elastic fibers comprising the bulk of the skin. Improper healing of the disrupted skin results in stretch mark formations.

Aggressive Treatments

Probably the most highly successful treatments for stretch marks are laser therapy and chemical peeling. Laser therapy works by intentionally wounding the affected skin then allowing a certain period of time enough for the body to naturally produce new and healthy collagen and elastic fibers similar to that of normal skin. The laser not only stimulates collagen and elastin formation but also seals off blood capillaries that had burst.

In chemical peeling, corrosive solutions (usually acids) are used in sloughing off the scarred topmost epidermal tier of the stretch mark resulting to younger skin cells to surface up. Skin removal is also an option for those who have excessive loose skin left over after tremendous weight loss. Light therapy is the latest technology involving light and gel to remove the stretch marks.

Milder Treatments

Of course, there are other milder options for stretch mark treatment. Topical medications in the form of lotions, creams, and ointments are available in your local pharmacies and beauty bars. Ingredients such as retinoids (i.e. retinaldehyde, tretinoin, and isotretinoin) alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), antioxidants (e.g. vitamins A, C, and E), lipids (wheatgerm oil, jojoba), and exfoliating products such as mineral crystals are also effective in fading stretch marks after appropriate and consistent use. The massaging application of such medications hastens skin healing by promoting blood to flow to the affected area.

Treatments From The Inside Out

Improve your eating habits. Try to meet your daily nutrient requirements in particular protein, vitamins, and certain minerals such as zinc, all of which are vital for good skin. Collagen and elastic fibers are made of proteins, thus, eating proteins ensures that the body has a lot of material to work on for proper skin reconstruction.

Drink lots of water to maintain a well-hydrated complexion. Allow yourself a few minutes under the sun to promote vitamin D production in your skin.

Who Needs Treatment?

Although hiding marks is not exactly a treatment, still, one does not have to remove the stretch marks per se for them not to be seen. Camouflage the eyesores with the use of concealers, foundations and other forms of body make-up. Remember to select the two shades your natural skin tone lies between to guarantee that the most suitable combination that matches your actual color.

In some cases, stretch marks fade on their own over time. To facilitate the elimination of stretch marks, it would help if you figure out the cause of the stretch marks such as try to lose weight or exercise to toned up skin or avoid excessive use of corticosteroid creams.

There is no need to live with cellulite. The gift of the modern age to every cellulite suffer is a host of cellulite therapy choices. Here are some great tips you should keep in mind while on therapy treatment for cellulite.

Look for an Expert

If you have the time and money, you can opt for cellulite procedures. Some procedures used as solutions to cellulite include liposuction, massage and mesotherapy. It is important to look for a certified expert should you choose any of these procedures.

Getting an ineffective therapy, however, is a given in any procedure. In severe cases though you could suffer from a life-threatening injury in the hands of inexperienced practitioners. Ask credentials from cellulite therapists. You should also ask what you should specifically expect during and after the therapy session.

Natural is an Option

One of the best cellulite therapies is to go for an all-natural treatment. Natural treatments include a healthy diet, regular exercise and homemade anti cellulite remedies. Other than these, it would also help if you took some nutritional supplement and topical cream solutions. Choosing natural over synthetic products is a better option because you also limit your risks of suffering from ingredient induced side effects. Natural ingredients are highly safe and rarely cause unfavorable reactions in the body.

Give it Time to Work

Cellulites don’t disappear overnight. Give your cellulite solution time to work. This holds true whether you are using an anti cellulite product or a homemade cellulite therapy solution. Some consumers probably expect to see immediate miracles. When they don’t see instant results, they may switch right away to another product. Even with the best product, it will take time for cellulite to go away. Switching will probably just ensure that you won’t find a solution to your condition. Be patient.

Be on the Look Out

Natural solutions generally have minimal side effects. Still, it is best to look out for any abnormal signs and changes in your body. No matter how seemingly effective your chosen cellulite therapy is, you should abandon it immediately if you notice any unexpected reactions. Even with the most natural and safest product, some people with sensitive systems and skins may still get rashes or some other allergic reaction.

The same thing should be done with cellulite treatments and therapies conducted in clinics and spas. If you feel that a certain cellulite therapy technique isn’t doing any good or is causing you injury, you should immediately cancel succeeding sessions and consult a doctor. In badly done liposuction work, you may have to live with a major side effect for a long time even if you discontinue future sessions.

Be Ready to Invest

Procedures like liposuction are expensive. Even cheaper alternatives however may come at a price because you have to maintain them for a period of time. You should therefore clearly understand and accept that you would have to spend some amount to effectively get rid of cellulite. Aside from monetary considerations, cellulite treatment will also take time and effort.

It is not surprising why everyone suffering from stretch marks want to get rid of it. Unfortunately, there are not that many options for stretch mark removal. There has been however a newly introduced revolutionary method for stretch mark removal. Now, men and women can see for themselves what laser surgery for stretch marks is all about.

What It Is

Laser surgery for stretch marks is a relatively new technique compared to the older techniques of abdominoplasty and stretch mark creams. Practitioners of laser surgery for stretch marks claim that this new method can rejuvenate damaged skin and make it feel more elastic and look like much the same way it did before the development of stretch marks.

How It Works

In laser surgery for stretch mark, a controlled laser light is applied on an affected area. The laser is supposed to first break down the damaged tissues. Once they are broken down and removed, the damaged vessels are then repaired by promoting the production of collagen that will fill in the area previously occupied by the stretch marks.

Why People Love It

The good thing about laser surgery is that it is painless. Compared to abdominoplasty, it is also less expensive and does not involve a lot of life threatening risks and complications. Although laser surgery is still considered a form of cosmetic surgery, it does not involve cutting up the skin and does not result to irregularities in skin texture. It basically has no recovery period and the worst thing that can happen are the stretch marks not healing at all.

Current Status

Although many are enthusiastically flocking to laser surgery for stretch marks, others are also putting up warning signs. Since it is a new procedure, it does need to undergo more clinical studies to prove its effectiveness. As of the moment, abdominoplasty is still considered as more effective in stretch mark removal.

There are those who believe that lasers are not normally used to repair damaged tissues in stretch marks. So far, laser treatments have been best known instead to simply breakdown fats or tissues.

Disadvantages

An obvious disadvantage of the laser surgery is the cost. Not many people may be able to afford the $400-$1500 fee required for every session. Depending on your condition and the expertise of your specialist, you may even need to go back for succeeding sessions that may take up to an hour or more.

Doctors also say that laser surgery for stretch marks is only truly effective on fresh stretch marks that are pinkish or purple in color. Stretch marks that are already old and silvery may not be helped by laser surgery for stretch marks. Some critics even go as far as to say that laser surgery for stretch marks does not really remove the scars but only lightens the color of scars.

It is always advisable to consult a third party doctor if the laser surgery for stretch mark is, indeed, what’s best for you. You might just end up wasting your money on an expensive procedure that may not give you the results that you want.