Author Archive for Maia Pells

How To Hide Stretch Marks Effectively

by Maia Pells

Why do stretch marks occur? How does it occur? Stretch marks are scars that are left behind when skin is overstretched. And much like scars, they are really identifiable and are not very nice to look at. Although there are many remedies to getting rid of stretch marks, these solutions take a while to take effect and so you may want to know how to hide stretch marks for a temporary amount of time at least until your skin is back to its normal condition and unscarred.

Long Clothes

Cover It Up - Covering up your stretch marks is probably the most practical thing to do. If you are the type of person who likes to wear a tank top or shorts when you go out on a warm day but you have stretch marks that you don’t want exposed, you can opt to wear clothes with sleeves or even pants.

Stretch Mark Areas - Stretch marks can occur in various parts of the body like the thighs and in your arms and these are the parts of your body that are exposed the most if you wear short clothing. So while you are trying to eliminate those stretch marks, just wear clothes with longer sleeves or leggings. If it’s a warm day, make sure to wear loose clothing so that air can travel through the clothes to keep you cool.

Cosmetics

Covering With Make Up - Another way on how to hide stretch marks is to use everyday make-up. Women usually use foundation to hide blemishes or acne on their faces. This same foundation can be used on different areas of your body as it gives the impression that the skin tone and color is balanced on skin. This is an effective way to show that you dont have stretch marks and it also makes it look almost natural.

Powders and Creams - There are also other powders and creams that you can use to cover up those stretch marks temporarily. However, these substances can be washed away if you sweat and throughout the day, their effects will most definitely disappear. So if you use make-up as a solution to hide your stretch marks, make sure to carry some around with you in case you want to apply more to your skin.

Double Purpose Creams

Special Products - Products are now also made available to treat your stretch mark problems. Some products also go beyond the need to eliminate stretch marks and have a second purpose as well. These products can help treat and eliminate stretch marks and at the same time can be used to cover or conceal the stretch marks so that you can still comfortably lead on with your regular life.

Are they effective and how do they work? They work by camouflaging your stretch marks to match the surrounding skin tone and color. At the same time, they work by treating the stretch marks, taking away layer by layer of dead cells until your skin can heal itself and look normal again.

Hiding stretch mark is different from getting rid and preventing them from appearing. Remember that how to hide stretch marks is not as important as how to get rid of them. By all means, if you want your skin to look better, look for ways to eliminate stretch marks. And as your treatment goes on you can choose one of a few ways to cover up those stretch marks for a temporary time until your skin heals properly.

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How To Hide Stretch Marks

by Maia Pells

What are stretch marks? And how does it develop? Stretch marks are scars that are left behind when skin is overstretched. And much like scars, they are really identifiable and are not very nice to look at. Although there are many remedies to getting rid of stretch marks, these solutions take a while to take effect and so you may want to know how to hide stretch marks for a temporary amount of time at least until your skin is back to its normal condition and unscarred.

Long Clothes

Why Cover It - Covering up your stretch marks is probably the most practical thing to do. If you are the type of person who likes to wear a tank top or shorts when you go out on a warm day but you have stretch marks that you don’t want exposed, you can opt to wear clothes with sleeves or even pants.

Problem Areas for Stretch Marks - Stretch marks can occur in various parts of the body like the thighs and in your arms and these are the parts of your body that are exposed the most if you wear short clothing. So while you are trying to eliminate those stretch marks, just wear clothes with longer sleeves or leggings. If it’s a warm day, make sure to wear loose clothing so that air can travel through the clothes to keep you cool.

Cosmetics

Using Make-Up - Another way on how to hide stretch marks is to use everyday make-up. Women usually use foundation to hide blemishes or acne on their faces. This same foundation can be used on different areas of your body as it gives the impression that the skin tone and color is balanced on skin. This is an effective way to show that you dont have stretch marks and it also makes it look almost natural.

Creams - There are also other powders and creams that you can use to cover up those stretch marks temporarily. However, these substances can be washed away if you sweat and throughout the day, their effects will most definitely disappear. So if you use make-up as a solution to hide your stretch marks, make sure to carry some around with you in case you want to apply more to your skin.

Double Purpose Creams

Products for Stretch Marks - Products are now also made available to treat your stretch mark problems. Some products also go beyond the need to eliminate stretch marks and have a second purpose as well. These products can help treat and eliminate stretch marks and at the same time can be used to cover or conceal the stretch marks so that you can still comfortably lead on with your regular life.

How do they work? They work by camouflaging your stretch marks to match the surrounding skin tone and color. At the same time, they work by treating the stretch marks, taking away layer by layer of dead cells until your skin can heal itself and look normal again.

Remember that how to hide stretch marks is not as important as how to get rid of them. By all means, if you want your skin to look better, look for ways to eliminate stretch marks. And as your treatment goes on you can choose one of a few ways to cover up those stretch marks for a temporary time until your skin heals properly.

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The Five Myths About How to Eliminate Stretch Marks

by Maia Pells

It’s easy to get lost in the sea of stretch mark elimination methods. Before you pick a method however, it is well worth your time to first check what works and what doesn’t.

Myth #1: There are many medical procedures that can eliminate stretch marks.

Currently, only abdominoplasty is the only known surgical method that works on stretch marks. This method however will only eliminate stretch marks in the tummy area and is very risky and expensive. It is not even originally intended for stretch mark removal but for extra fat removal. Only those who are close to their ideal body weights and have only a little fat to remove are considered good candidates for abdominoplasty.

Dermabrasion and laser treatment are two other procedures for stretch mark but these are medical and not surgical. As most people would know however, dermabrasion is simply a more complicated form of exfoliation which is only a marginally effective method to eliminate stretch marks. Laser treatment on the other hand is a new method that does not have a long and proven track record in removing stretch marks.

Myth #2: Getting a tan can eliminate stretch marks.

Many people think that they can eliminate stretch marks by covering it up with a good tan. This however, will only serve to worsen the whitish appearance of stretch marks as the surrounding healthy skin darkens in color. This is because stretch marks are scars and if you’ve ever tried to tan a scar, you would know that they are particularly resistant to color changes. Most of us also know that tanning is not always very safe.

Myth #3: Using make-up to cover stretch marks.

Desperate people for whom nothing else has worked hope to at least eliminate the appearance of stretch marks with make-up. These products do not eliminate stretch marks but just mask them. This may be a good technique but only for a limited time. Even the most water resistant make-up will eventually lose its grip at the beach or in the water.

Myth #4: Weight loss can eliminate stretch marks.

Just because stretch marks are basically caused by body expansion it doesn’t mean that you can eliminate stretch marks by losing weight. As scars, they will stay put even if you manage to agreed thin. You may however, be able to reduce your chances of getting stretch marks if you have never been overweight to begin with. A healthy diet and exercise can keep you from rapidly expanding in body size.

Myth #5: Stretch mark product is the answer to eliminate stretch marks.

The reason why stretch mark creams have received a lot of criticism is because there are really a lot of products out there that cannot effectively eliminate stretch marks. These products put a bad name on reputable brands.

To get the best out of your stretch mark lotion or cream, make sure you read product specifications, contents and ingredients. If you have very sensitive skin, you would do better with an all natural product that will not expose you to dangerous side effects.

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What To Do When Stretch Marks Occur

by Maia Pells

Stretch marks can plague anyone. In most cases, it is the women, though, who often check to see if they have stretch marks so that they can treat and get rid of them early on. This is especially true for women who have given birth to babies. They will want to get rid of the stretch marks that have occurred from the stretching of skin during pregnancy. But in general, people who do have them do not really known what to do when stretch marks occur. This is the reason why most people will not do anything to stop them from forming.

What Are Stretch Marks?

For dermatologists, striae is the more common name for the condition. They are actually scars but they are not physical scars, meaning they are not found on the epidermis of the skin. They are found just underneath in the area known as the dermis.

Weight Gain - When the body experiences a sudden change in growth, like when someone gains weight, the skin also stretches. The problem is that if the skin is not healthy enough, the dermis will tear and this is essentially how the stretch mark starts to form. The final result of a stretch mark is a silvery line and these lines are found in places where the skin has stretched. The usually areas are the stomach, thighs, arms, and buttocks.

What To Do

Early Detection - When stretch marks occur, it is ideal that you detect them first. You will not feel a stretch mark occur and so it is up to you to inspect your body to see if there are any newly formed stretch marks. These are easily identifiable as they look like reddened or purple lines. This means that the dermis has newly torn and that area is well on its way to developing stretch marks.

Prevention - You can actually prevent the stretch mark from worsening and becoming harder to remove. One way to do this is to make sure that you drink a lot of water (about 8 glasses minimum a day) and also make sure to exercise a little. The water is to hydrate the body and keep the skin as elastic as possible. The exercise is to get your blood flowing and also to get rid of any fats that cause your skin to stretch. You might also want to change your diet into something that is rich in essential fats such as those found in fish.

More Options - If you have stretch marks that you may have overlooked before and still want to get rid of them, there are surgical and medical procedures that you can choose from. One way is to use medicated creams.

Laser Surgery Treatment - You also have the option of getting laser surgery to have the lines removed permanently. This is a pricey option but at least you won’t have to worry about the stretch marks forming again. These are all measures that you can try out when stretch marks occur around your body. Otherwise, keeping a healthy body and maintaining a good diet and exercise routine should help prevent stretch marks from ever forming in the first place.

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Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery For Stretch Marks

by Maia Pells

When it comes to getting rid of stretch marks, there are several options. One is plastic surgery for stretch marks. If you want to avoid experiencing a lot of pain or ending up with more scars than before you got your marks treated then choosing one out of the three minimally invasive surgeries can be your solution to a scars free skin.

Chemical Peels

Method of Chemical Peeling - Chemical peeling is a method which involves the application of a chemical solution on the skin. The chemicals strip off the dead skin cells to make way for new and healthy skin. The new skin is usually smoother and more even in color. This makes chemical peels an effective yet minimally invasive plastic surgery for stretch marks.

In chemical peeling, there are different types of acid used. The commonly used chemicals are glycolic, trichloracetic, lactic, and salicylic acids. Light or mild peels only penetrate into the surface of the skin. This kind of peel gives what they call a “freshening” effect and the patient will experience only a sunburn-like redness after every procedure. But more often than not, a series of procedures will be required and sometimes the strength of the acids is increased but this is dictated by the tolerance level of the skin. The redness that results from a mild peeling can be easily covered up with make-up.

Peels of the medium type penetrate the skin much deeper. It also has more effect. The patient will feel more of burning sensation after the procedure and the skin will need a week of healing and minimal sun exposure. With this type of procedure, there is a possibility of swelling and some blistering that may crust and turn brown but this will peel off after a week or so. The deep kind of peels penetrate even deeper into the dermis and can sometimes be a risky process. Some doctors would rather utilize laser technology than perform deep chemical peels.

Laser Surgery

The Price - The cost and pain that accompanies laser stretch mark removal has gone down in recent years. This method uses a controlled beam of light that focuses on the affected areas to break down scar tissues. The lasers also stimulate new collagen growth. The new collagen works to thicken and plump the skin so that new skin cells can fill up stretch marks from the bottom up.

Different Effects - Not all stretch marks are the same and the effectiveness of laser surgery will depend on a number of things. These factors can include the age and severity of stretch marks. A person’s genes and hormones can also affect the results of the treatment. There is proof that laser surgery is more effective when used on fresher scars. Some people combine other methods with laser therapy to get better results.

Dermabrasion

Another kind of minimally-invasive stretch mark plastic surgery is dermabrasion. This quick procedure has some success in treating stretch marks. It only takes a few minutes per procedure but the patient will need more than one session to see results. The skin is frozen first then a specialized instrument is used to “sand” the skin. This abrasive action removes the area of the skin with visible stretch marks showing only the “new” skin which has no stretch marks on it. The now smooth skin is usually pink but gradually fades over a six to eight week period. However, the patient is advised to avoid any direct or indirect sun exposure for the next three to six months after the procedure. If the treated area is exposed to the sun, this will cause temporary or worse, permanent darkening of the skin.

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Stretch Mark Surgery: What You Need To Know

by Maia Pells

Most women are not satisfied with the results of the natural fading of stretch marks that is why they look for a more permanent cure like stretch mark surgery. There are a few surgical treatment options to choose from and even if you try to learn more about the different methods, it is still best to be under the care of a surgeon or a dermatologist so he or she can determine which treatment will suit you.

Tummy Tuck

For women who have had multiply pregnancies already, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a good treatment option them. Some people’s stretch marks are more severe than others, which is why they have to consider undergoing this type of surgery. A tummy tuck procedure carries risks like any other surgery. Because this is a major operation, some physicians will administer full anesthesia before making an incision on your abdomen in order to remove the abdominal skin covered with stretch marks.

This procedure will leave the patient with a large scar afterwards but if it is done expertly, the scar will be less noticeable than the stretch marks that were removed. The tummy tuck was actually not meant to remove stretch marks but was intended to contour and tighten the stomach wall by removing excess fat and skin. However, once the extra skin and fat were taken away, physicians realized that there was an added bonus because stretch marks were eliminated as well. Although effective, abdominoplasty is still the most expensive method for removing stretch marks and the average person can hardly afford this treatment.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is considered to be a non-invasive stretch mark surgery procedure but some doctors still regard it to be a surgical method because the treatment involves the penetration of the skin with a beam of light. Although the cost for this treatment is less expensive in comparison to tummy tuck, the money spent for this procedure will still depend on a number of factors. Below is a list of factors that can affect the cost of your laser therapy.

- Condition of the stretch marks - Location of stretch marks on the body - Region or country where patient undergoes treatment

If the patient wants to learn more about the potential costs, effectiveness of the treatment, and results that the procedure will bring, he or she should consult with a physician. The individual can also ask the doctor which treatment will work best on her because there are a variety of laser therapies.

Generally, lasers work by focusing a beam of light on the affected area. The laser disrupts the scar tissue particles until they disintegrate. Once the scar tissues are gone, the redness of the scars is diminished and the look of the skin is improved. Laser surgery is usually effective only on scars that are newly formed because the beam can only detect scars that are red or brown.

Stretch marks that were once red or brown fade over the years and become silver or white in color and won’t be detected by the laser. Therefore, typical laser surgery would not be a good option for stretch marks that have aged. If the laser beam is also not carefully controlled, this might result to burning or scarring of the skin. However, people still prefer laser surgery over other surgical procedures for the important reason that there is only minimal pain involved during or after the procedure.

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The Search For The Sure Stretch Marks Cure

by Maia Pells

Studies have shown that one of the top five reasons for insecurity in women are stretch marks. This may be the explanation why stretch marks cure is one of the most eagerly sought after products in the beauty industry. Before learning more about the cures, it would be beneficial to understand the problem first. Listed below are some of the causes of stretch marks.

- Puberty - Rapidly gaining weight - Poor diet - Heredity - Pregnancy - Obesity - Sudden environmental change - Skin type

Stretch marks may be caused by natural stages in one’s life such as puberty or pregnancy; hence, it will be very difficult for them to avoid this. If a woman is pregnant, then her skin’s tendency is to expand in order to accommodate this new weight. Once the skin is excessively stretched, the collagen fibers and proteins in the underlying skin layer called the dermis will consequently get damaged.

Stretch marks are results of the breaking of the collagen. These are considered as early or recently formed scars. The inflammation and the disruption in collagen production might lead to the loss of pigment-producing melanocyte cells. Melanocyte cells produce melanin which is a pigment found in the eyes, hair, and skin. The lack of pigmentation over time can result to white or hypopigmented scars, this is why mature stretch marks are usually white or silver in color.

Knowing the different varieties of stretch marks is important in determining the right stretch mark cure for your skin.

- Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck - Laser surgery - Microdermabrasion - Exfoliation - Topical Creams - Exercise and diet

Although it is the most invasive, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is also the most effective type of treatment. This is considered a major surgery; therefore, one has to be cautious when choosing this treatment because greater risks are involved in the procedure. The treatment was originally intended to remove stubborn abdominal fat yet doctors found that lifting the skin and removing excess skin on the abdomen can also remove stretch marks, especially scars that have aged and turned white.

Laser surgery is another option. Although it is still called ’surgery’, this procedure is minimally invasive and does not involve any cutting or scarring. The laser is a beam of light that is controlled and it treats by disturbing the particles of the scar tissues until they break up. Once they have disintegrated, the vacated area will then be replaced by newly developed collagen and skin cells and stretch marks would have disappeared.

Another stretch marks cure is known as micordermabrasion. This procedure works best on thin, small, and surfaced-base scars. Some patients who have undergone the treatment commented that this type of treatment can be painful at times because micro crystals and chemicals materials are sprayed on the area under pressure at a high speed with vacuum device to strip off the surface of the skin. The less painful alternative to microdermabrasion would be exfolitaiton. This process simply involves the application of a natural or synthetic solution to help strip off the dead skin cells on the topmost layer of the skin. Although it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks, it does not guarantee that it can completely get rid of the scars.

Prescription creams or natural creams are also effective in removing stretch marks. The safer option would be to apply natural creams because the ingredients used are one hundred percent safe and all natural. One example of a natural stretch marks cure is Revitol stretch marks prevention. Aside from its ingredients that can stimulate skin to heal itself, this cream is safe enough to be used by pregnant women. Another type of natural treatment is exercise and diet. In addition to being practical and safe, exercising will help you manage your weight effectively and you will be able to avoid gaining too much weight. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, D, and E will give you healthier skin because it can tighten the skin and remove skin damaging free radicals.

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Why Does Laser Stretch Mark Removal Work?

by Maia Pells

The more advanced way of removing stretch marks is by laser stretch mark removal. Although it uses technology that is quite sophisticated, the cost and pain associated with this treatment has significantly lowered in recent years. This type of procedure is still not considered cheap; however, laser removal is still less expensive than plastic surgery and causes fewer risks.

Problem

Stretch mark happens when there is rapid expansion of skin due to weight gain or pregnancy. Stretch marks form when the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, is stretched to its limit. The connective fibers will then break, resulting to the disruption of collagen production and scarring.

Stretch marks usually appear as pinkish or purplish threads. Most of them develop on the thighs, belly, thighs, upper arms, and hips. Stretch marks are not known to be health hazards and are only seen as a cosmetic problem for most people. That is why many people are looking for an effective treatment to remove stretch marks.

Procedure

Since these are considered as scars, they can be removed by laser stretch mark removal. This procedure involves the use of a beam of light to remove thin layers of skin around the stretch marks. Laser technology uses high energy ultraviolet light to disrupt the molecular bonds in the skin tissue and to help it disintegrate. The scar tissues are now gone and the vacated area is then replaced with newly formed skin cells and collagen.

Immediately following the treatment, the affected area will be red and tender. This is due to the fact that the layers of scarred skin have been removed so that new skin can develop in its place. However, most patients heal from the redness and tenderness in just a few days.

Benefits

Even if the word surgery might sound scary, this type of surgery poses no serious danger for the individual because this is a non-invasive surgical procedure. Aside from that, undergoing treatment is convenient even for busy people because procedures can last from ten minutes to an hour and the patient can easily go back to work after undergoing treatment.

The number of treatments varies from person to person and the severity of the scarring. The most recently formed stretch marks are easiest to treat and have a higher success rate. The older and more mature stretch marks are usually silver or white in color. These scars can be difficult to remove and may take more treatments but laser surgery can still reduce their appearance. In addition to that, the only pain you will experience as the light lasers do their work is a pinching sensation.

Risks

Side effects from laser stretch mark removal are rare and the only risks experienced by some of the patients include bruising, scarring, blistering, or swelling of the treated area. These symptoms will normally disappear within a few days or weeks. Sometimes, changes in the pigmentation of the area can occur as well but then again, this is only temporary and your skin will return to its normal color after a while.

The different types of treatments can pose as a danger if the procedure is administered by incompetent individuals. Therefore, it would be in the individual’s best interest to obtain treatments from certified physicians.

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