OTC Stretch Mark Removal for Women
Stretch marks are flat, discolored scars that form when the skin is stretched too quickly. This can be caused by growth spurts as an adolescent, sudden weight gain or pregnancy. Most OTC stretch mark products prevent the scarring, but others help reduce the appearance altogether. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Cocoa Butter
-
Cocoa butter can be purchased from any drugstore or even convenient mart. It's a concentrated lotion or cream that is thought to help prevent stretch marks because it's rich in collagen and vitamin E. It also softens and smooths dry skin, as well as helps the skin retain its elasticity when stretched.
Vitamin E
-
Vitamin E cream or oil will soften the skin and help prevent stretch marks. Vitamin E cream comes in a tube or bottle and is applied topically to the stretch marks. Vitamin E oil can be ingested through capsules to improve the quality of your skin, or you can open a capsule yourself and apply the oil directly onto the stretch marks. Vitamin E oil is more concentrated than the cream, so applying it instead of the cream will produce faster results.
-
Coconut Oil
-
Coconut oil can be purchased OTC in organic health stores. Like cocoa butter, it restores hydration in dry skin, soothes dry and irritated skin, and helps skin retain elasticity whenever it stretches, which is how stretch marks are caused.
Bio-Oil
-
Bio-Oil is a product that is specially made for stretch marks and scar removal. Like Vitamin E and other skin oils, it improves the skin's ability to stretch so stretch marks don't form as easily. Bio-oil is a combination of the best features from multiple natural oils and creams that can prevent and remove stretch marks.
Mederma
-
Mederma is a well-known topical OTC product that helps with scar removal by reducing darkening of the skin, smooths out raised scar tissue and helps prevent the scar from forming if you use it early enough. Mederma has since produced a topical cream specifically for stretch marks that claims to reduce their discoloration and improve texture.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pregnancy #11 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
