Stretch marks are a common side effect of pregnancy and affect around 90 percent of mothers. These marks are caused by rips in the dermis, your middle layer of skin, as your skin accommodates the rapid and prolonged expansion of your waistline. They are usually accompanied by little veins, indicative of burst capillaries due to the tears. Stretch marks are difficult to get rid of entirely. However, there are many creams out there that promise stretch mark reduction, and a few have stood out as being the best in the market.
Tretinoin Cream
Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A. It encourages the production of elastin, the protein in your tissue that allows your skin to return to its original state after being stretched. Available only by prescription, Tretinoin cream is also touted for reducing wrinkles and blemishes. The cream is more commonly known as Retin-A.
Revitol
Revitol is the most popular and highest-rated tested stretch mark cream. Revitol contains squalene oil, which helps speed up the natural skin cell regeneration process performed by the body, says the Stretch Marks Cream Web site. Revitol also contains pro-vitamin D5, which helps in the regenerating of skin and encourages the production of elastin and collagen, another protein of the skin that helps keep the skin together.
TriLASTIN
TriLASTIN is a popular stretch mark cream known for its inclusion of healing herbs, such as beeswax, in addition to its other ingredients. Where other products include ingredients responsible for the production of collagen and elastin, TriLASTIN actually includes the two proteins. It also includes soy protein, which is also helpful in reducing wrinkles, encouraging elasticity and promoting cell growth.
Klein Becker StriVectin-SD
StriVectin-SD is not only known for its stretch-mark reduction but also for wrinkle reduction, including crow's feet. In fact, many users claim StriVectin-SD is as good as Botox in the removal of wrinkles. This cream has many ingredients that help in the reduction of stretch marks. These include tocopheryl acetate, a potent vitamin E form that is extremely successful at rebuilding damage to skin, and palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, a peptide that increases the elasticity of skin and helps damaged skin.
Belli Skincare's Elastic Belly Oil
Many ingredients in topical stretch mark creams have been linked to complications in pregnancy, including birth defects. Belli Skincare says that its ingredients are safe to apply to the body during and after pregnancy, according to the Women's Health Care Topics site. Belli Skincare's Elastic Belly Oil combines vitamin E, cacao butter and gotu kola extract to limit your chances of developing stretch marks. These ingredients are intended to build collagen and keep your skin moisturized, the site says.
