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Scars and stretch marks are signs of our body's adaptation to external and internal factors. Even though they are natural, most of us want to get rid of them as soon as possible. Fortunately, there is a wide range of treatment options that can help you eliminate these skin blemishes.

Surgery, laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques may do the trick, but are also costly and can irritate your skin and lead to other problems such as hyperpigmentation. Scar creams, on the other hand, are relatively inexpensive and very gentle with your skin.

Alternatives to Scar Creams

There are basically two types of scar creams that you can try on your skin: simple scar creams and microdermabrasion creams. The first one uses chemical processes to gradually diminish the appearance of scars and stretch marks, while the second alternative uses abrading micro crystals to slowly "sand off" scar tissue.

Facial scars are often treated with a simple scar cream. Body scars, on the other hand, can resist more abuse and can be treated using microdermabrasion creams. To find the most effective treatment for scars without producing further damage, abide by the following suggestions.

Ingredients You Should Look For

As with skin care creams, scar and stretch marks creams are only as effective as the ingredients they're made with. If you're wondering which ingredients to look for, here's a short list of the most effective ingredients used for scar removal:

Rose Hip Seed Oil

This product has long been used for stretch marks treatment although it is also very effective on all types of scar tissue. Its high concentration of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and essential fatty acids makes it ideal for reducing the appearance of abnormal tissue. These components are helpful in promoting the elimination of damaged skin and boosting the growth of new skin cells.

This product can be used in its pure, oil form or as part of a variety of different skin care products, especially those that help treat dry skin. Rose hip oil has also been used when treating other skin problems such as dermatitis and eczema.

Snail Serum

Snail serum is another natural ingredient that can help achieve scar removal. It contains copper peptides that can increase the rate of skin renewal. Copper peptides also help increase the formation of new capillaries, collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans.

Snail serum was rediscovered by heliciculture workers in Chile that noticed their skin was smoother and that their scars would disappear quicker when they came in contact with the snails. The importance of this rediscovery made helix aspersa muller extract (another name for snail slime) an important ingredient in several skin care products.