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Scars and stretch marks are the physical 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. Luckily enough, there is a wide range of treatment options that can help eliminate these skin blemishes.

Even though surgery, laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques can do the trick, they are often costly and may produce irritation or 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 reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks, while the other uses abrading micro crystals to slowly "sand off" scar tissue.

Facial scars are often treated with a simple scar cream. Body scars can resist and will probably require a more aggressive cream such as microdermabrasion cream. Follow these simple suggestions to find the most effective treatment for scars that won't produce further damage.

Ingredients to Look for

Just like skin care creams, scar and stretch marks creams are only as effective as the ingredients they contain. 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. It is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids making it an ideal ingredient for reducing the appearance of abnormal tissue. These components help promote the elimination of damaged skin and help boost the growth of new skin cells.

This product is most effective if it is used in its pure, oil form. However, it can also be found in a variety of skin care products (especially for dry skin). Rose hip oil can also help treat other skin problems such as dermatitis and eczema.

Snail Serum

Another natural ingredient that can help with scar removal is snail serum. It contains copper peptides that are known to help 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.