Stretch mark removal creams are only as effective as the ingredients they contain combined with the delivery methods they utilize to carry the actives deep into the skin.

By law, most products (including stretch mark removal creams) must list their ingredients in order from the most ingredient being first to the least ingredient being last. Most creams on the market contain water as the first ingredient. Some also have a lot of additives and fillers listed before the actual key or effective “active” ingredients. The further down the list the key ingredients are listed, the less of each of these ingredients the cream actually contains.

So basically, if a cream is going to help get rid of stretch marks, it must contain high amounts of the essential key ingredients that are crucial for skin repair. Some key vital ingredients in a stretch mark cream include collagen and elastin, but the ingredients alone won’t help much. They must be delivered ‘deeply’ into the skin where they can go to work.

A good treatment for stretch marks must also have an effective delivery system such as emu oil or liposomes (or both if possible). These ‘carrier’ ingredients help to deliver the key ingredients down to the damaged area where they can help get rid of stretch marks.

We have three layers of skin: the epidermis (or outer layer), the dermis (or middle layer) and the subcutaneous stratum (or deepest layer). Stretch marks are also known as stria atrophica and striae distensae. They occur in the dermis which is the elastic, resilient middle layer. This middle layer allows the skin to retain its shape.

When the dermis is constantly stretched, the skin becomes less elastic and the connective fibers break down leaving behind tiny tears in the skin known as stretch marks.

There are various treatments for stretch marks including laser surgery, creams and in some cases tummy tucks. Although there is no one treatment that is 100% effective in completely getting rid of stretch marks for every person, technological advances have brought about success for many seeking to rid their body of the marks.

75 to 90 percent of all pregnant women develop stretch marks during pregnancy, but they aren’t the only ones susceptible. Young adults who experience growth spurts and bodybuilders who practice strenuous and repetitive exercise are likely to get stretch marks.

One thing is certain. Knowing where to turn to for help with stretch marks is not easy. Who do you turn to? How do you know which cream to try or which company to trust?

Here are some simple guidelines to go by when looking for a stretch mark cream online.

• Does the product have good ingredients? Also, does the product contain “high” amounts of these ingredients? (some creams only have enough of an ingredient to ‘legally’ be able to say that their cream contains the ingredient)
• Does the product have a good “delivery” system such as emu oil, liposomes or some other type of ‘carrier’?
• Does the company have a professional website with access to their contact information such as their address and phone number? (be leery of websites that do not provide their contact information)
• Does the company have user testimonials about the cream?
• Most importantly, what kind of guarantee does the company offer for the cream? (be leery of companies that offer you the “moon”, especially if they do not have a “strong” money back guarantee)