What Do You Need A Stretch Mark Reducer For?

When I was pregnant with my first child, I gained a whopping 62 pounds. In addition to the added weight, I also developed a boat load of stretch marks. I was fairly young and had only one friend who was pregnant at the time. My friend tried to sympathize about the stretch mark issue, and pointed out the ONE stretch mark she got while pregnant! Thanks a lot!  Since then, I have had 2 more kids, lost and gained a lot of weight and have added more than a few stretch marks. What I did not know was what caused them and how to get rid of them.

Stretch marks are actually scars caused by tears in your collagen and elastin fibers. These tears can occur during puberty, pregnancy, or large gains or losses of weight within a short period of time. Contrary to what many people think, the scarring is not caused by the stretching of the skin. It is actually caused by elevated levels of glucocorticoids, which are hormones produced by your adrenal glands. The scarring can be light or dark, are usually purplish red in color and can be just on top of as well as deeper into the surface of your skin. Mine are pretty light, but go deeper and are a bit wider, so they are more noticeable. So, now we know what do you need a stretch mark reducer for. We just need to know which one to use. I am using a handheld stretch mark reducer from Riiviva.

I was sent the award winning Riiviva Handheld Microdermabrasion Tool, which sells on the Riiviva website for $270 as well as the set of the Diamond Tips for stretch marks, which sells for $44. Microdermabrasion is a very popular method which is used to resurface superficial skin. When the surface of the tip passes over your skin, it gently removes that superficial layer of skin. I know you may be thinking it sounds painful, but it is not at all. It is quite painless and it makes your skin feel fantastic after you have used it. The handheld device vacuums up the dead skin cells through the device and go into a small filter. Once you are done, you just toss the filter and replace it for your next session. From the first time I used it, I could feel a difference with softer and smoother skin. The Riiviva tools have been seen on the television show extra with Mario Lopez and reviewed in Oprah magazine, among many others.

After several weeks of faithful use, you can see a reduction in your stretch marks. I saw the most difference in the stretch marks which were lighter in color and not as deep as the others. I did notice a difference in the deeper marks, but my husband said he did not! Riiviva also has a tool for your cellulite and the handheld microdermabrasion tool can be used on our face for acne scarring and your skin for Keratosis Pilaris. Keratosis Pilaris is also called “Chicken Skin” and my oldest daughter has it on the back of her upper arms. It is a genetic condition caused by over production of Keratin and it causes red bumps and rough skin. They also have a line of creams to be used in the treatment of the above skin issues. One USA reader will win their choice of a Stretch Mark or Cellulite Reducer $300.

Do you have stretch marks and if so, what caused them? Have you tried any treatments to reduce them?