Scars and stretch marks are signs of our body's adaptation to external and internal factors. Even though they are a natural part of the healing process, 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.

Surgery, laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques can do the trick. However, most of them are costly and some of them 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.

Scar Cream Alternatives

If you prefer using scar creams to treat your skin, there are basically two types you can try: 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 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

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 natural product has long been used in stretch marks treatment and for the treatment of other 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 is most effective if it is used in its pure state, although, it can also be found in a variety of skin care products. Rose hip oil can also help treat 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 are known to help increase the rate of skin renewal. Copper peptides also increase the formation of new capillaries, collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans.

Snail serum is derived from the common brown snail and was recently added to the list of skin care ingredients thanks to 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.