Staging A Comeback In The Fight Against Stretch Marks – Benzoyl Peroxide
Do you remember benzoyl peroxide? Those who are young today most likely never heard of this product, but for those who experienced their adolescence in the 1920s, this substance was considered a godsend in the fight against acne, the condition that seemed to spell the social death of many a budding debutante and debonair bachelor of marriageable age. It fell into disfavor for a while but in recent months it appears to be staging a comeback on the Internet, specifically in the fight against stretch marks. Being touted as a cost effective alternative to the more expensive spa treatments and outpatient surgical procedures of skin renewal, several websites claim that they are in exclusive possession for the trademark.
Names that the substance may be traded under are NeoBenz Micro, Stioxyl, and also Proactiv, which is by far the most famous name associated with the substance. Generally speaking, benzoyl peroxide, as the name implies, is a member of the chemical groups associated with peroxide, a powerful bleaching agent that is used in hair dyes as well as several household cleaners. When applied to the skin, it will result in an almost drying of the affected area, which is part of the reason why it made for an effective treatment of adolescent acne. Those whose skin was easily irritated would also report red rashes, burning sensations, itching, and localized heating up. Much like a chemical burn, the skin would eventually begin to peel. The latter was the intended effect, since the peeling will reveal the healthier, cleaner levels of the skin beneath the top layer and thus present a skin appearance free from blemishes. While this is indeed a much favored treatment for acne, stretch marks being treated thusly may only show a marginal lessening. Depending on the depth of the mark as well as its prominence and the time it has had to fade naturally, you may or may not see dramatic results.
It should be understood that no amount of benzoyl peroxide will make a stretch mark disappear, since these marks represent the scar tissue left behind when the dermis underwent tearing and subsequent healing. Thus, the peroxide substance will not be able to actually reach the problem area which is located well below the upper level of the skin. Nonetheless, the peel that results from the use of the substance will in some cases alleviate the visible results of angry red or purple stretch marks by helping the fading process to move along and encouraging the growth of healthy skin layers in the top level.
Several precautions need to be taken if you intend to utilize this chemical as a peel in order to deal with your stretch marks; first and foremost, you need to remember that any time skin is permitted to peel, the underlying skin that is revealed is extremely susceptible to burning by the sun and copious application of high quality sunscreen is a must. In addition to the foregoing you need to remember that in its purest form benzoyl peroxide is considered a carcinogen, thus the use of a diluted form is highly recommended. Secondly, since the new skin that is revealed may be irritated by the topical applications of the substance to other areas of the body, it is wise to wait in between peels to permit your skin to completely heal before going for another round of treatments.
