A new anti-aging cream released in the United Kingdom is currently making waves, drawing in legions of loyal fans across the country. The new “miracle cream” has been touted as responsible for pushing back wrinkles and undoing the discoloration and unsightly ridges caused by stretch marks.

Nicknamed the “botox killer”, the anti-aging, anti-wrinkling and anti-stretch marks cream is now being sold at an amazing pace in department stores across the UK. The tale of this new “botox killer” is quite simple, yet interesting. The American firm that made the cream was actually planning to market it solely as an anti-stretch marks cream that would reduce discoloration and degree of appearance of the stretch marks on the surface of the skin.

Of course, they wanted to test the cream first, and so they gave away small sample tubes to people. As the test tubes spread around the country, people thought that the cream was to be applied to the face as well.

The firm was surprised to get good feedback regarding the effectiveness of the cream in reducing wrinkles and fine lines around the face. Confessing that it was simply dumb luck that the product worked on the face as well, the company integrated “anti-wrinkling” to the product’s purported benefits.

Word spread around the country about the new “botox killer” and people soon began reserving their own sets of the cream when they saw the results.

Hoax or skin magic?

Though we would not want to sound too patronizing of a new product, it seems that the positive effects of this new product are indeed noteworthy. Aside from the usual throng of celebrities like Charlize Theron who flocked to buy the new anti-ageing cream, even common people like longtime makeup artists and production designers were convinced that there really was something to this new product.

These “small folk” knew what it was really like to look good, having been exposed to show business for a long time.

The premise for the new anti-ageing product was quite simple- apply the product no more than 3 times a day, and keep the area free from other substances or pollutants in the meantime. Three times a day translated roughly to about an application every 6-8 hours, which is a perfect routine even for working women.

There was no strict age range for this new product. Women aged 21 to 50 all used the same product the same number of times (though with differing periods of time) and got the same results.

As for those who used the new cream on the stretch marks themselves, results were doubly positive. It seems that sometimes, OTC or over the counter medications can really work wonders on the human skin.

But then again, products like these remain one in a million, and it still remains to be seen whether this product can be used by pregnant or lactating women who are the people who are most prone to stretch marks and who really, really need effective help at once.

A representative of the Cranley Clinic in London, Dr. Nick Lowe, stated that there was nothing special about the cream: “Looking at the list of ingredients, it really is a rehash of the classic ingredients of most moisturisers, like shea butter and almond oil, all of them well tried and tested to rehydrate the skin temporarily - but nothing that I can see would bring about a fundamental change in the appearance of the skin.”

Cellulite and stretch marks are two of the most dreaded problems that most women have to deal with. Men can also suffer from both of these problems. But, unfortunately, society has made them much more dreadful for women.

The reason these skin conditions can affect both genders is that they are not gender oriented, but skin oriented. Cellulite, for example, is caused due to a structural problem in the skin and not because of excess weight, as most people believe. In fact, people that are slim can also develop cellulite, however, it's not as noticeable as on people excess weight.

Stretch marks, quite on the contrary, can be caused by excessive weight gain. This doesn't mean that weight lose will help you be rid of stretch marks, it does however help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Neither one of these problems is life threatening, but they can lead to self esteem issue. The best way of dealing with cellulite & stretch marks is by choosing a treatment option and sticking to it.

Avoiding Cellulite and Stretch Marks

Cellulite affects the legs and buttocks. Stretch marks, however, can affect the breasts, upper arms, thighs, abdomen, legs and buttocks.

Since genetics is linked to both of these skin problems, it may be difficult to avoid them. Nonetheless, the best way to keep them from appearing is to maintain a stable weight.

Tips to Get Rid of Cellulite

You can reduce cellulite through exercise. Your main goal should be to reduce the overall body fat. Spot training, on the other hand, can make cellulite more apparent and is not recommended for these cases.

A cellulite cream can also produce dramatic results especially if you use it on a regular basis. However, if you want more drastic results you can undergo plastic surgery wherein a doctor will use a sharp tool to cut the thick bands that bind the skin to the lower tissue.

another alternative is deep tissue massages. This type of massage works by helping flushing out the toxins that are trapped in your fat cells.

Getting Rid of Stretch Marks

Having one tiny stretch mark is no big deal, but when you're covered in stretch marks your self-image can be destroyed. This is why finding a way to rid stretch marks from your skin is so important.

If the area you are treating is small, then stretch marks cream can work quite well because they contain special ingredients that are known to help dissolve irregular skin tissue and boost the production of new and healthy skin cells. One such ingredient known to be effective in treating stretch marks is rose hip seed oil.

For larger areas, you may want to look into surgical options. Surgery is the only surefire way of eliminating stretch marks 100%. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion can also be a good alternative for some types of stretch marks.

Stretch marks, although not fatal, are very ugly to show, especially if they are deep red or purple. No wonder so many people want to hide stretch marks when they go out. If you have stretch marks on areas where they can be easily seen and if many people see them, you will be the object of unwanted attention. And you certainly do not want to have it happened. But if you need a quick fix, how can you smartly hide stretch marks?

A good way to do that is by wearing clothes that are not too revealing. If you have stretch marks only on thighs and butt, you are lucky. You can easily hide these marks by wearing long skirts to not let anybody know you have them. Who says you can't look nice in skirts, right? Long skirts can be nice and elegant when worn during parties or social events. Better to wear them than show those ugly marks which will only turn everybody off.

Another thing you can do is by applying make-up or cosmetics on the skin affected by these marks. A smart concealer or foundation like Tru Cover or Sheer Cover can do the trick by both covering the affected area to make it blend with the skin, as if it were not there. Red and purple stretch marks, however, cannot be concealed very easily because they both stand out, unlike white or mature stretch marks which have a lighter color. However, you don't have to rely on them all the time to do the covering for you.

This brings us to another conclusion on how to combat stretch marks. A better alternative to quick fixes to hide stretch marks is by using a topical stretch mark solution to make them less visible. I don't guarantee that you will get less evident marks, but with what I hear from products like Revitol and TriLastin it sounds promising. Can't hurt to given them a try, right? And besides, you not only have these products on the market. You got a wide range of anti-stretch mark products you can buy anytime, anyday. From stretch mark creams to topical ointments, Well, you cant cure them but you can make them less noticeable so you don't need to be embarrassed about showing some skin when you go out.

Besides, they are cheaper and safer than surgeries which are painful and can cause side effects you don't want to have for sure. You might have additional scars, pigments or discolored areas - which might not be treated very easily. Another thing to remember is that, not every one can be admitted for a laser surgical procedure. Dark-skinned ones cannot have laser surgery for stretch marks because they might suffer from hyperpigmentation due to the nature of their skin. Lastly, these surgeries only do the same thing which some products at present also do - to reduce their appearance and to make them less evident on the skin.

But, as mentioned, if you want to quickly hide your stretch marks, you can - by doing the tips above. Much better, avoid stretch marks as much as you can by making your skin elastic through proper diet, exercise and applying a stretch mark preventive product. I don't guarantee that you will not get stretch marks, but you can raise your chances of not having them, though, if you take care of your skin and make it elastic.