Frequently when people hear the term 'stretch marks' they think of the lines and blotches that are left on the bellies of women who are pregnant or have given birth.
The extreme expansion that the skin of the stomach must endure to make room for the baby and extra weight gain sometimes pushes the skin beyond its normal elasticity.
It may seem that only these women can benefit from one of the various stretch mark cream such as Trilastin.
However, there are other causes of over-stretched skin and, therefore, other reasons to need these types of treatment.
Stretch marks are actually scar tissue where the skin's elastic fibers have torn.
In the beginning, they are often red or purplish in color and have a different texture.
In time, they will often fade to a more silver-ish, white color that becomes even more visible when the surrounding skin darkens from the sun.
While stretch marks most commonly occur on the breast and lower abdomen of pregnant women, there are other reasons the skin may experience overstretching resulting in stretch marks.
These include weight gain, bodybuilding and growth spurts during teen years.
There are certain areas of the body that tend to store large amounts of fat when people gain weight due to over eating or medical conditions.
These include the butt, thighs, and upper arms, and these places are the most likely to experience torn fibers resulting in stretch marks.
Such people are more apt to discover and be bothered by these scars as they begin to lose the excess weight.
Some athletes (such as wrestlers, and football players) and bodybuilders will purposefully gain weight quickly.
As mentioned above, this can also lead to torn fibers.
Many bodybuilders enjoy showing their bulk and muscles, and unfortunately the stretch marks can be a distraction, especially when the skin is tanned.
Though not as common, teens who experience rapid growth spurts may find minor amounts of stretch marks.
These sometimes show up on the back of the legs and lower back.
Since appearance is often important at this age, it can effect their wavering confidence.
How do these individuals know which stretch mark cream is right for them? Consumers should look at the purpose and ingredients of the various creams.
Is the product a concealer designed only to cover up the marks or is it supposed to treat and heal the torn skin? It is commonly believed that laser surgery is the only way to actually cure stretch marks.
But some of the better home therapies claim to remove the marks permanently without the high cost and bother of surgery.
Make sure the ingredients are more advanced than the those that can be found in simple lotions at your local store such as cocoa butter, lanolin and vitamin E.
While these ingredients are helpful you need to look for components that will mimic the skins natural properties in order to cure the deeper lines and scars.
The company should provide testimonials and photos that stand behind the product claims.
Finally, be sure there is a guarantee.
This will give the consumer the confidence to try the product without fear of losing the money invested should it not work for them.
After all, a treatment may work work well for many, but not all, as our bodies and lifestyles differ in many ways.
So in answer to the question posed, the various stretch mark creams on the market may be useful to a large variety of individuals including men, women and teens.
The important thing is to try and find a treatment that works at curing the torn skin and not just hiding it.