The fight against stretch marks is global and it does not matter if it is waged by man or woman, it is a battle that is most likely going to be ongoing until the discovery of a wondrous agent that will somehow eradicate the unsightly marks. In the meantime, the literature dealing with skin conditions is filled to brimming with tips on preventing the formation of stretch marks to begin with, folklore that promises you a mark free pregnancy, and a host of home remedies that supposedly rid you of stretch marks once they have formed. While much has been written about the subject, even more is being sold in the name of treating stretch marks.

While many substances are quite effective at lessening the appearance of stretch marks - not so much because of a miracle ingredient but instead because of the fact that a consumer is applying a daily moisturizer or emollient to the skin and twice weekly exfoliating it - several others that were never meant to be used for this condition are now being re-packaged and sold as the latest, greatest cures.

For example, pearl powder is the kind of substance that adds origin related lore to some claims that are simply not supported by modern science. Hailing from China and billed as a traditional and mysterious ingredient in many secret potions that increased the porcelain beauty of many an empress, in its purest form pearl powder is little more than a ground up powder made from fresh water pearls. Since it is considered to contain a number of amino acids, which in turn will promote healthy skin growth on the dermis level, those in search for the stretch mark silver bullet will sell lotions, potions, and supplements containing this powder. While it is true that cell renewal has been associated with amino acids, it is doubtful that the power when ingested will actually provide the amino acids to your skin in the quantities needed. A topical application is shown to have a limited effect on increasing the supple appearance of the skin, but in now way will this powder make stretch marks disappear.

Proactiv is a cosmetic that was known in the roaring 1920s as benzoyl peroxide, a then popular treatment for adolescent acne. Depending on the concentration and your ability to tolerate it, Proactiv will act like a low impact chemical peel that will reveal healthy looking skin. It will not make stretch marks disappear, but instead it will lessen their visibility because of the healthy appearance of the surrounding skin. It is important to remember that allergic reactions to this substance has been reported and have actually led to severe outbreaks, rashes, and in case of extreme itching and an inability to control this impulse to skin damage from scratching and subsequent infections and scarring.

Witch hazel used to be a staple in almost anyone's medicine cabinet. Extracted from the witch hazel shrub, it is used to alleviate bruising and swelling and in some cases also sores. In some cases it has shown great results when used on acne and even sunburns. Unfortunately, none of these effects have any bearing on the outer layer of the skin as a whole but only on affected portions thereof, and absolutely no impact on the dermis itself.