Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary: Melbourne Dermatology Skin Care

Clinical Procedures and Topics

accurately active addition advertisements advertising against agreement alleged almost alpha although appearance attempted australia australian based becker become before being biggest blatant blitzes cannot children claims commission companies complaints compounds concern condition confirm consumer consumers contain convalescence cosmetic cosmetics current damage decades defined definiteness degree department dermis despite development diet dieting different effective effects form good government hyperpigmentation including ingredient ingredients inherently klein laser likelihood loss made mark marks misleading must older product products reducing regulatory representations requires respond single skin speech standards statements stretch strivectin structure subjective substantial susceptible theoretically trade treatment treatments true upon vague variety vitamin weight

Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary

"Miracle" ingredients in skincare products are an ongoing source of excitement and disappointment to consumers. Those found in Strivectin's various closely related stretch mark, hand and wrinkle treatment formulae will confirm to this norm.

Australian and American products have typically been sold on the merits of a single ingredient or "active." Examples over the last twenty years have included blitzes of brands or cosmetic lines based on collagen, elastin, alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin C.

But as with diet, there is no single ingredient which can address all the needs of any organ, including the skin. There is also no escaping the skin's structure, nor the way it functions, when searching for potential treatments.

Skin altered from its prior appearance due to stretch marks requires revision of all its layers before it can appear like it did before their formation.

In order to permanently eliminate the condition, the scarred dermis or "true skin," which produces the appearance and feel of stretch marks at the skin's surface, must be remodeled.

While the dermis may be penetrated and influenced by some ingredients, the entire skin structure must be vaporised by laser before it can reached and renewed.

The process requires anesthetic, is painful and requires weeks of convalescence. It results in an even scar, which heals to form a new skin from the ground up, with fewer undulations and colour irregularities.

Retinoids (a group of compounds having effects in the body like those of vitamin A), vitamin C and sunscreens must be used both before and after to maximize the efficiency and safety of the surgery while reducing the likelihood of side effects such as hyperpigmentation (also see post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).

Despite the radical nature of this form of laser, it is only recommended for new stretch marks — stretch marks older than even two months respond markedly less well.

Although a variety of products marketed as stretch mark treatments are effective in reducing the likelihood of striae development during periods of weight gain or loss (for example puberty, pregnancy, dieting and exercise), there is no viable solution to older stretch marks.

As a top patient and client concern for decades, a treatment which addresses stretch marks will have all the hallmarks of real research, and implications for treatment of many other forms of skin damage.

Despite the current impossibility of a generally effective stretch mark treatment, Strivectin SD has become the biggest selling cosmetic product in US department stores, claiming effectiveness on old stretch marks. Although the claims aren't legal and there are substantial penalties associated with making them, taking action against misleading cosmetics (no matter how blatant) is a low priority for government bodies.

In Australia breaches for misleading advertising theoretically carry fines of up to $200,000 and injunctions can be made against the sale of offending products. Government and private parties (consumers or other companies) can theoretically instigate such proceedings.

The Australian Trade Practices Act (1974) and Cosmetics Claims Guidelines (1997) make a number of routinely breached proscriptions.

When the equivalent US Federal Trade Commission attempted to hold Strivectin's makers to task over a variety of their products in mid-2004, their lawyers made some absurd rebuttals, including that:

the word "caused" appearing in their advertising is "inherently vague, subjective, and susceptible to multiple meanings" ;
objective tests for misleading advertising are also "inherently vague" and therefore cannot be subject to discernible quantitative or qualitative requirements ;
claims the FTC quoted as inappropriate did not "accurately or fully reflect the express and/or implied messages of ... advertisements" ;
with regard to the weight loss product for children (PediaLean) that the phrase "causes substantial weight loss in overweight or obese children" is "is inherently vague, subjective, and susceptible to numerous different interpretations.

In addition they held that the:

regulatory standards they were being asked to respond to were "unconstitutionally vague" ;
regulatory standards do not provide "fair notice" as to whether claims are acceptable or not because the FTC enforces them ad hoc ;
FTC abuses the First Amendment of Freedom of Speech by seeking to "restrict, restrain and/or prohibit protected commercial speech through the use of ad hoc and non-defined terms and advertising substantiation lacking any measurable degree of definiteness" and because their "actions are premised at least in part upon alleged representations made "by implication" that the Commission has labeled false or misleading without relying on extrinsic evidence" ;
Klein-Becker advertisements in question contain "claims and/or representations that are vague, generalized, subjective, highly suggestive, and/or exaggerated statements, and/or statements that ordinary consumers do not take literally, rely upon, and/or statements that cannot be substantiated objectively [and which were] not likely to mislead a reasonable consumer."

In late February 2006 FTC, Klein Becker, linked companies and individuals put forward a joint motion with FTC complainants to withdraw all matters from adjudication. It was ordered that the particulars of the agreement not be released to the public at this stage (PDF — 0.3 mb).

Good problems do not have readily known solutions.

Philosophies of science are more important than products. The quick-fix, the product that claims to be the be-all-and-end-all of aesthetic complaints, almost irrespective of the way its implemented and researched, is indeed too good to be true.

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Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary


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	Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary "Miracle" ingredients in skincare products are an ongoing source of excitement and disappointment to consumers. Those found in Strivectin's various closely related stretch mark, hand and wrinkle treatment formulae will confirm to this norm. Australian and American products have typically been sold on the merits of a single ingredient or "active." Examples over the last twenty years have included blitzes of brands or cosmetic lines based on collagen, elastin, alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin C. But as with diet, there is no single ingredient which can address all the needs of any organ, including the skin. There is also no escaping the skin's structure, nor the way it functions, when searching for potential treatments. Skin altered from its prior appearance due to stretch marks requires revision of all its layers before it can appear like it did before their formation. In order to permanently eliminate the condition, the scarred dermis or "true skin," which produces the appearance and feel of stretch marks at the skin's surface, must be remodeled. While the dermis may be penetrated and influenced by some ingredients, the entire skin structure must be vaporised by laser before it can reached and renewed. The process requires anesthetic, is painful and requires weeks of convalescence. It results in an even scar, which heals to form a new skin from the ground up, with fewer undulations and colour irregularities. Retinoids (a group of compounds having effects in the body like those of vitamin A), vitamin C and sunscreens must be used both before and after to maximize the efficiency and safety of the surgery while reducing the likelihood of side effects such as hyperpigmentation (also see post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). Despite the radical nature of this form of laser, it is only recommended for new stretch marks — stretch marks older than even two months respond markedly less well. Although a variety of products marketed as stretch mark treatments are effective in reducing the likelihood of striae development during periods of weight gain or loss (for example puberty, pregnancy, dieting and exercise), there is no viable solution to older stretch marks. As a top patient and client concern for decades, a treatment which addresses stretch marks will have all the hallmarks of real research, and implications for treatment of many other forms of skin damage. Despite the current impossibility of a generally effective stretch mark treatment, Strivectin SD has become the biggest selling cosmetic product in US department stores, claiming effectiveness on old stretch marks. Although the claims aren't legal and there are substantial penalties associated with making them, taking action against misleading cosmetics (no matter how blatant) is a low priority for government bodies. In Australia breaches for misleading advertising theoretically carry fines of up to $200,000 and injunctions can be made against the sale of offending products. Government and private parties (consumers or other companies) can theoretically instigate such proceedings. The Australian Trade Practices Act (1974) and Cosmetics Claims Guidelines (1997) make a number of routinely breached proscriptions. When the equivalent US Federal Trade Commission attempted to hold Strivectin's makers to task over a variety of their products in mid-2004, their lawyers made some absurd rebuttals, including that: the word "caused" appearing in their advertising is "inherently vague, subjective, and susceptible to multiple meanings" ; objective tests for misleading advertising are also "inherently vague" and therefore cannot be subject to discernible quantitative or qualitative requirements ; claims the FTC quoted as inappropriate did not "accurately or fully reflect the express and/or implied messages of ... advertisements" ; with regard to the weight loss product for children (PediaLean) that the phrase "causes substantial weight loss in overweight or obese children" is "is inherently vague, subjective, and susceptible to numerous different interpretations. In addition they held that the: regulatory standards they were being asked to respond to were "unconstitutionally vague" ; regulatory standards do not provide "fair notice" as to whether claims are acceptable or not because the FTC enforces them ad hoc ; FTC abuses the First Amendment of Freedom of Speech by seeking to "restrict, restrain and/or prohibit protected commercial speech through the use of ad hoc and non-defined terms and advertising substantiation lacking any measurable degree of definiteness" and because their "actions are premised at least in part upon alleged representations made "by implication" that the Commission has labeled false or misleading without relying on extrinsic evidence" ; Klein-Becker advertisements in question contain "claims and/or representations that are vague, generalized, subjective, highly suggestive, and/or exaggerated statements, and/or statements that ordinary consumers do not take literally, rely upon, and/or statements that cannot be substantiated objectively [and which were] not likely to mislead a reasonable consumer." In late February 2006 FTC, Klein Becker, linked companies and individuals put forward a joint motion with FTC complainants to withdraw all matters from adjudication. It was ordered that the particulars of the agreement not be released to the public at this stage (PDF — 0.3 mb). Good problems do not have readily known solutions. Philosophies of science are more important than products. The quick-fix, the product that claims to be the be-all-and-end-all of aesthetic complaints, almost irrespective of the way its implemented and researched, is indeed too good to be true. Related Skin Care Information, Products and Expert Discussions FTC Charges Strivectin's Basic Research with False and Unsubstantiated Claims for Weight-Loss and Fat-Loss Gels Anti-Aging from a Young Age Antioxidants Can Be Harmful Ascorbic Acid vs. Ascorbyl Palmitate (2008) Jan Marini Transformation - Treating Aging, Sensitivity and Damage Strivectin : Alyria Intense Wrinkle Correction/Strivectin SD Comparison : Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary : StriVectin Facial Anti-Oxidant : Strivectin Featured on ABC's Media Watch : The Strivectin User Irony : Schlock Skincare: The Strivectin Consumer Report Test : Strivectin — US FDA Takes Action Against Illegal Claims : Tentative List of Companies and Brands linked to Strivectin-SD (Basic Research) : Friedlander USPS Mail Fraud Case — 1985 : Doctor's Quoted in Strivectin SD Materials are not Medical Doctors : Strivectin SD Purportedly Effective on "Old Stretch Marks" : Claims of Strivectin's Superiority : Comparative Medical Evaluation of Botox and Strivectin among Others : Link Between Strivectin Formula and Pentapeptide Studies Unclear : Use of Strivectin alongside Prescription Topicals : Method of Applying Strivectin : Time to Results using Strivectin : 30-Day Money Back Guarantee : Strivectin Catch Claim Disclaimer : Australian Trade Practices Act (1974) and Cosmetics Claims Guidelines (1997) : PDF's Pertaining to Legal Action Taken Against Basic Research, L.L.C. : Strivectin US Sales Information : Strivectin SD Ingredients : Klein-Becker and Edephra Supplements — US FDA Warning : Letter to Dennis Gay, CEO Basic Research regarding "Designer Steroids" such as Pedialean : FTC Charges Strivectin's Basic Research with False and Unsubstantiated Claims for Weight-Loss and Fat-Loss Gels : New Yorker Article: Zantrex, Basic Research, Pedialean, Strivectin et al. : Cosmeceuticals : File Strivectin — Stretch Mark Topic Main Summary for reference.	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