Many say that if you are genetically prone to stretch marks, for example, your mom has them and your sister, then yes you may be more than likely at risk. Stretch marks in pregnancy are caused when the skin (especially the abdomen region) grows too rapidly for the fibers in the skin to handle. These fibers tear, leaving bright red or purplish, sometimes dark brown marks in the skin. Other common places pregnant women tend to find these unsightly marks are the buttocks, thighs, hips, breasts, and arms. Keep in mind if you had them in a previous pregnancy you may get them again, although usually just a darkened version of the old ones.

To keep stretch marks in pregnancy to a minimum, watch and only gain the recommended amount of weight the doctor suggests. Also, eating healthy, take vitamins and drink at least 64 ounces of water daily helps keep you and your skin well hydrated, remember healthy skin stretches better. Applying moisturizing creams such as the cocoa and shea butters at least twice a day and more often during cold weather or just after a hot shower can also be helpful in keeping the skin hydrated and thus minimizing the appearance of stretch marks.

Since stretch marks in pregnancy can be a downfall, remember you are not alone and there are many ways you can help minimize or prevent them altogether. Pregnancy should be a special time in a woman’s life, cherish it and take care of yourself to help prevent stretch marks in pregnancy.

Stretch mark removal is close to near impossible unless you have the money or time to put yourself through laser treatments. This type of treatment for stretch mark removal works best during the very early stages of their appearance, normally when they are a dark red or purplish color. Laser treatments are normally done in a series that varies in the amount of sessions, depending on the particular patient. This type of treatment for removal is considered to be the most successful if done early on.

Another choice for stretch mark removal would be plastic surgery. Normally, a tummy tuck is performed, thus eliminating most of the marks on the abdomen. Again, this is a very costly procedure and should be done with caution, Surgery causes scars, and you might just be replacing a few small scars (stretch marks) with one potentially worse scar if you aren’t careful in choosing a well-certified surgeon.

Since stretch marks only fade over time and don’t actually disappear altogether, there are many different types of creams and oils available on the market. Most of which contain Vitamin E and collagen-elastin hydeolysates, as well as cocoa and shea butters, and almond and wheat germ oils. None of which can remove them altogether but do promise to help with their texture and appearance.

Since stretch marks are a common concern for millions of mothers, since their removal is important too, it is necessary to keep your skin hydrated especially during times such as pregnancy, and to drink plenty of fluids and only gain the recommend amount of weight set by your doctor. If you do develop stretch marks and you feel that you would like to seek treatment for stretch mark removal, doing so during the earlier stages of the marks development is key to removal in such treatments like laser removal.

The more technically term for stretch marks is called striae, it is a form of scarring on the skin that first appears red or purplish and sometimes dark brown depending on the severity. They are caused by the tearing of the layer of skin called the dermis. The tearing occurs because of the rapid growth in the body, although the skin is fairly elastic, the stretching of the skin can leave somewhat perminent marks.

If you are genetically prone to stretch marks, you most likely will get them during times of rapid weight gain or loss. For example, your mother has them and your sister, and then yes you will probably get them too. These times of rapid weight gain or loss is considered to be during pregnancy and even many adolescents notice them during puberty. Men can also be candidates for stretch marks during times of heavy weight gain or loss and especially if they use drugs such as steroids.

It is said to be possible to prevent these stretch marks from ever existing or at least limit their existence or severity but using these creams and/or oils on a constant daily basis, at least twice a day and more in colder weather or after a hot shower or bath especially. The most common creams contain cocoa butter and shea butters, also popular vitamin E or sweet almond oil.

So really the common stretch mark causes are in times of rapid weight gain or loss, during pregnancy and puberty and with drug use such as steroids. These factors cause the elastin and collagen fibers in the skin to stretch too much in one direction and thus creating a tear resulting in the actual stretch mark itself. To help prevent these unsightly marks from appearing or to reduce their appearance it is recommended to use moister rich creams and oils containing cocoa and shea butters and oils such as vitamin E and almond oil.

Stretch marks or striae are caused by excessive stretching of the skin. This commonly occurs during and after pregnancy, with rapid weight gain or loss, and with growth during puberty. Close to half of all expectant moms and many teenagers will acquire stretch marks. The severity of stretch marks varies widely. Depending on your skin color, the marks may start out pink or purplish or may appear as dark brown streaks. The reddish-brown pigmentation in the marks usually fades over time and they begin to look more silvery or white.

Stretch marks are often dreaded and people with them are always in search of a method to permanently get rid of them. A few different stretch mark treatments include laser treatments and even plastic surgery. Laser surgery for stretch mark treatment and removal is comparatively recent and known to be effective against the marks that are in the early stages of development (still dark brown-reddish in color). For now, laser treatments might work best on those new dark colored stretch marks but with the ever changing and improvement in technology there may be help for mature stretch marks in the near future. In some cases plastic surgery is also a solution and is seen as an option in stretch mark treatment. This is usually achieved by performing a tummy tuck, which removes the skin below the navel where stretch marks tend to mainly occur. It is important to keep in mind when choosing plastic surgery as a method of treatment as with any surgery, it can create scarring and you might just be replacing a stretch mark with a surgical scar that has the potential to be much worse if you aren’t careful in choosing a well certified surgeon.

Other such stretch mark treatments include; topical ointments such as wheat germ oil, olive oil, vitamin E, cocoa butter and shea butter. Sunless tanner is also a popular choice in reducing their appearance.

There are plenty of stretch mark treatments available, speak with your OB/GYN, Dermatologist or plastic surgeon to find the proper treatment for you.

Many scientists argue that if you are genetically prone to stretch marks there’s not much you can do to prevent them. But, there are more than thousands of preventive products out on the market claiming to help prevent them all together.  They say that prevention is always better than a cure and following these precautionary measures are ways to emerge out of the delivery room or after a strict weight loss regimen with very little or no stretch marks.

* An excellent diet rich in vitamins can help in preventing them during and after pregnancy and weight loss. A balanced diet helps you with nutrition and contributes to the strength and health of the skin.

* Staying hydrated and drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily can help reduce the risks.

* Gently applying and massaging the parts of the body most likely prone to stretch marks with a body brush and cream, helps improve circulation to that particular area of the skin such as the hips, inner and outer thighs, buttocks, breasts, inner and outer upper arms and stomach area.

* Avoid allowing your skin to dry out. Cold weather and hot showers or baths will dry out your skin. Hydrate your skin using a moisturizer or make your own stretch mark cream out of cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin E cream. Some say wheat germ oil also may be helpful. Visit your OB/GYN or Dermatologist for suggestions. Remember to apply moisturizer two to three times as often as you normally would especially during cold weather.

Remember that it is important to take care of one self, especially before, during, and after pregnancy. Following the above guidelines can be the first step to limiting or preventing the ever so dreaded and embarrassing marks. And if it is true that you can only minimize the appearance of them with constant and regular use of creams and other applications then it might just be worth it to incorporate the routine into our daily lives.