Stretch marks aren't a life or death matter, but they can wreck havoc on your self-esteem. Stretch marks usually appear around the abdomen, the hips and thighs and the upper arms. They are the result of pregnancy, growth spurts, or fluctuations in weight due to weight gain or weight loss.

Stretch marks, also known as striae, appear because the skin is pushed beyond its elastic limit. When the skin is pushed passed this limit it is literally forced to rip. The body tries to repair the tear by producing scar tissue to compensate the excess stretching. The first stages of a stretch mark make it appear reddish-purple but it will eventually turn into a silvery-white color.

For the most part, this scar tissue can be covered up with clothing. However, suffering from stretch marks may keep many people from wearing sleeveless shirts or bikinis during the summer months.

How Stretch Marks can be Prevented

To help prevent the appearance of stretch marks, you must make sure that your skin is at its best. This means that the skin should maintain its elasticity so that it can stretch to accommodate a change in body size.

Stretch mark prevention is an effective way of avoiding this problem, but to do so you need to use a high quality skin cream that contains elastin and collagen stimulators. These stimulators will help contribute to the production of elastin and collagen which will ultimately help prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

Another precaution that should be made is to maintain weight lose and weight gain at a steady rate. By doing this, your will give you skin the chance to stretch gradually without tearing.

How to get rid of Stretch Marks Naturally

Unluckily for some, genetics plays an important role in the development of stretch marks. In cases like this it feels virtually impossible to avoid getting stretch marks. However, if genetics plays a part in your stretch mark formation then you need to find a real stretch mark cream capable of getting to the root cause of your condition.

Search for creams that contain natural ingredients such as snail serum and/or rose hip oil; they are ideal for treating stretch marks. These types of stretch marks creams use biological activators like those of your body's own regenerative processes to eliminate stretch marks. These activators trigger and control the synthesis of collagen, elastin and GAGs and the replacement of flawed skin with healthy skin cells.

With regular use (two times a day for a period of time depending on age and depth of the blemishes) these types of creams 'digest' flawed cells, gently dissolve skin lesions, reduce and even erases all signs of stretch marks. They also destroy pathogens and trigger the regeneration of normal collagen thereby improving elasticity.

Microdermabrasion is also an option for stretch marks. This isn't a quick-fix so keep that in mind when choosing your stretch marks removal method.