Stretch marks are not life threatening, but they can significantly affect your self-esteem. Stretch marks are most common around the abdomen, hips, thighs, and upper arms. They are the natural result of sudden weight fluctuations mostly due to growth spurts and pregnancy.

Stretch marks, or striae, appear because the skin is pushed beyond its elastic limit. The extreme push produces a tear that the body tries to repair by producing scar tissue to compensate for the excessive stretching. The first stages of a stretch mark make it appear reddish-purple but it will eventually turn into a silvery-white color.

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

Stretch Marks Prevention

To help prevent the appearance of stretch marks, you must make sure that your skin is at its best. This means that the skin needs to be flexible enough to adapt easily to changes in body size.

In order to avoid stretch marks, it is helpful to use a high quality skin cream that contains elastin and collagen stimulators. These stimulators will encourage the production of elastin and collagen while preventing the appearance of stretch marks.

Another precaution that should be made is to maintain weight lose and weight gain at a steady rate. This will give your skin a chance to stretch gradually without tearing.

How to get rid of Stretch Marks

Unfortunately, genetics plays a part in the development of stretch marks. Therefore, sometimes it seems almost 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.

Creams that contain snail serum and/or rose hip oil are ideal for treating stretch marks. These types of natural stretch marks creams contain biological activators like those of your body's own regenerative processes. These activators help trigger and control the synthesis of elastin, collagen, and GAGs along with helping replace flawed skin with healthy skin cells.

With daily use these types of creams can 'digest' flawed cells, gently dissolve skin lesions, reduce and even erases all signs of stretch marks. They can 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.