There are many reasons stretch marks occur and many people can get them, regardless of their age, race, gender, condition, fitness, health, and because of a variety of contributing and varied factors.

Here are some examples.

- Pregnancy
- Puberty
- Medical conditions (Cushings disease and others)
- Growth spurts
- Sports and body-building
- Weightlifting
- Steroids or drug, medical treatment side-effects; and of     course
- Sudden weight gain or loss.

Male and female, young and old, can all suffer from this and no two people will have the same severity, symptoms or treatment. It is therefore essential that whatever your diagnosis, prognosis, stage of development or treatment, that you have a customized solution that is just right for you and your needs and requirements.

Unfortunately there are no quick-fixes or one answer fits all advice to prevent or remove stretch marks. Moisturizing and caring for your skin is very important, general skin conditioning strategies are a great way of protecting and ensuring the overall health and condition of your skin – the largest organ your body has! It is so much than a mere protective layer. The condition of our skin is really a reflection of what’s going on inside of our bodies.

Pregnant women have long believed that tropical cocoa butter is the answer for preventing stretch marks. And as a topical treatment, it has been growing in acceptance and toted as THE topical treatment and therapy to make stretch marks less visible, even disappear.

Most experts are in agreement however, that stretch marks have to be treated and caught early, for the best results from any kind of treatment. The premise and logic here is very simple. It has to do with the fact that you can minimize the impact and damage that can be caused by these skin culprits.

The Two Main Stretch Mark Causes Are:

1)    Pregnancy
2)    Obesity

Appearance:

Stretch marks have the initial appearance of purple or red looking lines. In time Stretch Marks can fade to a white or off white color.

Stretch Marks are a VERY common condition. Just think of all the people who are either pregnant or overweight!

Stretch Marks are not just confined to the female population either – few people realize that they are a common complaint of male body builders.

Three Possible Stretch Mark Solutions

Stretch Mark Treatments vary from out-and-out scams to some very smart and scientific remedies.

Three of the most common are:

1.    DERMABRASION. This is a serious medical procedure that takes place under a general anesthetic. Dermabrasion is definitely not for the faint of heart.

In Dermabrasion the surface of the skin is literally removed by a process of sanding. The aim of dermabrasion is to remove (or at least lessen) the appearance of scars, damage from the sun or dark spots.

The procedure is obviously very painful (hence the general anesthetic) and the healing process can take several months. However, the results can be quite spectacular.

Dermabrasion works best when the scar or mark being treated is above the surface of the skin and is generally much less effective when used to treat sunken scars.

Be Warned: Having a general anesthetic is NOT something to be taken lightly; it carries inherent risks and can be life-threatening. Always seek a second medical opinion (speak to more than one doctor).

2.    MICRODERMABRASION. Often referred to as ‘Microderm’ this is far less invasive procedure that has become very popular throughout the Day Spa and cosmetic industries.

In Microdermabrasion the surface layer of the skin is removed by using a special wand with a roughened surface that lightly sands the skin. The shed skin particles are removed via a suction device attached to the wand.

People like Microdermabrasion because it has a reputation of being a safe, painless procedure that does not require an anesthetic.

3.    SKIN TREATMENT CREAMS. This is one of those areas where you are most likely to encounter ‘wild claims’ and the general ‘rule of thumb’ here is that if something sounds too good to be true – it probably is.

That said, there are literally tens of thousands of people who swear by such things as Vitamin A Cream, Cocoa Butter and a whole raft of different specially formulated cosmetic creams.

One thing you can do is ask the people trying to sell you any Stretch Mark Removal treatment to show you before and after photographs of their last 50 clients.

Also, ask for written testimonials.

Skin care experts also say that the correct diet, nutritional supplements, rest and common sense (avoiding excessive sun exposure) can have a big impact on the skin’s ability to heal and its general appearance.

Surgical and Laser Treatment to erase Stretch Marks :

As most Stretch Marks occur on the abdomen, a tummy tuck is a popular cosmetic surgical procedure that helps get rid of them. The affected area is cut away and then the remaining skin is stretched taut, creating a smoother skin appearance. A similar procedure can be done for other parts of the body as well.

Laser treatment as a way to erase  Stretch Marks has come a long way and many people have benefited from this option. Lasers essentially excise away the affected tissue and the energy from the laser stimulates new collagen, a major building block of the skin. The collagen helps rebuild the fibers in the tissue to help fill in the affected areas. Laser , as a treatment for stretch marks,  is not as expensive as cosmetic surgery . but it can be cost prohibitive for some people. In addition, insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic or laser procedures as a treatment to erase stretch marks.

Natural Treatment for Stretch Marks :

There are creams, lotions and oils that can also be rubbed in the affected areas that are supposed to greatly erase stretch marks. Because each person is different with unique body chemistry and genetic history, one treatment for Stretch Marks may work for some while it may not work for others. Some experimentation may be needed for those lotions and other natural options of treatment for stretch marks.

Cocoa butter or shea butter can soften Stretch Marks as they disappear or fade.creams are rather effect options of treatment for Stretch Marks because they help fade the ugly red color of fresh, new marks. Evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil and even grape seed oil are other natural, popular ways to treat the affected areas.

First of all, if you want to reduce your stretch marks, you may want to consider trying to stimulate the circulation of the skin. Doing so will help the blood to get to the skin, which can help with healing the area as well as reducing the appearance of your stretch marks. Some ways to do this include using a skin brush or a loofah to brush your skin regularly.

Cocoa Butter

Another great tip to use if you want to reduce those stretch marks is to start using cocoa butter. Many people have found that using cocoa butter is a wonderful way to prevent stretch marks; however, it is also a great way to treat them as well. So, smooth on some cocoa butter each night before bed and watch as your stretch marks begin to fade.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is an essential vitamin for your skin and you can actually get Vitamin E oil to use on your skin. After you take your shower, massage the oil onto your skin each day. Many people have had excellent results with this method of stretch mark reduction.

Eat Foods High in Vitamins

Eating foods that are high in vitamins can also help you when you are trying to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks as well. Some of the most important vitamins for your skin include E, A, and C. You can try to eat foods that contain these vitamins or you may want to try taking supplements instead. However, it is important that women that are pregnant never take any more than 25,000 IU of Vitamin A.

Foods or Supplements with Zinc

Zinc is also important to your skin, so adding foods to your diet that are high in zinc or taking zinc supplements can really help. Silica can also be added and is found in brown rice, leafy green vegetables, peppers, whole grains, and soy beans. Both zinc and silica are important for collagen production with is important to skin support.

Essential Fatty Acids

Eating foods that have essential fatty acids in them can also help you out. They help to make up the cell walls and keep the skin healthy and supple. You can find these fatty acids in a variety of different vegetables, in fish oils, as well as vegetable oils.

So, if you want to start seeing improvement in your stretch marks, make sure that you begin to use these tips. No doubt you’ll start to see some changes quickly as you use them from day to day.

The common skin change that most pregnant woman experience is the stretch marks. Stretch marks are separations of the outer layers of skin caused by the overstretching of underlying layers.

Beside pregnant women, stretch marks are found on children who are obese, adolescents who have a sudden growth spurt during puberty and athletes and body builders who do constant exercises. The most commonly affected areas by stretch marks are hips, abdomen, breasts, thighs and buttocks. Stretch marks are itchy reddish marks.

In pregnancy, heredity plays an important role in determining who will have and will not have stretch marks. If your mother has had them, chances are that you will get them too, unless you were born with stretchy skin. There is no sure shot remedy for stretch marks as mostly they fade after delivery. The only way to avoid stretch marks is to prevent them. We recommend the following –

- Massage vitamin E or olive oil on the abdomen areas from the start of your pregnancy. Massage it liberally over the marks after a shower. Incase you skip a shower, clean the area with a wet cloth and then apply the oil.

- Regular exercise helps to tone your muscles and keep your skin firm.

- Maintain healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Plenty of proteins and vitamin C & E foods should be included in your diet. Increase your intake of minerals such as zinc and silica to maintain healthy skin.

- One ounce of sweet almond or jojoba oil with 7-8 drops of lavender and chamomile oils is a good homemade recipe.

- Avoid excessive weight gain in a short time span.

- Cocoa butter reduces stretch marks and helps to keep the skin supple.

- Wear a glove and massage your skin to increase circulation.

- While massaging your body with body oil, add coconut and almond oil. Daily massage with Olive oil, flaxseed oil, cod liver oil or vitamin E oil after shower or before sleeping is an excellent home remedy for either preventing or treating stretch marks.

- To avoid stretch marks around breasts, wear a supportive maternity bra.

- To make stretch mark cream, mix 1/2 cup cocoa butter, 1 tsp wheat germ oil, 1 tsp apricot kernel oil, vitamin E oil and 2 tsp grated beeswax. Heat the mixture until cocoa butter and beeswax melt, stir well and store in air tight conditioner.