Stretch marks can be caused by any number of factors including dramatic weight gain/loss. Pregnancy is the most common reason why stretch marks appear. These annoying little marks can pop anywhere- you tummy, hips, thighs or breasts.... literally anywhere your skin has been stretched to the point of damage.

New stretch marks will appear reddish or purple in colour and then over time they fade to a silvery colour. The reason for this colour change is that because the damage to the skin the collagen production is disrupted and this can result change in the pigment in this damaged part of the skin. The damage to the skin can easily be felt with your finger tips in the form of little grooves and this can really bring home the seriousness and how permanent this damage to the skin is.

There are 2 main ways to help get rid of your stretch marks, either Surgical or Natural treatments.

Surgical:

Some of the surgical treatments include Laser Treatment, Chemical Peels and Micro-Dermabrasion.

These treatments in the surgical categories can be extremely effective but come with a hefty price tag! Often more than one treatment would be required for a visible improvement and none are guaranteed to provide any drastic results. However for some people it is a miracle cure to get rid of stretch marks. So as long as you have plenty of spare money to give it a go, surgical options may well be worth a try.

Natural Treatments:

The natural treatments on the other hand are by far a cheaper option with many being extremely effective. This is why natural ways to get rid of stretch marks are very popular in today's society.

The main reasons Natural Treatments are more popular than Surgical Treatments is because they are affordable, painless, can be done in the comfort of your own home.

There are also plenty if natural stretch mark which will offer full money back guarantees and if you would like to see some of the best options click here best way to get rid of stretch marks

So once you have found a solution that suits you and you have got rid of your stretch marks you need to think about preventing anymore appearing. Some natural possible ways of preventing stretch marks include:

-Eat a healthy, diverse and balanced diet that keeps your level or if you are pregnant keeps your weight gain within the recommended range of 25 to 35 pounds. Excellent nutritional status is vital for your developing baby, but it also contributes to the strength and health of the body's largest organ: the skin. Also a controlled and steady weight gain, without any wild upward swings, will let your skin stretch at a steady rate without any unexpected jolts.

-Use a body brush or wash cloth to massage the areas where you want to prevent stretch marks from appearing - this will increase circulation to the area, which may be helpful.

-Drink plenty of water. Hydration is important for your overall health and well-being as well as that of your growing baby, and it is critical to healthy skin.

-Take your vitamins. This is one more way to ensure proper nutritional status, which is critical for your overall health and well-being, as well as beautiful skin.

-Keep skin liberally and effectively moisturized beginning in the first or second trimester and through your recovery to your pre-pregnancy weight, perhaps with one of the many oils and creams marketed especially for stretch mark prevention. These moisturizers will help keep your skin supple and elastic plus serve as "food" (and vitamin supplements) for your skin. The various vitamins and oils used to create these formulas are designed to help enhance collagen production and support the dermis, to keep skin intact despite the rigorous stretching.

Pregnancy can also bring with it a great deal of uncertainty, angst and stress as well as a lot of joy of course. Keeping a healthy body and mind is vital and can be achieved even for some of the most anxious mums to be amoungst us. Pregnancy also brings many symptoms which everyone can find stressful at times such as stretch marks. Please don't stress though there are so many cheap and affordable options available to you. For some product ideas to try or some more general information on stretch marks and other pregnancy issues please take a look at