What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks, or striae, occur if you gain more than average weight during your pregnancy or if you have a family history of stretch marks. Ethnicity makes a difference: African-American women are less likely to get stretch marks. For 50-90% of women, pregnancy and stretch marks go hand in hand. Pregnancy stretch marks are also the most common form of stretch marks. Even though they are so common, many women are bothered by them. Luckily there are a number of ways for you to permanently get rid of your stretch marks after pregnancy, including through plastic surgery. Read more about plastic surgery at FemPlace.com.

Prevention
Stretch mark prevention will save you the trouble of getting rid of stretch marks once they've occurred. Stretch marks occur because the collagen and elastin that bind your skin are stressed during weight gain, resulting in tears in your skin's elastic fibers. Typically, on light-skinned women, stretch marks will appear red or pinkish. Darker-skinned women will notice that their stretch marks are lighter than the surrounding skin. They may appear on your abdomen, buttocks, breasts or thighs.

You can help prevent stretch marks by keeping your skin supple, soft and smooth. This can be accomplished with the aid of creams and lotions. The best cream, of course, is one that's specialized for stretch marks, as it will help the elasticity of your skin.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
Are you self-conscious about stretch marks? Did you experience loss of weight and stretch marks? Interested in how to remove stretch marks? Do some models have stretch marks? You bet. You probably won't see them in magazines due to the aid of software that 'erases' such details in photos. Unfortunately, every-day life precludes your use of this software, but don't despair - there are many methods that get rid of stretch marks.

There is no one magical cure for stretch marks. The best way to remove stretch marks may be a combination of treatments. Some creams require a stricter method of application, so shop around before you commit your money.

Permanent Stretch Mark Removal
While this type of treatment may not be for everyone, women who are looking for a quick and efficient way to clear up unsightly stretch marks may want to consider laser treatments. Cosmetic laser treatments, such as Coolbeam and blue light therapy, are an effective way of permanently getting rid of stretch marks. Both types of treatment require little to no recovery period and can be done on an out-patient basis.

At Home Treatment for Stretch Marks

Stretch Mark Creams. Red and white stretch marks got you blue? Many women use specially formulated stretch mark creams made with cocoa butter, vitamin E and lanolin to help them get rid of stretch marks. Cocoa butter is a thick and natural moisturizer. Many cocoa butter creams come with a combination of ingredients that get rid of stretch marks. In combination with vitamin E and collagen and elastin, a cocoa butter cream will work wonders.

Covering Stretch Marks. If you need to cover stretch marks because they haven't begun to fade, there are several companies that make stretch mark cover-up. These make-ups come in colors for all skin types. Look for make-up that is moisturizing to help work at fading stretch marks while covering them up.

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