Stretch marks start off as raised purplish or reddish streaks and scars usually on the hips, tummy, breast and arms (although they can also appear on any part of the body where fat is stored). Over time they flatten out and fade to a silver color but are still visible and many people consider them unsightly.

Some medication (where a side effect is a thinning of the skin) can cause stretch marks. Stretch marks can also be a symptom of Cushings syndrome. This is a rare condition (your chances of developing it are about 1 in 200,000) where you produce excessive amounts of the hormone cortisol.

Skin is made up of three layers – the middle layer (dermis) firms the skin and helps it keep its shape. When skin is stretched, it becomes thinner and the blood vessels under the surface show through (this is why stretch marks appear red or purple at first). As the blood vessels contract, the stretch marks fade to a silvery color.

Stretch Mark Removal the most common culprit.

Although stretch marks are most commonly associated with weight gain, lots of people who start dieting to lose weight don’t realize that this can also result in stretch marks appearing. The common sense approach to this is that if you lose weight slowly you can lessen your chances of this happening.

There are an ever-increasing number of remedies and cures offered for stretch marks. These range from surgery through to numerous "home-cures" advertised on the internet. Sadly, however, although some remedies may improve the appearance of stretch marks, getting rid of them completely is another matter.

Removing Stretch Marks lotions and creams.

Rather than spend a great deal of money on so-called "miracle cures" for stretch marks, why not try a few common sense tips first to see if it helps. Massage moisturizer into your skin every day and try to keep your skin soft and supple – this logical approach can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Diet and lifestyle can play an important role in reducing the appearance of stretch marks – if you drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy and hydrated skin, it remains more supple and softer and you are less likely to develop stretch marks. A diet including plenty of foods high in zinc, vitamins A, C and D and protein can also help keep your skin more supple.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom – no matter what you think not everyone gets stretch marks!! There’s still a lot of medical speculation about this but the theory is that the hormone corticosteroid plays a part by reducing the amount of collagen produced by the body.

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