While you are pregnant, if you go too much higher than your initial weight, you can end up with stretch marks, which are really deep scars. Many women have found that ethnicity can actually have a lot to do with susceptibility to getting stretch marks. Believe it or not, women who are African American are less likely to get those stretch marks, even while they are pregnant. However, you'll still find that most women who go through a pregnancy end up with at least a few stretch marks to show for it.

While many things can cause stretch marks, the most common cause is going through pregnancy. While these stretch marks are quite common among women, most of the time women find them ugly and unsightly and they want to do everything they can to get rid of them or at least reduce their appearance.

Prevention for Stretch Marks

Once stretch marks appear, it can be really hard to get rid of them. So, it is much easier to work on preventing stretch marks. Usually you'll find that stretch marks occur because collagen and elastin, which support the skin, get stressed out when the skin is over stretched. These stretch marks can show up in many places on your body, including your thighs, your breasts, your buttocks, your stomach, and your upper arms. Of course there are some preventive tips that are quite simple. Just avoiding too much weight gain during pregnancy can help you avoid stretch marks. Moisturizing and eating a healthy diet can also work for preventing stretch marks too.

Kiss the Stretch Marks Goodbye

If you are a woman who is very self conscious about those stretch marks, no doubt you would love to kiss those stretch marks goodbye. However, it is important to note that you're not the only one dealing with stretch marks. In fact, you'll find that many models and Hollywood movie stars have them as well, even though you never actually see them. There are some things that can help you get rid of your stretch marks too. Just remember, stretch marks cannot be totally cured. There are some methods that will help you reduce the appearance of your stretch marks though. You'll find that a variety of lotions are out there on the market to help you get rid of stretch marks, but before you buy, do some research and look for the best prices and products.

A Few Home Treatments

You don't always have to spend the big bucks for stretch mark treatments. There are simple things you can do at home to treat them. Just using some simple home stretch mark creams can help, especially those with cocoa butter in them. Some great ingredients to look for in these creams include elastin, Vitamin E, collagen, and of course the cocoa butter. If you are still trying to get the stretch marks to fade, then consider other ways to cover them up, such as sunless tanning or body makeup.