Stretch marks or are a scarring on the skin. The color of the scarring can vary but usually has a silvery white hue. Stretch Marks ,also known as striae, are lines that appear on your body - usually purple or red in color when they first appear, and which gradually turn to a more silvery-white color over time. The cause for stretch marks are generally caused by tearing of the dermis (which is the middle layer of the skin), and over a period of time can diminish especially with the use of ointments and cream that hydrate the dermis or skin.

Pregnancy and obesity are some of the biggest cause of Stretch marks to appear in the skin. With Pregnancy stretch marks are usually found near the stomach and the breasts. In other words, stretch marks are caused by the skin stretching very rapidly in and around times where the body experiences fast growth like in adolescent puberty or weight gain for pregnancy. The skin is elastic in nature, so a fast stretching of the skin will leave stretch marks without proper dermal hydration.

Medical Journals reports during pregnancy, around 75 and 90% of women will see some stretch marks to a degree . The sustained hormonal levels as a result of pregnancy usually means stretch marks may appear during the sixth or seventh month.

It is generally accepted that using oils or creams in high-risk areas (e.g. breasts, hips, abdomen, thighs) will help prepare the skin for stretching by giving the skin more hydration and elasticity. One controlled medical study done by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science has found oils and creams prevent the forming of stretch marks. The medical study found a daily use of Gotu Kola extract, collagen hydrolysates and Vitamin E, can greatly reduce the chance of stretch marks forming during pregnancy.

Other advice on diminishing Stretch Marks is to first keep your skin nourished and healthy. Healthy skin can heal more rapidly from the effect of Pregnancy and will experience less damage. The foundation of healthy skin is to first drink plenty of water. A baseline of drinking 2 liters water a day will help keep you skin healthy and some in the medical field suggest at least 3 liters a day. Also changing your diet will help tremendously. Usually people who are on a vegan or raw foods diet will have the best skin. If removing all meat from your diet is too radical then a simple rule of thumb when eating is to always eta 70% water foods to 30% cooked food. Simply put always have a large salad with whatever meal you are eating.

Another treatment to add to your regimen is to keep your skin moisturized and to use a good lotion that contains organic Vitamin E, Collagens and even cocoa butter can help. Also use a sunscreen daily to help with your overall skin's health and well being.

There are some surgical treatments as well. Usually they cost a lot of money and are potentially painful experience which could cause a lot more damage to the skin. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists are advertising everything from laser treatments to chemical peels to "get rid of stretch marks" - but those procedures can leave your body worse for the wear if you don't react well or follow exact aftercare procedures, and is it really worth all that money (and it's a LOT, remember - insurance doesn't cover for unnecessary, cosmetic procedures) and stress and potential damage just for a few natural, unharmful lines?