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If you reading this and wondering what in the world a stretch mark is then consider yourself one of the lucky few that will never have to deal with this dreaded skin problem. Stretch marks, much as their name says, are marks that appear on your skin when the skin is stretched beyond its normal limits. They can affect anyone, both men and women, but are usually seen on pregnant women.

During this period, stretch marks appear around the breasts, abdomen, and hip area. Because stretch marks are also caused by rapid weight loss, some women may develop them even after having given birth. It is thought that more than half of women get stretch marks during pregnancy.

Let's have a look at what you can do to prevent and treat stretch marks during and after pregnancy. Remember, that the products used for pregnancy stretch marks can also be used on men and teenagers.

How to: Prevent Stretch Marks Your doctor may prescribe creams for stretch marks to help your skin adapt to the stretching that occurs during pregnancy. When used properly they should be able to help your skin stretch without breaking.

While using these creams you should also worry about maintaining a steady weight gain. Keep in mind that even though eating your favorite chocolate cake can be tempting, sudden weight gain will increase your probabilities of developing stretch marks not to mention it may cause health issues that can affect your unborn child.

Keep in mind that a healthy diet can do wonders for controlling your weight gain. You should only increase your caloric intake by 300 calories per day, which is a normal meal.

Stay away from overly processed foods and junk foods. These are high in sodium and contain empty calories which will rapidly increase your weight.

Getting Rid of Stretch Marks

If after pregnancy you've noticed that your body is covered in stretch marks, then surgery may be a valid option for you. Plastic surgery removes excess skin as well as stretch marks. The resulting scar is hidden in the skin's natural folds.

When a person undergoes surgery to remove stretch marks the treatment is usually done on the abdomen and nowhere else. To remove stretch marks found on other areas, you will need another form of treatment. Stretch marks creams are a good option in this case.

If you decide to use a stretch mark cream then you should know that it will take a longer period to show results than if you were to undergo surgery, however if you want a truly effective stretch mark cream you should look for products that contain rose hip oil, snail serum or emu oil. These ingredients are well known for their ability to dissolve damaged and abnormal tissue and boosting the generation of new, healthy cells to take its place.