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Relentless and excessive stretching of skin due either to weight gain during the pregnancy or hormonal changes, around puberty, play their crucial roles in causing stretch marks over different parts of body, such as lower abdomen(near the belly-button), breasts, upper arms, underarms, inner and outer thighs, hips and buttocks. Though the stretch marks generally fade away with the passage of time, they do not disappear, forcing the victims to get themselves rid of their unwanted stretch marks from their body howsoever. It is not only the pregnancy or puberty which causes stretch marks, but obesity as well that causes stretch marks among the men and women in a similar way. Lethargy also contributes to a great extent in developing the  stretch marks arbitrarily, which is needed to be prevented through exercises.

Known as striae as well the stretch marks cause skin scars by tearing off the dermis. The stretch marks, though, fade to a great extent with the passage of time, they do not disappear completely from the affected skin. The stretch marks can be recognized by their reddish or purple lines, fading automatically to a lighter color. What is remarkable property of such stretch marks is theirs softness which can be experienced on being touched. According to research the stretch marks mostly affect the pregnant women during their sixth or seventh month of pregnancy period. During third trimester, a force exerted from within their abdomen, causes abdomen skin to get stretched excessively, developing in this way stretch marks over their abdomen.

Stretch Marks, affecting the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and breasts are common problem occurring among 80 to 90 percent of pregnant women. As the stretch marks appear due to excessive and arbitrary stretching of the skin, weight gain and muscle growth also contribute a lot to such problem. Teenagers, passing through transitional stage or puberty also suffer from stretch marks.

Skin’s getting over stretched for producing collagen in haste is found to cause stretch marks over the skin. It also can be described as sudden collapse of collagen supply, due to skin’s getting over stretched beyond its natural capacity, causing stretch marks. In other words, the capillaries beneath the skin, get dilated following collagen’s breakdown thus causing stretch marks over the skin.

Another cause of stretch marks is glucocorticoid hormones which prevents the fibroblasts from producing protein(collagen) and elastic fibers, thus allowing the stretch marks to surface over the skin. People with balanced hormones and favorable genetic influence can never be susceptible to stretch marks as their skin withstands excessive and arbitrary stretching of skin efficiently. 

Medical Terms- Though a common person recognizes the filthy marks caused by rapid stretching of skin as stretch marks, in medical term it is described by different names such as striae atrophicae, vergetures, stria distensae, striae cutis distensae, striae gravidarum (occurring in pregnant women), lineae atrophicae, striae distensae and linea albicante.

How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks

Apart from having good supplement, containing Vitamin enriched foods, undergoing massage and medical treatments such as laser treatment, dermabrasion treatment and prescription retinoids are some of the effective ways to get rid of stretch marks. However, follow the tips being mentioned over here in order to get yourself rid of unwanted stretch marks.

• Regular application of a topical cream, Trofolastin, containing Centella Asiatic a extract, vitamin E and collagen-elastic hydrolysates over the affected skin prevents the stretch marks on pregnant women to a great extent. Massage your skin with cocoa butter.
• Application of a cream, popularly known as Verum, containing vitamin E, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, elastic and menthol also prevents the stretch marks from appearing on skin. Keep your body and skin hydrated.
• Regular application of cocoa butter on the skin provides the skin with profuse moister thus preventing the skin from getting affected of stretch marks. 
• Omega 3 fish oil provides the skin sufficient elasticity and softness which prevents the stretch marks from surfacing over the skin. In order to deal with unwanted stretch marks you should consume nutritious foods, containing carbohydrates, fats and iron as well.
• Maintain the moisture of your body by drinking as much water as you can. Having not less than three to four liters of water maintains the metabolic function, reducing in this way the  stretch marks.
• Consume protein enriched foods apart from eating the fresh vegetables, fruits and grains. Have sufficient intakes of foods containing Vitamin A, E and C. Such foods provides sufficient collagen to the body enhancing skin’s immunity to  stretch marks.
• Do the Yoga and physical exercises regularly in order to keep your weight under check and burn excessive calorie.
• Consume Vitamin A and E enriched foods and apply the topical creams, containing the same ingredients not only to prevent stretch marks but to get yourself rid of them completely.
• Keep the skin renovated by ensuring good blood circulation through ex foliating or massage. By maintaining the blood circulation you can maintain the elasticity of your skin and thus keep it immune to stretch marks as well. So maintaining the elasticity of your skin in order to keep the stretch marks problem at bey is must on your part to perform by exfoliating your skin regularly.
• Use the creams and lotions, apart from applying on your skin cocoa butter, rose hip oil, emu oil, Jojoba oil, Castor oil, Shea butter and Vitamin A, E & C. 
• Apply Vitamin E gel over the stretch marks two to three times a week.
• Vic’s vapor rub on skin also can help you get rid of your stretch marks.
• Take hot baths.

Medical Treatment Helping You Get Rid of Stretch Marks-

• Radio frequency, after being combined with 585-nm pulsed dye laser, removes the stretch marks efficiently. Though such treatment yields positive result in approximately all the cases, its repeated application on skin has been found to turn the skin dark in particular cases. So a person opting to go for stretch mark treatment should consult a dermatologist before moving ahead for undergoing such treatment.
• Tummy tuck is another treatment which an individual can go for, in order to get rid of stretch marks effectively. Under this treatment stretch marks, appearing below the navel skin, are removed by a surgical method.
• Stretch marks, appearing due to striae, among the pregnant women, are treated by fractional laser resurfacing treatment. Scattered pulses of laser light removes the stretch marks, leaving behind some wounds, which get healed up automatically, rendering the same skin smooth and stretch mark free.
• Microdermabrasion is another medical treatment, removing the upper layer by chemical or mechanical means.
• Endermologie also is an effective treatment to be administered under an expert dermatologist, massaging the skin affected from stretch marks. It increases the blood circulation and removes the toxins from beneath the skin, rendering in this way the skin stretch mark free.