Stretch marks are ugly scars that develops on your skin after it has undergone some rapid change in size. They are long curly lines which can be a little elevated from the true skin. Most times they may appear to be brownish, blackish or even reddish in color. Normally they occur at the fleshy part of your body such as the tummy, thighs, legs and arms. These scarring causes no physical pain but can be very embarrassing for most individuals because of the way they look. It is therefore important that you know what causes stretch marks so that you can know how to prevent it.

How Does Stretch Marks Appear?

The formation of stretch marks can be compared to the properties of an elastic band. Once you stretch it to a limit, it will not return to it's original size. The same goes for the skin! Whenever there is a rapid increase in size (weight gain) or weight loss, the skin elasticity will not be the same. Perfect examples of such cases are women that are pregnant of men who indulge in bodybuilding.

Having stretch marks is not a good thing, it can lead to emotional pain and lower your self esteem. This is not to say there is no hope though! Though they cannot be removed permanently, they can be reduced to a great extent. Below are some tips to help you get rid of your stretch marks!

We have already establish what causes stretch marks so now you need to know how to get rid of them. Below are some options for you to chose from:

* Apply Cocoa Butter - this is not a quick fix but it will reduce the stretch marks to a great extent. You can apply natural cocoa butter or the cocoa butter lotion.

* Olive oil - If you are pregnant, you can use this on your skin before the scarring get worse. That's the good thing about using olive oil, you don't have to wait until after child's birth!

* Massage the Affected area with a warm towel - What this does, is t increase the blodd circulation and reduce the pigmentation that may form. Make sure the towel is not to hot to burn you though.

Aside from the above methods, you can use stretch mark creams to reduce the marks in a shorter period of time. Creams that are made from natural ingredients are highly recommeded. These creams will blend with the true skin, restore and repair damage cells and make your skin glowing and beautiful once more.

Having stretch marks is not a good thing and so if you have them, you should take action quickly to get rid of stretch marks because the longer you wait, the harder they will be to fade.