Stretch marks are scars that form due to overstretching of the skin. Like the dermis, the epidermis also overstretches, making it thin and translucent. A continuous stretching of the skin can cause collagen to rupture and blood vessels to dilate resulting in red stretch marks and scars.

Pregnancy, weight gain, and growth spurts are common reasons for this excessive stretching of the skin. Stretch marks can also be the response to certain medications such as steroids or hormones. The dermis shows reddish lines as a result of small tears that are formed with the rapid expansion of the skin.

Stretch marks vary in appearance however, many are much like scars as they take on a shiny, depressed, scar like texture and color. Over time it is possible that this appearance can fade. The scar like texture can smooth and the reddish coloring can become lighter.

About 70 percent of adolescent females and almost 40 percent of young males find themselves victim to stretch marks. The most commonly affected areas of the body include the abdominal area, thighs, upper arms, breasts, hips, and lower back.

Stretch Marks Due to Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful time with a number of ugly consequences. Many of these appear on the skin due to changes in the body and altering levels of hormones.

The most commonly experienced consequence is stretch marks. During pregnancy, a woman's hormones are hard at work, and they can be known to disrupt the protein equilibrium of the skin causing it to become thinner. This fact leaves almost 90 percent of pregnant women with stretch marks, most commonly during the third trimester. These marks could be unattractive, but luckily there are options available in stretch mark removal.

Stretch Mark Removal by Surgery

Surgical procedures are a common option in stretch mark removal. Tummy tucks, or more medically known as abdominoplasties remove skin in the area under the belly button. This is where the majority of stretch marks occur during pregnancy. Removal of this area eliminates stretch marks entirely.

No matter where you experience stretch marks the surgery can be done as long as there is an excess of skin. As with any surgery there is also the risk of scarring due to the procedure itself. However, those are usually cut low enough to be covered by swimsuits or clothing. And, with appropriate care they can be gone within the first year after the surgery.

Seek Natural Alternatives

Unfortunately, health insurance does not always cover aesthetic surgeries such as this one. The cost depends on where you get the procedure done. A fair estimate would be between 4000 and 7500 dollars. Therefore, the best thing to do is prevent them from appearing if you can, and this can be done with certain natural products.