Appearing often during pregnancy stretch marks can affect 50-90% of women. They also can affect non-pregnant women (even men) such as body builders, athletes, adolescents undergoing quick growth spurts, in fact anyone who experiences periods of rapid growth or weight gain.

The majority of stretch marks appear on a woman's stomach from about 6 months onward when her belly is rapidly growing to accommodate her growing baby and her skin is stretched to its limit. A number of women also get them on their buttocks, thighs, hips, upper arms, lower back or breasts. Stretch marks tend to be appear in areas that store the most fat and thus have the most capacity to stretch.

Many factors influence whether you will get stretch marks or not. Genetics play a major influence whether or not you get stretch marks. If your mother or sister got them during pregnancy, you are more likely to get them. Besides genetics, other factors include: ethnicity/skin tone (fair-skinned women tend to get them more), nutritional history (a healthy diet helps skin to stretch better), skin condition (dry skin can be less elastic than well nourished skin) and the amount of weight gained during pregnancy (and how rapidly its gained).

Helping with the Problem of Stretch Marks

Preventative procedures will help reduce the degree of pregnancy stretch marks you experience after birth. Weight gain is inevetibale but try not to gain more than advised and if the process ig gradual you are less likely to get stretch marks. When you gain weight excessively or rapidly you are likely to make the problem worse and have more in the end.

Make sure your skin well-moisturized beginning in the first trimester, this may help to prevent stretch marks. A nourishing lotion, oil or cream applied on a daily and nightly basis will moisturize your skin (and also reduce itching!). Vitamin E, vitamin A, emu oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil and lanolin are all product ingredients which may help with stretch mark prevention. Regular moisturizing definitely helps to keep your skin elastic, however has limited effectiveness in actually preventing the marks.

A healthy diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens is highly recommended. Not only is excellent nutrition important for your baby it also helps keep your skin healthy and strong. Foods high in vitamins C and E, zinc and silica will help skin stretch and then bounce back after the birth. By taking prenatal vitamins and drinking loads of water you are also helping your baby and your skin.

The bad news is stretch marks are permanent and very hardly ever disappear. Fortunately over time stretch marks become less noticeable and fade naturally to a skin tone that is lighter than your own. There are also many products available that will help fade stretch marks, that you may like to try.