There are certain times in your life where the chances of stretch marks are high and it is not really possible to avoid them because of circumstances, such as pregnancy.

Stretch Marks: a truly unfortunate condition

They are are fine lines of thin stretched tissue that may appear on the body not only during pregnancy but also during other weigh gain conditions. Our skin is naturally very flexible, but during rapid growth, the production of collagen is disrupted (collagen is a protein found in our skin that makes up most of the connective tissue giving it a smooth texture). This leads to reddish lines on your skin with a rough texture that will eventually turn grayish or white before fading.

There are a few medical operations and ranging from surgery to a variety of creams available which claim to help remove pregnant stretch marks from your body. In fact, even if stretch marks will eventually and progressively fade over time, they will never disappear naturally.

As operations are very expensive and most of the creams not very good or dangerous, it is best to help reduce your chances of developing stretch marks in the first place.

Follow a healthy balanced diet

This can be done by insuring that you are drinking a sufficient amount of water daily. It is also important not to drink excessive amounts of caffeine. Remember that caffeine is not only present in coffee, but also in soda, and several other “energy” drinks. Caffeine will help weaken the dermis, the layer of skin which gives it elasticity. Research has also shown that a healthy balanced diet helps reduce the chances of stretch marks.

Make sure that your diet includes protein rich food such as:

• chicken,
• eggs,
• turkey,
• yogurt,
• milk,
• zinc rich foods like fish, etc

Foods rich in vitamins will also help. A proper intake of vegetables, fruits, grain foods and dairy products can also help reduce your chances of developing stretch marks.

Some women are naturally born with dry skin which is less elastic than that of other people. In these instances, it will require less body change in a short period of time to develop stretch marks.