The skin is known as the largest organ in the body. Because it functions as a barrier to protect the body from harmful elements, it can be very prone to stress. These stresses can be seen as discolorations and blemishes on the skin. At times, even one's health choices can affect the condition of the skin, causing problems that become apparent over time. And one such skin problem that many people share are the dreaded stretch marks.

What are the causes of stretch marks? One of the properties of skin is its elasticity, which can be affected as one ages. Following pregnancy or weight loss, when the skin is stretched to the limit, it does not immediately resume its normal firmness. This leads to pinkish or reddish stretch marks, or striae, across the skin. In some cases, stretch marks have a whitish streak across. These forms of scarring on the skin's surface are caused by hormonal changes, which in turn affect the way the skin produces proteins to maintain its firmness.

Stretch marks are said to be normal amongst pregnant women, as majority of cases have shown. Pregnant women are more prone to this skin problem because of their weight gain throughout their term. The occurrence of stretch marks is also associated with the changing hormonal levels in an expectant woman's body. These types of scarring can be most seen across the abdominal area, on the buttocks, thighs, and the arms.

Men are also prone to having stretch marks, especially after dieting or losing a lot of weight. Other sources explain that certain types of food, such as those rich in caffeine, heighten the skin's susceptibility to having stretch marks. Needless to say, this skin problem has become very common. Fortunately enough, there are now many methods available to help deal with these skin issues.

If you would consult a dermatologist about your stretch marks, some of the treatments that you can get involve dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and even laser skin resurfacing. With dermabrasion and chemical peeling, the topmost layer of the skin is removed, encouraging skin cells to produce more of the protein collagen, which makes it firm. A more novel method is laser skin resurfacing, which stimulates skin cells beneath the epidermis to produce more of the needed protein. These methods have also been used in correcting other skin problems such as wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes.

However, if you are not fancy about going to a clinic for treatment of stretch marks, there are things that you can do at home. It is a good thing there are now many lotions and creams available that contain active ingredients to increase the firmness of the skin. Some of these ingredients are elastin, collagen, and even tretinoin, a form of Vitamin A.

It is also important to have better choices when it comes to health, as these can greatly favor the good condition of your skin. Examples of these good habits include eating well, drinking lots of water, and having adequate exercise.