Under normal circumstances, skin can be considered as one of the most elastic organs of the body. You can turn your head, flex your muscles, or do a split; yet you never have to worry about your skin tearing up or never getting back to its original shape. But believe it or not, there are instances where the skin can be overstretched; there are actually two factors that can really affect your skin's elasticity, namely: pregnancy and rapid weight gain.

If you are having a baby or experiencing tremendous physical growth, there is a big tendency for your skin to develop fine lines which are commonly called stretch marks. These are actually scars which indicate that certain skin tissues have been torn apart due to abrupt growth or stretching of the skin. Being over-weight or pregnant extends your skin so much so that your dermal tissues have to produce too much of the fibrous protein called collagen. In essence, your stretch marks are the result of a disintegration of skin tissues in the affected areas.

Stretch marks usually appear in areas like thighs, arms, shoulders, stomach area, buttocks and breasts. They appear as lines with a pinkish, brownish, or purplish color when they are new; and in time, they can lose most of their pigmentation and appear as white or silvery streaks. It is important to note that stretch marks do not pose any harmful effects to your health; your main concern with these scars is your self-esteem and sense of beauty.

Generally speaking, stretch marks can be prevented; but it takes a big amount of dedication to do that. Massaging the areas which you think are prone to the development of stretch marks can greatly improve the blood circulation in those places; increased blood circulation on your skin gets rid of toxins and other bad elements that reduce your skin's elasticity. Eating foods that are considered as allies of your skin can also help in stopping the appearance of stretch marks; these include food items that are abundant in zinc, vitamin E, and silica among others.

However, if stretch marks did develop on your skin, then you must follow a more comprehensive plan to fight off the unsightly scars. Currently there are two important elements which can help you in defeating stretch marks. If you want to know what these are, read on and pay attention.

Moisturizers And Creams

Sure, you have heard all about the countless moisturizers and creams out there. But before you think that the cosmetic industry is out to pull a fast one on you, first consider the facts. Contrary to popular belief, most skin moisturizers and creams sold in the market contain essential substances that can help rejuvenate and improve your skin.

Take the case of beneficial Vitamin A. You can find this substance in carrots, but if you do not want to eat carrots by the basket and make a rabbit of yourself, you can use moisturizers and creams with the highly-concentrated and acid form of Vitamin A which is called tretinoin. This substance binds itself deep into the skin cells and allows the skin to exfoliate and create new and healthier layers. Tretinoin is found on most moisturizers and creams and is best used if the stretch marks on your skin are just starting to develop.

Fruit Acids

Not all acids can be harmful to your skin. Acids that have been extracted or developed from fruits, aptly called alpha hydroxyl acids, can help eliminate stretch marks in two ways. First, fruit acids help your skin become more flexible. And second, fruit acids give your skin the chance to rapidly produce new cells and layers by acting as astringent against old scarred layers of skin. Using fruit-based acids, you will observe that your old unhealthy skin, including stretch marks, will be shed off in a few weeks.

Apart from ordinary fruit acids, moisturizers or creams, you can also try products like Strevaxl which are specifically designed to fight off stretch marks. For more details about eliminating unsightly stretch marks, visit