This is a sad truth that we have to look into if you want your skin to remain radiant and beautiful. If you already have stretch marks, then it's time to take control of your skin.

This article aims to provide the regular reader with an arsenal of easy, feel-good steps to better skin. The aim is to help the skin repair itself and minimize scarring and formation of stretch marks. If the stretch marks are already there, these steps would aid in its gradual removal.

1. Exfoliation is important for the complete reduction of stretch marks. But you don't have to invest in expensive chemical-based creams for this purpose. What you can do is to simply mix almond oil and oatmeal and make yourself your very own exotic exfoliating mixture.

Oatmeal is known for easing away dead skin cells and re-hydrating dried up skin areas. Almond oil is known for its restorative properties, and of course, the oil smells really good on skin. Remember to exfoliate daily- at least twice a day.

2. Salt bath- taking a salt bath (about 4 cups of salt to one large bath tub of hot water) will ease circulation and ease fluid retention. Stretch marks can result from fluid retention or specifically long term fluid retention. This will inscribe a web work of stretch marks on your abdomen.

Taking regular hot salt baths would help make your skin that much stronger and would also stimulate the glands beneath the surface of the skin, including the collagen-rich fibroblast cell groups in the middle layer just before the epidermis.

3. Olive oil- this oil is not just for cooking nice pasta and meats. Olive oil is actually a wonderful moisturizer and appropriate massage oil. Remember that massaging your tummy should also be part of your daily routine.

If you dislike mineral oil and don't like buying expensive massage oils, you can very well use virgin olive oil to massage your abdominal area. Remember to massage in a downward motion and isolate the widest areas in your abdominal region.

4. If you are experiencing sun damage in conjunction with your stretch marks, there is no need to treat one problem and ignore the other. One way to avoid extra fast pigmentation is by putting on sunscreen with SFP of at least 20.

Do not wear anything outside the house without any SFP. Not only is it useless but you would be exposing your already sensitive skin to the sun's damaging rays. Consider your skin a very fragile material, at least until your sensitive skin eases up after pregnancy.

5. If you think your breasts will be in danger of having stretch marks then do something about it immediately. Remember that the breasts which are soft and firm in the beginning, have no real muscles supporting them.

The pectoral muscles are all you have, and this broad strip of muscle should be exercised regularly to strengthen the skin of the breasts as well.