Stretch marks are scars that form underneath the surface of the skin that look like thin lines that run parallel along each other. Fresh marks would usually be colored red or violet and as time passes, these will eventually turn a shade of brown that is different from your normal skin tone.

These annoying scars form when the skin is stretched beyond its normal capability which causes the underlying layer to break. When this happens, blood vessels in this layer are torn thus releasing blood which gives the red-violet appearance on the surface of the skin. These wounds will eventually heal but a scar will be left behind and this is what we commonly call as stretch marks.

These wounds will leave scars because the tearing of the skin in the dermal layer is not uniform and clean. Surgical incision will generally not leave a scar since these wounds are cleanly cut thus making it easier for the skin to attach them again without scarring. Stretch marks on the other hand, have irregular edges which make it harder to re-attach without forming scars.

Upon seeing the formation of these marks, some people will try to prevent scars from forming by massaging the areas of the skin that was affected. A lot of people believe that this will help in breaking down scar tissue so that it will not form visible scars upon healing.

Aside form massaging the affected areas, some people will use creams such as cocoa butter to help moisturize the skin and lighten the appearance of the marks. The use of scar removal creams may also help in lightening the appearance of scars.

Other supplemental treatment options that you can try are application of Vitamin A, C and E on the affected area. These vitamins are important for the skin to regenerate and in fixing wounds. By supplementing your skin with these vitamins, these may help stimulate better healing and lessen the chances that scars will form. In addition to topical application, you may also take in these vitamins orally to have an added effect.

Still, other more expensive procedures that you can try are laser treatments and microdermabrasion. These are more expensive ways to go about removing scars and stretch marks but they can completely eliminate any blemishes that are visible on the skin.

Stretch marks are really annoying as they are very visible scars especially if they form on areas that cannot be easily covered by clothes. There are some things that you can do to lighten their appearance and make them less visible. But if you really want to get rid of them, you may have to resort to the more expensive methods such as microdermabrasion and laser treatments.

Learn more about remove stretch marks. Visit Jen Hopkins's site, www.SecretsToGetRidOfStretchmarks.com, where you can find out all about stretch mark reduction and other valuable information about the topic.