Let's face it: puberty can be a big pain. Pimples, growth spurts and stretch marks can make you more self conscious about yourself. However, the great thing about growing up is that the "in" crowd moves on, your pimples fade and the growth spurts stop, but the one thing that seems attached to you forever are stretch marks.

So, if you don't want to have to deal with this type of problem you should start worrying about stretch mark prevention. Don't forget that by maintaining your skin healthy you will help it survive the wear-and-tear of overstretching.

Stretch marks are produced when there is a disruption in the production of collagen, therefore, it feels safe to say that lotions containing collagen boosters will do the trick. Vitamin A and Vitamin E are two ingredients that you should look for when searching a good stretch mark cream. They both help promote the production of collagen.

So, once you've deciding on a stretch marks cream or a moisturizer, make sure that you've chosen one that contains these ingredients to help prevent the appearance of striae on the skin.

Another source of stretch marks are weight fluctuations. Because of hormonal fluctuations most teenagers begin to gain weight, and sometimes this weight increase is excessive.

To keep this under control, it is important to follow a sensible diet. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way of maintaining a healthy and stable weight. Try to stay away from junk food and fast food as they only contain empty calories and can even exacerbate another teen problem: acne.

You can also help yourself maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly. Exercise can also keep your skin healthy, and your body flexible and strong. In fact, it can even help control your mood swings.

Ways of Treating Stretch Marks Once they Appear

Since stretch marks are linked to genetics, you may not always be able to prevent them. Fortunately, there are natural stretch marks lotions that can help get rid of stretch marks safely and effectively. For teenagers, and anyone with stretch marks, one of the safest products is rose hip seed oil.

Rose hip seed oil is a cold-pressed oil that is extracted from the hips of a rose bush. It is rich in vitamins A and C and essential fatty acids. It is also safe to use on any skin type as it does not cause unwanted reactions.

The mentioned components help promote the production of collagen and new skin cells. Damaged skin cells are eliminated and replaced with new cells. In essence, the stretch marks begin to shrink.

You can also try cover up methods to hide your stretch marks. Body makeup lasts longer than traditional foundation. Spray-on tans are another way of covering up stretch marks, especially during summer.