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 best part of growing up is that the "in" crowd moves on, your pimples fade, and even the growth spurts stop, but the one thing that will probably haunt you for life are stretch marks.

So, if you want to get through adolescence stretch mark free you'll need to start worrying about stretch mark prevention. Always remember, the more elastic your skin is, the more likely it will stand up to excessive stretching.

Stretch marks are caused by a disruption in the production of collagen. Therefore, it is safe to assume that lotions containing collagen boosters can do the trick. Vitamin A and Vitamin E are two ingredients that help promote the production of collagen.

So, when you decide to go out and purchase a stretch marks cream or a moisturizer, make sure that you find products that contain these ingredients to help prevent the appearance of striae on the skin.

Another source of stretch marks is weight gain. Due to hormonal fluctuations many teenagers begin to gain weight during this time. Sometimes, they can even gain an excessive amount of weight.

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. Also avoid junk foods and fast foods as they only contain empty calories and can even exacerbate another teen problem: acne.

Exercising regularly also helps maintain a healthy weight. 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. Luckily, there are stretch marks lotions that can help get rid of stretch marks. For teenagers, and anyone with stretch marks, one of the safest products is rose hip seed oil.

Rose hip seed oil is extracted from the hips of a rose bush. It is a cold-pressed oil that contains high levels of vitamins A and C and essential fatty acids. Its natural origins make it a very safe product to use on any skin type.

All of the components previously mentioned 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 in size and appearance.

If you don't trust stretch marks creams, then you can always just cover them up. Body makeup is more durable than traditional foundation. Spray-on tans are also an ideal way to cover up stretch marks, especially during summer.