Book excerpt: Stretch marks are scars that affect both men as well as women and this is so mainly due to the fact that it is caused by the overstretching of the skin at a fast rate over a relatively short period of time. This can happen during pregnancy, puberty, as well as in people who are into body building and to people who are genetically pre-disposed to getting stretch marks.Many pregnant women have had to deal with stretch marks as their womb grows and stretches in order to accommodate their growing babies. However, there are actually stretch mark treatments, lotions and creams on the market that can help these expectant mothers to either prevent stretch marks or remove them from their skin permanently.Other treatments for stretch marks include laser treatments, home remedies as well as over the counter treatment such as aloe vera, vitamin E oil, cocoa butter, bio oil, among others. There is some debate as to the safety of using laser treatment in getting rid of or fading stretch marks, with some persons believing it to be a very effective means of treating stretch marks, while others believe that it affects the tissues of the body and is also very expensive. However, those who are believers in laser treatments says that it does not in fact damage tissue in the body, but what it really does is to help with the production of collagen in the skin and this is something that positively impacts on the treatment of stretch marks.