No one can deny it, puberty is a 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're wondering how you can deal with this type of skin problem the best suggestion is that you concentrate on stretch mark prevention. Keep in mind 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 you should look for when searching a good stretch mark cream. They both help promote the production of collagen.

So, when deciding on a stretch marks cream or a moisturizer, make sure 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 most teenagers will gain weight excessively during this time.

In order to keep this under control, it is important that you 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.

You can also help yourself maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly. Exercise has other benefits as well. It can keep your skin healthy, keep your body flexible and strong and even control your mood swings.

Treat Stretch Marks once they Appear

Since heredity is a big part of stretch marks, you may have a hard time preventing them. Fortunately, there are stretch marks lotions that can help you 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 rich in vitamins A and C, and essential fatty acids. It is a cold-pressed oil that is extracted from the hips of a rose bush. And because it is natural it is also safe 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 lasts longer than traditional foundation. Spray-on tans are an ideal way to cover up your stretch marks, especially during summer.