Stretch marks in men, apart from rapid weight gain or weight loss, can occur as a result of disease, the over use of steroid hormones and sometimes when suffering from diabetes. Therefore, it is wise to avoid rapid skin stretching and shrinking that can occur with weight gain and weight loss by sensible dieting coupled with a good exercise plan as well as drinking plenty of water. Any other fluid intake such as coffee, tea or soda should be balanced with equal amounts of water. Stretch marks in men can also result from nutritional deficiency so take care to eat zinc-rich foods such as nuts or fish, foods high in vitamins A, C and D such as carrots, citrus fruits and milk and protein-rich foods such as eggs. Stretch marks in pregnancy can possibly be avoided by following the hints below. As well as helping you to try to prevent stretch marks, these helpful ideas will also be good for your overall health and the condition of your skin: -- Limit your weight gain to no more than 25 to 35 pounds and this gain should be made gradually. A controlled weight gain without any sudden upward swings will let your skin stretch at a steady rate. -- Use a brush or wash cloth to massage the areas where you have noticed stretch marks or want to prevent stretch marks from occurring. This will increase circulation to that area. -- Try to eat lots of those foods rich in zinc such as nuts and fish, rich in vitamins A, C & D such as carrots, citrus fruits and milk and those foods rich in protein. -- Try to drink lots of water as this can help prevent stretch marks. Take your vitamins. Those vitamins A. C & D together with zinc are very important in preventing stretch marks. Good nutritional status is critical to your overall health and well-being of you, your baby and your skin. -- Keep moisturizing your skin from the first trimester until well after you have given birth and returned to your pre-pregnancy weight. Use one of the oils or creams marketed especially for stretch mark prevention where the formulas are designed to encourage increased collagen production and support the dermis, thereby helping keep the skin intact despite all the stretching. A natural healing product made from essential oils is indicated here. This product is absolutely safe for use during pregnancy and for nursing mothers. -- Once your baby is born, keep up the good habits you have developed during pregnancy for taking care of yourself. With a new baby to care for and the demands of motherhood, you need more than ever to keep your body strong. Stretch marks in women for other reasons such teens going through puberty (where the skin stretches as breasts and hips grow in), or excessive weight gain or weight loss, can also be treated in much the same way as pregnant women. Again, drink plenty of water, follow a good nutritious diet, moisturize the affected areas and use a good product for stretch mark prevention. Stretch marks are more likely to occur when skin is dry and chapped so drinking water, vitamins A, C, E and Zinc and moisturizing cannot be overemphasized. Amoils offers all natural treatments for common conditions and ailments using essential oils. Visit our