Stretch marks are the red and white ridges that appear on the hips, stomach, breasts, thighs, and upper arms. They are small tears of weak skin that result from pregnancy, rapid growth, weight changes, and weight lifting. Stretch marks occur when the skin does not stretch enough to accommodate body changes. Hormones play a role in the appearance of stretch marks; during pregnancy and growth spurts, many hormonal changes occur that limit the elasticity of skin, causing stretch marks.
It is not possible to completely remove stretch marks because they are essentially small scars of torn skin. It is possible, however, for the ridges to smooth out and the associated redness or whiteness to fade to the point that they are hardly visible.