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the leg image by Rich Johnson from Fotolia.com

Stretch marks are scars that can appear anywhere on the body that fat is stored, such as in the stomach, upper arms, thighs, breasts and buttocks. Body building, intense physical activity, childbirth and rapid weight loss are all causes of stretch marks. The marks start at the very root of your skin, which makes them extremely hard to remove. There are several things you can do to quickly get rid of stretch marks, including laser surgery, creams and vitamins.

Take a bath. Hot water helps improve your circulation, which can instantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks. While you are in the tub, vigorously scrub the areas where you have stretch marks with a loofah. The loofah will remove the layer of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, also immediately reducing the severity of your stretch marks.

Rub in tanning lotion. The darker your skin looks, the less severe your stretch marks will appear. Buy a lotion that contains a natural tanner. In just a few days, you will notice your stretch marks appear to reduce in severity. You can also try to tan in the sun, however, tanning lotion is a much safer way to reduce your stretch marks fast. UV rays can damage your skin and cause skin cancer.

Hydrate. Water keeps your skin hydrated and elastic. The more hydrated your skin, the less likely you will develop stretch marks. If you are dehydrated, stretch marks can appear more severe. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day.

Rub in a coffee ground mixture. Coffee grounds reduce the appearance of stretch marks quickly by refreshing your skin. The caffeine in the coffee grounds can immediately, though temporarily, reduce your stretch marks.

Models use this approach to reduce their stretch marks before a big runway show. Grind about three cups of coffee in a grinder, then add three tablespoons of olive oil. Mix thoroughly. Apply to your stretch marks, rubbing with a good amount of pressure for at least five minutes. Wrap tightly with a towel and let sit for about 30 minutes and rinse.

Laser Treatment. There are three kinds of laser treatments that can quickly get rid of stretch marks. A fractionated laser will reduce chronic, deep stretch marks. Fractionated lasers cost about $1,000 per session, with a minimum of three sessions needed.

A vascular laser is the best way to reduce red stretch marks. Vascular laser treatments costs about $450 a session and at least three to six sessions are required.

The third treatment is the excimer laser, which works by triggering the melanin in your skin so your stretch marks turn the same color as the skin surrounding it. The excimer laser costs about $200 to $700 per session and needs a minimum of 10 to 20 treatments.