No one likes getting stretch marks. They are unsightly and they never really go away. Ironically though, everyone can get them. People of all ages, races and genders can get stretch marks although they are more common among women and particularly common among pregnant women, with 9 out of 10 women getting them. So what are they, what causes them and how can we avoid them? Any discussion about stretch marks will have to begin with an explanation of exactly what they are.