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First, let me tell you that the title is a little misleading. This is because removing stretch marks completely is something that can't be done, as of this writing. What topical lotions, creams and other stretch mark remedies do is that, they only make the scars less apparent and make the skin finer in texture.

There you have it. So by this time that you are looking for a great stretch mark cream that will hopefully eliminate stretch marks, don't be fooled. Even the photos of before and after cases only reduce the visibility of the scars - making you think that they are completely gone, when the fact is, they are still there - just invisible from our sight.

But it's much better than showing them off red and purple or white, right?

Blame it on your genes and hormones. Genetics play a role in determining whether you will have stretch marks or not. If you have a family member who had these lines before, you have a great chance of getting them yourself - be it because of pregnancy, puberty or weight gain.

So, now that the issue of "removing stretch marks" had been settled, let's head on now to the real topic of this article - which is how to actually reduce their appearance and make them less noticeable.

There are various ways to do that. Here are five.

1. Stretch mark creams - Choosing the best stretch mark "remover" is sure a hard job for a consumer, especially if he had tried countless of products before. When choosing a stretch mark cream, do note of its ingredients. You have likely heard them being all natural and all, but research as to what each of them can do in stretch mark repair. Also find out if they are FDA-approved and cannot cause an allergic reaction on you. This is a wise step to take, since a lot of consumers would report complaints later only after finding out that they have experienced allergies, or have experienced various side effects, which they could have avoided had they read the label and done some researching.

2. Shea Butter - A large number of shea butters from various companies have been manufactured and made available - some worked, others don't. Some shea butters are best for preventing stretch marks, while others claim to reduce their appearance.

3. Chemical peels - Apparently, this procedure aims to peel off the layers of skin that have been damaged, to make way for the fresh ones for an even surface and skin color. Superficial pees are conducted by a nurse or, while deeper ones are conducted by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

4. Laser surgery - Studies show that it can reduce their appearance significantly. It lasts for about six sessions before they are reduced, however.

Studies have shown that the appearance of stretch marks continues to improve up to six months after the first laser treatment. In this procedure, a surgeon makes use of a narrow beam of light which permeates right through the skin to stimulate the cells in the dermis for a new tissue.

5. Stretch mark gels - This kind of product is usually made of various materials like butcher's broom, calendula, centella, chickweed, ginseng, green tea, hibiscus, horsetail, ivy, lady's mantle and marshmallow to help prevent and reduce stretch marks.

Removing stretch marks completely and making your skin go back to normal cannot be done, but you have stretch mark creams, lotions and surgical methods to make them less noticeable.

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, Australia. Melbourne offers great shopping and dining and Victoria has got a beautiful countryside and coast line combining beautiful national and state parks with quiet little towns and some larger regional centres. The Mornington Peninsula is a great area offering beaches and stunning bay views, golf courses, vineyards and shopping. Whatever you want, the peninsula has got it all.

The Mornington Peninsula is a prime spot for holiday makers. But it is close enough to Melbourne for weekend getaways or daytrips as well.

How To Get To The Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula can be roughly characterised as anything south of Frankston.

Frankston is only about an hour's drive away from the Melbourne CBD. Especially now that CityLink and EastLink are established, the drive to the peninsula takes no time at all. Be aware though that the roads around Frankston get very busy in weekends and during the daily commuting hours.

You can avoid some of that frustration by taking a little more scenic drive. This leads via Beach Road which offers bay views as you drive through the Bayside towns of Brighton, Black Rock, Hampton upto Mordialloc, where you then take the Nepean Highway further down towards Frankston. You can also take the Nepean Highway straight out of the city towards Frankston.

When you are driving back from the Mornington Peninsula the drive down the Nepean Highway on a sunny late afternoon is definitely worth it. Especially the drive into Frankston down Oliver's Hill can be great. From the top of Oliver's Hill you can get beautiful bay views and, on clear days, a good view of the Melbourne CBD.

Portsea and Sorrento

When you are into luxury and have got money to spend Portsea and Sorrento are the places to go. Millon-dollar holiday houses offering bay views is what it is all about in this part of town!

With the bay often not more than a stroll away, you can have a beautiful time in and around the water.

Flinders

Flinders is on the other side of the Mornington Peninsula. It is a nice quiet little town with a lovely beach, some dining opportunities and quite some antiques shops. When you are into antiques, then also make sure to visit nearby Tyabb.

Red Hill

Not far away from Flinders is Red Hill. There are some great wineries with excellent bay views, some art galleries, a beer brewery, cheese and berry farms etc. All what is great about local produce can be found there. You should definitely take the opportunity to try some of the wines at any of the vineyards or some of the local food. Many vineyards also have excellent lunch and/or dining facilities. There are about 200 Mornington Peninsula vineyards. Although it is probably not good for your health and wallet to visit all of them, definitely go visit a few to get a true feel for what the peninsula has to offer!

Mornington

Mornington is a lovely town with a decent shopping strip and of course, beaches galore. You can enjoy a great play in the park with the kids or dine at a number of fine restaurants.

When mentioning a number of towns on the peninsula there is the invariable injustice to the towns not mentioned. Take Arthur's Seat up in the hills or any of the small coastal towns like Ballnarring Beach, Dromana and Rosebud.

Living very close to the Mornington Peninsula one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon is to take a drive with the family on one of the backroads. You pass a few wineries, have a quiet lunch somewhere or take a picknick, stop at a beach for a play, etc. Before you know it your afternoon is over and you are fully recharged. The peninsula is just the best place to unwind from it all.

No matter what you are looking for in terms of a vacation, there is a good chance that the Mornington Peninsula has it.