What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks, medical name striae, are small scars on the skin’s surface. They appear when the body’s shape changes rapidly, such as during weight loss or gain or during pregnancy. The most commonly affected areas are the hips, thighs, abdomen, breasts and arms. Using creams specially made to treat stretch marks can reduce their size and help them fade.

They are formed when the dermis, the outermost layer of skin, rapidly expands causing small tears in the skin. The dermis is the layer of the skin that helps the skin retain its shape, and is also the most resilient layer of skin. They are more commonly found on areas with fat stores, since these areas have less support for the skin. As long as there is support, stretch marks will not appear. They do not hurt and are harmless, but they can be embarrassing.

They start as purple or red lines, and eventually fade to a silvery white. The area is soft and empty to the touch. Stretching alone does not cause them to appear; hormone imbalances such as pregnancy, puberty and body building can decrease skin’s elasticity. Genetics also plays a role, so if your mother and grandmother got stretch marks, chances are you will, too.

Gaining more than 31 pounds during pregnancy or having a baby with a high birth weight make it more likely that you will develop stretch marks. Teenagers are also at risk because their hormones are out of balance. Hormones prevent callogen and elastin fibers from forming properly, so the skin does not remain taut. When the skin stretches, the dermis and epidermis can tear.

Special creams can help fade the appearance of these unsightly marks. Creams should be applied twice a day or as directed. Massage the cream into the skin to reach the deep within the skin and increase blood flow and circulation, both of which can help the scars fade.