Stretch Marks How They Happen

Stretch marks are lines or bands that appear on the skin when it is stretched too quickly, damaging the support tissues underneath. 

Here’s a breakdown:

Prevalence:

• 9 out of 10 women experience stretch marks during pregnancy.
• Stretch marks can occur in anyone, regardless of age or skin type.

Causes:

• Rapid Weight Gain: Gaining a lot of weight quickly can cause stretch marks.
• Puberty: Rapid growth during puberty can lead to stretch marks.
• Muscle Building: Fast muscle growth can also result in stretch marks.

Appearance:

• Stretch marks initially look reddish or purplish due to blood vessels showing through.
• Over time, they fade to a white or silver color as the blood vessels heal.

Underlying Mechanism:

• The middle layer of skin, when stretched too quickly, can cause collagen fibers to break.
• This leads to the appearance of stretch marks.

Steroid Medications:

• People using steroid medications might be more prone to stretch marks.
• Steroids can weaken collagen in the skin, making it more susceptible to damage.

Source:-Oakley AM, Patel BC. Stretch Marks. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436005/