Stretch marks are the visible tearing of tissue in the skin’s layers that commonly occur in both men and women starting around the time of adolescence. While not a medical concern it can pose cosmetic issues for the person who has them. Depending on the location of the stretch marks, this can leave a person feeling self conscious and uncomfortable in social settings that involve exposure of that area (i.e. wearing a bathing suit to the beach or a pool).

Generally skin is elastic and very resilient, with the protein known as collagen, serving as the stretchy fiber that allows the skin to expand and contract. Sometimes the collagen breaks down and is unable to do its job. The surface skin stretches and becomes thinner and more transparent, allowing the damaged under layers to be visible as stretch marks. The clinical term for stretch marks is ‘striae’ and they can also be referred to using the following terms: striae distensiae, striae atrophicans, striae rubra (which are red) and striae alba (which are white).

Stretch marks can occur as a result of rapid growth during puberty, from a drastic change in weight, intense body building or, as is most commonly thought of, during pregnancy. The rapid growth and stretching causes the underlying tissue to stretch and pull, resulting in tears to the tissue that appear on the skin’s surface. Think of blowing up a balloon and then letting the air out – the balloon shrinks but it never quite gets its old shape back. These often first appear as reddish or purple streaks and maybe slightly raised and lumpy. Over time they generally flatten and fade out to white or slightly silvery lines. Typically these marks will appear on the hips, thighs, buttocks, breasts and arms depending on the source of the skin’s breakdown (a weight lifter is more likely to experience them in his/her arms as opposed to a pregnant woman who has them on her abdomen). A related condition, known as Cushing’s Syndrome, occurs when too many steroid hormones are produced in the body and often results in stretch marks.

While there is no way to truly prevent stretch marks maintaining a balanced diet and healthy weight can help avoid some instances as sharp fluctuations in weight can create the opportunity for stretch marks to begin. Ensuring that you are getting the full complement of vitamins will also help your skin stay as healthy as possible while massaging and moisturizing your skin will help promote circulation. When they do occur, stretch marks often itch and cause discomfort which can be alleviated by keeping the area(s) hydrated with creams, oils and lotions such as Dermarest® Stretch Mark Repair Cream. Stretch marks can also be treated with topical prescriptions or, in extreme cases, with lasers and surgery.