Stria
When stretch marks occur
Stretch marks often occur:
- during pregnancy
- after rapid weight gain
- during puberty
- if you have a family history of stretch marks
- if you have an underlying health condition or a syndrome, such as Cushing's syndrome or Marfan syndrome
- after the prolonged orinappropriate use of corticosteroid medication
These are discussed in more detail below.
Pregnancy
Stretch marks often occur during the later stages of pregnancy , affecting about eight out of 10 pregnant women. Whether or not you'll get stretch marks depends on your skin type and how elastic it is.
During pregnancy, hormones are produced that soften the ligaments in your pelvis so they're more flexible when you give birth. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect joints. However, the hormones also soften the fibres in your skin, making it prone to stretch marks.
As your baby grows and your skin stretches, you may get stretch marks on your tummy. You may also develop them on your thighs and breasts as they get bigger.
Stretch marks usually fade and become less noticeable after childbirth, but they don't always disappear completely.
Rapid weight gain
You may get stretch marks if you put on a lot of weight over a short period of time. They sometimes remain even after losing weight, but should eventually fade.
Regular dieting can cause stretch marks as your weight goesup and down. If you need to lose weight,lose it slowly and steadily sothat your skin isn't put under strain. This means the skin isn't as resistant to stretch marks as it should be.
In Marfan syndrome, stretch marks can occur on the shoulders, hips and lower back.
Corticosteroids
In rare cases, stretch marks candevelop after prolongedor inappropriate use of corticosteroids , such as creams or lotions used to treat skin conditions, including eczema .
Corticosteroids work in a similar way to the hormone cortisol. They can help ease inflammatory skin conditions but,like cortisol, they can also reduce theamount of collagen in your skin.
Collagen is a protein that helps keep your skin stretchy. The less collagen there is in your skin, the more likely you are to develop stretch marks.
When using a corticosteroid cream or lotion, follow the manufacturer's instructions about how and where to apply it.The face, groin and armpits are particularly sensitive areas. Ask your GPor pharmacist for advice if you're unsure.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about stretch marks, including where, when and how they occur, what causes them and how they can be treated and prevented.
Where stretch marks occur
Stretch marks can occur anywhere where the skin has been stretched, but they usuallyaffect areas where fat is stored, such as the: tummy (abdomen) breasts upper arms buttocks thighs shoulders (
When stretch marks occur
Stretch marks often occur: during pregnancy after rapid weight gain during puberty if you have a family history of stretch marks if you have an underlying health condition or a syndrome, such
Howstretch marks develop
Before stretch marks appear, the affected skin will become thin, flattened and pink, and may feel itchy. The stretch marks themselves appearas red or purple streaks or lines, but can be pink, reddish
What causes stretch marks?
Stretch marks are caused when the skin rapidly stretches as a result of sudden growth or weight gain. The stretching causes themiddle layer of skin (dermis) to tear, allowing the deeper skin layers t
Treating stretch marks
Most stretch marks aren't particularly noticeable and will fade over time. If you have unsightly stretch marks, or if they affect a large areaof your body, there are a few treatment options available
Preventing stretch marks
Stretch marks can't always be prevented for example, they often occur during pregnancy. However, there are some things you can do to help lower your chances of getting stretch marks. Weight and diet
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products