Stretch marks

Almost ninety percent of women develop stretch marks (striae) in their third trimester of pregnancy as a result of hormonal action and increased pressure on the body to support the developing fetus. People engaging in body building sport, particularly popular in the United States, have developed stretch marks from use of proteins and steroid hormones to gain muscle weight fast. Adolescents shedding puppy fat or experiencing growth spurts may also develop stretch marks. Understanding how stretch marks occur, the causes and types, can help in preventing and treating striae.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are a type of skin scarring. The dermis skin layer between the epidermis outer layer and the subcutaneous tissue contains the collagen and elastic fibres giving skin its flexibility. When the skin stretches rapidly from excessive weight gain or loss, growth spurts, or pregnancy, a pressure greater than the capacity of the elastic fibres is placed on the dermis skin layer. The skin cannot adjust its normal elastic distensibility.

The excessive pressure on the dermal and epidermal layer impedes glucocorticoid hormones in their fat breakdown function and instead prevent fibroblasts from developing collagen and elastin fibers necessary for normal skin consistency. As a result, the dermis skin is forcibly stretched and the tissue scaring is known as striae or stretch marks.

Types of stretch marks

The stretch “marks” or scar tissue is classified according to the severity of scarring on parts of the body and the cause of scaring. Striae may be referred to as striae, stria distensae, striae atrophicae, striae vergetures (striae cutis distensae), striae gravidarum (from pregnancy), and

linea albicante. Depending on the condition of the skin and type of scar, the epidermis can also tear. The striae scar lines can look like thin silver lines, reddish purple lines or thick discolored scars, and can appear on the breasts, arms, stomach, abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs.

Causes of stretch marks

Scars to the skin from excess pressure placed on the collagen and elastic fibres in the dermis layer can originate from a number of causes that include:

Pregnancy and Childbirth
Adolescent or Pubescent growth spurts (also hormonal)
Body building (use of hormones and rapid body mass increase)
Health conditions, such as Diabetes, Cushing’s Syndrome, Pituitary Tumors, Marfan Syndrome
Rapid weight gain and loss (obesity)
Genetic (defects in development connective tissue, collagen or elastin fibre, and hormone function
Medical therapies, such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or steroid treatments such as with Cortisone
Lifestyle factors such as type and frequency of exercise, diet and alcohol intake.

Diagnosing stretch marks

Stretch marks are diagnosed primarily from physical examination of the scarring, identification of the type of scar, and discussion about cause. Life cycle and underlying health conditions are taken into consideration. Medical and family history may be discussed to identify what types of health conditions and treatments are used, and any hereditary factors. Lifestyle factors, such as diet and alcohol intake are also relevant for diagnosis.

Treatments for stretch marks

Once damage occurs to the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis, the scaring cannot be cured, but the striae can be treated. As with treatments for other types of scars, the options to speed healing and reduce scaring include:

Petroleum based semiocclusive ointments or topical treatments
Steroid injections
Collagen injections
Transforming Growth Factor Beta 3 (TGFβ3) injections
Percutaneous collagen induction therapy (Needling or Dermarolling)
Dermabrasion
Surgery
Laser Therapy and Resurfacing
Radiotherapy
Chemical Peels
Use of glycolic acid
Increasing Vitamin C intake
Using peptide-containing products, relastin and retinoids
Natural applying wheat germ oil

Stretch Mark prevention

Although in certain cases like associated health conditions or genetic factors, developing stretch marks cannot be prevented, measures can be taken to reduce the effects of skin scarring and these include:

Avoiding excessive weight gain or loss through diet or use of hormones in sport
Eating a balanced diet, doing regular moderate exercise, and not engaging in excessive smoking or alcohol intake
Ensuring hormonal function is not disturbed through medication use or drugs
Moisturizing the skin, such as with wheat germ oil
Using Vitamin C moderately
Not overusing corticosteroid treatments
Seeking timely professional advice when needed