Striae or Stretch Marks

What Are Stretch Marks?

Striae are visible linear scars, which form due to overstretching of the skin. It usually occurs due to dermal damage in overstretched skin. Many factors play a role, like hormones (corticosteroids), mechanical stress, and genetic predisposition. It usually develops between the age of 5-50 years.

During puberty, striae appear in areas where there is a rapid increase in size. The most common sites are the axillae, outer aspects of the thighs, and the lumbosacral regions. In boys, thighs, and buttocks, and in girls, the breast is the common site. In women, striae appear more common in the abdomen post-pregnancy.

Early lesions may be raised and irritable, but sooner they become flat, smooth, and livid red or bluish (striae rubra) in color. They are commonly irregularly linear, several centimeters long, and 1 mm to 10 mm wide. Usually, after some years, they fade and become inconspicuous. The lesions may become atrophic, with the skin surface showing a fine, white and wrinkled appearance known as striae alba.

What Are the Causes of Striae Marks?

Stretching of the skin causes stretch marks. The severity of the stretch marks is affected by several factors, including,

1. Genetics.

2. Degree of stress exerted on the skin.

3. The level of cortisol hormone (it is produced from the adrenal gland, which weakens the elastic fibers of the skin) also plays a role.

4. Oral Prednisolone or other corticosteroid therapy.

5. Cushing syndrome.

6. The usage of anabolic steroids is more common among adolescents now, especially those who are participating in competitive sports and bodybuilding.

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What Are the Symptoms of Stretch Marks?

All stretch marks do not look alike, and they vary depending on the cause, how long you had them, where it is present on the body, and the type of skin the person has. The common differences include:

• Serrated lines or streaks on the abdomen, hips, breasts, buttocks, and other places of the body.

• Some lines cover large areas of the body.

• The color of the stretch marks with pink, black, blue, red, or purple streaks.

• The bright streaks will fade to a lighter color.

What Are the Risk Factors of Getting Stretch Marks?

Anyone can get stretch marks, but certain factors can increase the likelihood of getting them; they are:

• Females are more prone to get stretch marks.

• When pregnant, and especially if you are young.

• Having a family or personal history of stretch marks.

• Increase or lose weight.

• When you rapidly grow in adolescence.

• Undergoing breast enlargement surgery.

• Using corticosteroids.

• Due to the presence of genetic disorders such as Cushing's syndrome or Marfan syndrome.

• Exercising and usage of anabolic steroids.

How Are Stretch Marks Treated?

Before starting treatment, other causes of striae should be ruled out, like stopping the intake of exogenous anabolic steroids if an individual is using it, and Cushing syndrome should be ruled out by doing serum cortisol level.

• Most striae that appear during late childhood or adolescence tend to become less prominent with time. The striae associated with oral Prednisolone or other systemic corticosteroid therapy and Cushing syndrome can be larger and more widely distributed over the body.

• Striae have no medical consequence, but they are usually distressing to affected persons. Stretch marks tend to regress spontaneously to some degree with time, but with the use of topical treatment, recovery can be made faster.

• Local application of Tretinoin (0.025% or 0.05%) once daily for three to six months may help in some patients.

• Other options are PRP - platelet-rich plasma with dermaroller, pulse dye laser (585 nm), and 308 nm excimer laser.

Plastic surgeons and skin doctors use lasers or other treatments to fade stretch marks. It helps the skin make more collagen:

• Fractional CO2 laser therapy - It helps to smooth out the old, white striae or stretch marks. It has been shown that women's stretch marks are more faded after five sessions when compared to others who used topical creams with Tretinoin and glycolic acid.

• Pulsed dye laser therapy - It is a painless procedure with a blast of light used on the new, red stretch marks. The energy from the light calms down the blood vessels under the skin that could cause the marks to fade.

• Microdermabrasion - It uses tiny crystals to rub the top layer of the skin. It is said that this treatment helps to fade the new, reddish stretch marks when it is combined with skin peels.

• Excimer laser therapy - It exposes striae or stretch marks to the targeted UVB (ultraviolet B) light. It is said that this treatment is completely safe, and treatments for 1 to 4 months can correct the pigment problems from stretch marks.

• Chemical peels - It is an acidic solution that burns and peels off the top layers of the skin to remove the damaged and dead skin cells, thus boosting the new skin growth. This treatment only improves the stretch marks but will not completely get rid of them.

• Tummy tuck cosmetic surgery - When this surgery is done, it also removes the skin with stretch marks. But this surgery could leave scars, and they are often costly and painful.

• Ultrasound - It works like radiofrequency treatments. Ultrasound sends sound waves deep into the skin to jumpstart collagen production.

• Radiofrequency - Ituses radio wave energy to make collagen by triggering the body with heat. It is said that this treatment is safe and helps to improve stretch marks, but scientists are still under research.

Home Remedies for Stretch Marks:

Creams, oils, and other skin ointments help to prevent and treat them. And some of the home remedies help to fade or hide stretch marks. They are,

• Body makeup and self-tanner helps to hide stretch marks.

• Cocoa butter, olive oil, shea butter, vitamin E oil, and other moisturizers make the skin feel softer, but it is still unclear if they help prevent stretch marks.

• On massaging bitter almond oil into the skin on the bellies during pregnancy, stretch marks are faded.

Conclusion:

Stretch marks can be prevented, but there is no guarantee that it gets prevented. The best way to lower the chances of avoiding stretch marks is to stay at a healthy weight. Even during pregnancy, consult the doctor about a regular exercise plan and having a healthy diet. Centella and hyaluronic acid ingredients help to prevent stretch marks.