Causes of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks occur when your skin suddenly stretches due to fast weight gain. Our skin is flexible, and can expand somewhat, but when the skin is stretched past this point, the skin can't stretch any further and finally breaks. Though the skin is not harmed, the top surface thins and turns stripey (striated), forming what we generally call stretch marks.

Stretch marks first appear on the skin as small swollen red lines. According to the skin complexion of the person having them, the stretch marks are red, pink, brown or dark brown in color.

Over time, the marks fade to pale and indistinct and often seem like scars.

Stretch marks can crop up on any part of the skin that has become inflexible. Generally, these areas include the stomach, breasts, thighs, hips and other parts where fat accumulates are the areas that are more prone to growing these marks.

Stretch marks tend to form on the skin because of certain factors:

1. Pregnancy: Around 90 percent of pregnant women tend to grow stretch marks in the advanced stage like the sixth or seventh month of their pregnancy. The marks generally form on their stomach, legs, thighs, breasts and shoulders. Most pregnant women develop stretch marks some time during the nine months of their pregnancy. Their marks are initially red or purple lines which eventually pale out as white ones, usually staying on the skin for some time, or even permanently, in some cases.

The parts of the body which have expanded suddenly are more likely to show these marks. Usually women develop the marks on their stomach, hips, and breasts, as these are the zones which swell during pregnancy.

2. Adolescence: adolescence is another time for growing stretch marks, as it is the time when the body starts developing rapidly. While girls have them on their hips, thighs and breasts, boys tend to have them on their arms and on their shoulders.

3. Athletes: Athletes often develop stretch marks when they go to the gym and their skin stretches over developing muscles.

4. Loss or gain of weight: A sudden weight gain is a common cause of stretch marks. Even losing weight suddenly can lead to stretch marks.

Supposedly, stretch marks depend a lot on family history and personal health history.

No one likes stretch marks, but with some proper prevention, you can prevent them from happening. If you already have stretch marks, there are ways to conceal and treat them. More on that soon.