Stretch marks appear as red or purple lines or streaks on the skin and may feel mottled, depressed into the skin or soft to the touch. If you are a woman, especially one who has been pregnant, use cortosteroids, are overweight, or others in your family have stretch marks, you may be more at risk. Stretch marks, even the most severe, will often fade to white or silver in time and may not require treatment.
Causes
Growth spurts during puberty, the expansion of the stomach during pregnancy, and rapid weight gain or loss can all cause stretch marks to form. Stretch marks may also be formed due to a collagen disorder or medications that interrupt collagen production. They may also develop as a consequence of diabetes. Stretch marks caused by quick weight gain or hereditary factors may be quite severe.
Prevention
You may be able prevent new stretch marks from forming by maintaining a healthy weight. Bodybuilders may be especially prone to severe striae due to the rapid expansion of the skin surrounding the muscles, so they should try to build muscle gradually. If you find you are prone to striae, ask a doctor to recommend alternatives to cortosteroid ointments and creams, as these can weaken and thin the skin and encourage damage. While there are many creams on the market that claim to prevent stretch marks, none of these are proven to be effective, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Treatment for New Striae
Newly developed stretch marks may respond to some medical treatments. Tretinoin creams, made from retinol, a derivate of vitamin A, may help to rebuild the collagen in the stretch mark to improve its appearance. Pulsed dye laser therapy is also a treatment for recently formed striae. This involves using a laser to stimulate collagen and elastin production to rejuvenate the affected skin. This may change the color of the skin. This treatment can also be used on old striae, with less success.
Treatment for Old Striae
Laser treatment, specifically an excimer laser, may help heal older stretch marks. This type of laser, in contrast to the type used in pulsed dye laser therapy, affects the melanin of the skin, rather than the collagen or elastin. This may change the color of the stretch mark to one that more closely matches your skin tone. Microdermabrasion uses crystals to slough off the skin's surface, to improve the uneven texture of stretch marks. The upper layer is removed and the healthier second layer exposed during the process.
Warning
Stretch marks, especially those not caused by weight gain or pregnancy, may be caused by an underlying condition. These conditions include Cushing's syndrome or Cushing's disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or diabetes.
