The skin is a strong, elastic substance and it is the largest organ in the body. When a lot of weight is gained or lost in a short amount of time, stretch marks can develop. Known medically as striae, stretch marks appear on the skin as long red...
While your skin has elastic properties that help it to bounce back when pulled, when the skin is stretched too far, stretch marks can occur, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stretch marks resemble jagged lines of skin that are red or purple in color....
Stretch marks and pregnancy tend to go hand and hand. As a woman's stomach expands, the skin gets stretched beyond its normal capacity, leading to what is known medically as striae. In the center layer of skin known as the dermis, collagen gets...
Pregnancy brings body changes, but one not so welcome is stretch marks. There are two theories as to why stretch marks develop. One theory is that when a person gains weight quickly the skin stretches to make room for added tissue. The other is...
As your belly expands, the skin stretches to accommodate your new baby. Dark lines often develop in response to the pressure and are referred to as "stretch marks." There's no way to predict whether you'll get stretch marks, though you are more...
Pregnancy brings many changes to a woman's body. While it's easy to see some of these changes as part of the beautiful process of life, one change that most women agree is not so beautiful is the development of stretch marks. Commercial creams and...
Stretch marks commonly develop on the hips, breasts and abdomen during pregnancy, according to "Introduction to Maternity & Pediatric Nursing," because these parts of the body are rapidly increasing in size throughout the duration of the...
Pregnancy doesn't only bring a joyous glow to an expectant mother, it can often bring stretch marks as well. According to What To Expect.com, 90 percent of pregnant women develop stretch marks, most often on the belly, breasts, buttocks and...
More than 90 percent of pregnant women get stretch marks -- small, depressed streaks in the skin caused by weight changes in pregnancy -- according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Stretch marks commonly appear on the belly, due to the...
Stretch marks often occur during pregnancy due to the weight gain that many women experience as the body expands to make room for a growing baby. Genetics and rapid weight gain make some women more susceptible to the marks, which appear as pink,...
Stretch marks are caused by an overproduction of collagen when the skin is overly stretched during periods of rapid weight gain. This makes pregnant women prone to stretch marks on their abdomen and breasts. You are also at a higher risk if you...
When you are pregnant, you may have heard numerous horror stories about the stretch marks that can develop during your pregnancy. Stretch marks occur during periods of rapid growth, like pregnancy, due to a disruption in the production of...
Many women get stretch marks during pregnancy. Some get so few they are hardly noticeable and go away quickly, while others are cursed with deep, lasting marks on their stomachs after pregnancy. While there is no surefire way to prevent stretch...
Stretch marks that develop during pregnancy are called striae gravidarum. Stretch marks during pregnancy generally affect the stomach, thighs, buttocks, breasts and upper arms. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 90 percent of...
Stretch marks, also called striae, are extremely common during pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association estimates that up to 90 percent of women are prone to developing stretch marks during their pregnancies. Family history, age, weight and...
Specialty skincare products for mothers-to-be is a hot market, with stretch mark cream for pregnancy leading the line-up. A May 2008 New York Times article points to popular stretch mark creams that attach their product names to celebrities who...
As your skin stretches during rapid weight gain, reddish-purple marks appear as a result of damage to the underlying skin tissue. These marks are known as striae, or stretch marks. Stretch marks pose no health risks to the sufferer, but may be an...
During your eighth month of pregnancy, your body must stretch to accommodate your baby's growth from approximately 4 to 6 lbs. You will most likely notice stretch marks, or "striae," developing on your belly this month, as well as on your thighs,...
Women commonly develop stretch marks during pregnancy due to the rapid increase in abdominal size, according to "Foundations and Adult Health Nursing." The rapid increase in abdominal size stretches the skin, resulting in tears in the dermis,...
Pregnancy is beautiful--but those deep lines of pink, purple or red that appear on your belly, hips and thighs aren't. Unfortunately, these stretch marks are a scar women often bear after pregnancy as skin stretches and expands to accommodate a...
According to the Expectant Mother's Guide, between 75 and 90 percent of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks. Stretch marks, also known as striae, are caused by the skin becoming stretched, which causes the underlying tissue to create...
Stretch marks are a form of skin scarring that occur when the skin is stretched beyond its limits. They are a common occurrence when pregnant because the skin of the stomach stretches quickly. While you cannot prevent your baby from growing and...
Stretch marks commonly develop during the later trimester of pregnancy due to rapid stretching of the skin, according to Dr. James Brann, in his article, 'How to Avoid Stretch Marks During Pregnancy,' published on the Hip Chick Pregnancy website....
Stretch marks usually appear on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, breasts and hips, most commonly during pregnancy. Hip Chick Pregnancy Guide says that stretch marks occur due to "small tears in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it...
Stretch marks are common on the breasts. According to the United Kingdom National Health Service, 7 out of 10 girls experience stretch marks during puberty and 9 out of 10 women develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Many of these marks will...
While anyone can get stretch marks, women are especially susceptible during pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, nearly 90 percent of pregnant women experience stretch marks, which often occur during times of weight change...
Stretch marks are an inevitable part of pregnancy. Although some women do not get as many stretch marks as others, the rapid amount of weight gained during pregnancy puts you at risk of getting multiple stretch marks. Pregnancy-related stretch...
When a woman's stomach expands during pregnancy, stretch marks may be left behind after the baby is born. Stretch marks are of no medical concern, but many women wish them to be gone for cosmetic reasons. Whether stretch mark treatments will...
Stretch marks are a form of scarring that occurs when the skin is stretched beyond its normal limits. When stretched too far, the collagen and elastin layers are damaged, and uneven sections of collagen form in their place. These reddish or purple...
Stretch marks during pregnancy are quite common on the stomach, breasts and thighs. Learn basic strategies for preventing stretch marks in this pregnancy video.