Stretch Marks: How They Got There

More than likely you have, at some time or another, noticed stretch marks on some area of your body. For me, this typically happens when I’m putting on a bikini for the first time in anticipation of summer (I conveniently forget about their existence during the fall and winter months). If you’ve ever been pregnant you have probably experienced stretch marks, or perhaps they were your unsolicited “reward” for losing that 50 pounds during your office “biggest loser” competition.  If you’re somehow a freak of nature with genetically perfect skin, you probably aren’t on this website or reading this blog (kidding!). Even so, perhaps you have observed stretch marks on other people’s bodies and wondered what causes them and how they got there.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are indented striations on the skin that can vary in color and appear pink, red, blue, black, or purple. They typically fade to white over time and can appear on many different areas of the body including the belly, thighs, hips, breasts, upper arms, and lower back.

What causes stretch marks?

As the name implies, stretch marks are caused by—you guessed it—stretching of the skin. However, this is a bit of an oversimplified definition, and my goal is to provide an explanation that is a little more than skin deep (I couldn’t resist!). So let’s talk about what causes stretch marks and how they get there.

How do stretch marks get there?

Our skin has three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The dermis, which is the middle layer of skin, contains connective tissue. This connective tissue is elastic and is designed to stretch slowly as the body grows. When the skin contracts or expands suddenly rather than gradually, the connective fibers in the dermis tear and break instead of stretching, similar to a rubber band that has been stretched too far and suddenly snaps. Picture the same rubber band and imagine stretching it slowly and gently, which is how our skin is designed to stretch over time. Now imagine abruptly yanking that same rubber band in opposite directions, snapping it. When this process of abrupt stretching happens in the dermis, the dermis tears and the deepest layer of skin (the hypodermis) shows through. This is what causes the stretch marks.

How severe stretch marks are depends on several factors, including the degree of stress on the skin, genetic predisposition, and cortisone levels (cortisone weakens those elastic fiber in the dermis). All skin is not created equal, which means your likelihood of getting stretch marks, along with how severe they are, is partially determined by whether or not you won the genetic lottery. If you’re lucky and have never dealt with stretch marks, congratulations, you are among the happy few. For everyone else who may be interested in information on how to reduce or remove stretch marks, please check out this blog post on stretch mark removal. There are options! 

Written by: Margaret Durkovic

How To Prevent Stretch Marks

Before looking into prevention methods and scar treatments, it’s important to know what stretch marks are and how they are caused. Within the large and diverse family of dermatological conditions, stretch marks (medically referred to as “striae”) are one of the most common scar types, especially in women. They’re a result of skin stretching to the point that the dermis and collagen fibers are weakened or torn.

Stretch marks are dermatological conditions often associated with pregnancy, but they can actually be caused by many different factors including weight gain, physical growth, and puberty. They’re typically found on the abdomen, breasts, hips, and thighs in the form of pink, red, or purple streaks.

    The most obvious way to prevent stretch marks is to avoid gaining weight or stretching the skin more than usual. But admittedly, sometimes those prevention methods are inevitable and difficult to avoid. Another thing to be cautious of is overuse of corticosteroid medications that can be found in creams, gels, or ointments. The hormone found within these medications, Cortisone, weakens the elastic fibers in skin and can be a risk factor for stretch marks if it’s overused. Another way to avoid stretch marks is to keep hydrated inside and out. It’s been said that seaweed wraps, home remedies, and creams and oils like cocoa butter and olive or coconut oil can help prevent stretch marks, but there isn’t much evidence that supports these methods as strong preventative measures--especially for old and well-developed scars/marks.

    Although there isn’t a definitive way to prevent stretch marks, there are plenty of scar treatments and scar products that are recommended for those who wish to get rid of existing stretch marks. Many scar treatments can be found in home remedies, but there are also medical procedures and scar products that help improve the appearance and texture of stretch marks as well such as laser therapies, microdermabrasion, and retinoid cream.

    It’s important to remember that the results of scar treatments and scar products can vary. It depends on the specific dermatological condition and certain factors like how long you’ve had the stretch marks, your skin type, and convenience (since some therapies require routine doctor visits). Be sure to talk to your doctor about which method is best for you before taking action.

Then read more about scar healing techniques and get your dermatological questions answered by checking out our Scar & Dermatology Resources for Patients.

Written By: Jordan Rawlinson