Stretch Marks: Causes, Treatment & Help

Stretch marks are recognizable stripes on the skin. Although commonly known in the form of stretch marks, men also have stretch marks.

What are stretch marks?

Typically, stretch marks occur mainly on very stressed tissues; this is true of the tissues of the hips, buttocks, abdomen and upper arms, among others. In medicine, stretch marks are also referred to as ‘striae cutis atrophica’ or ‘striae cutis distensae’. Stretch marks develop in the subcutaneous tissue and are usually visible externally in the form of slightly reddish stripes on the skin. The reddish color of the stripes occurs because blood vessels shimmer through the skin in the corresponding areas. Typically, stretch marks appear mainly on very stressed tissues; this applies, among others, to the tissues of the hips, buttocks, abdomen and upper arms. Both men and women can develop stretch marks. At the same time, the stripes can vary greatly in their appearance and number, depending on the person affected.

Causes

Stretch marks are caused by tears in the subcutaneous tissue. Such tears occur when the connective tissue of the subcutis is overstretched. Causes for such overstretching of the connective tissue and the development of stretch marks are varied: in women, subcutaneous tears occur particularly frequently during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy the skin elasticity of women decreases due to hormonal factors. A general risk factor for the formation of stretch marks is congenital weak connective tissue, because weak connective tissue is particularly susceptible to tears. Other risk factors for stretch marks are severe stretching of the skin, such as occurs during rapid growth in adolescents or especially when people gain weight rapidly or are constantly overweight. Stretch marks can also be caused by excessive sporting activity; for example, they often occur in athletes who engage in pronounced muscle-building training. Last but not least, stretch marks can also be caused by various diseases or drug treatments (such as cortisone therapy).

Diseases with this symptom

  • Tuberculosis
  • Typhoid fever
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Lichen sclerosus
  • Cushing’s syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Spotted fever
  • Pregnancy streak
  • Connective tissue weakness

Diagnosis and course

The diagnosis of stretch marks is usually based on the typical symptoms present. If in an individual case the causes for the development of stretch marks are unclear, the attending physician can first draw information from a patient interview. During this conversation, a patient can, for example, provide information about his or her past medical history. In order to determine whether diseases or side effects of medications are responsible for stretch marks in the individual, further examinations can then take place; for example, blood tests can provide further information. As a rule, once stretch marks have developed, they do not completely disappear. However, the appearance of stretch marks usually changes over time: while comparatively newly appeared stretch marks can often still be blue-reddish, they then usually fade and remain in the form of a light scar.

Complications

Stretch marks, Latin striae cutis atrophica, as clearly visible signs in the subcutis (lower skin), can occur not only on the abdomen, hips, buttocks and thighs. They can also affect the female breast. The latter are particularly annoying for most women because they significantly disturb the aesthetic sensation. That is why stretch marks on the breast can lead to psychological problems in partnership or marriage. Many women no longer feel attractive and withdraw. A breast lift or breast augmentation can make the stretch marks less visible. However, affected women cannot always be satisfied with this mediocre result. Stretch marks occur in both men and women due to stretching of the subcutaneous tissue during periods of normal growth. But they also appear during pregnancy or in case of strong weight gain or as a result of strong weight fluctuations due to frequent diets.If stretch marks already exist and the affected person changes their weight, the stretch marks can increase. Existing stretch marks can also become more pronounced due to bodybuilding and a hormonal change during puberty, menopause or policystic ovarian syndrome. In extreme cases, very deep tears in the subcutaneous tissue can occur, which cannot be treated even with microdermabrasion. Even laser and ultrasound cannot eliminate these skin damages. The application of nourishing and “firming” creams is almost always done without a positive result. Further complications of stretch marks can occur in the form of rashes, skin swelling, bruising, sensitivity to touch and pain on the skin.

When should you see a doctor?

Stretch marks are usually not a further problem. They develop into a cosmetic rather than a real medical problem. However, they are wounds under the skin – with all the possible risks in exceptional cases. Initially, the newly formed stretch marks will turn red and then dark purple, which is still normal. However, if the skin in the affected area feels warm, swells or also reddens around the stretch mark, an appointment should be made with your family doctor. It may be that inflammation has developed under the skin. This does not happen often, but in case of emergency it is a case for the doctor, because the inflammation is not superficial and therefore needs to be treated. Extremely painful stretch marks are also a cause for concern, as they are usually not felt at all. If they are painful, it indicates that they do not behave like normal stretch marks. A visit to the doctor can also be useful if it is not clear where the stretch marks may come from or if a lot of them appear at once despite a known cause such as pregnancy or weight gain. Finally, the doctor can treat cosmetically problematic stretch marks so that the affected person feels comfortable in his skin again, for example, if they have healed unsightly.

Treatment and therapy

A complete elimination of stretch marks is only possible through the use of surgical measures, in the context of which severely affected areas of skin are removed. However, such an intervention usually occurs relatively rarely and in the case of very pronounced symptoms, because instead of the stretch marks, a remaining surgical scar is usually unavoidable. In addition to the surgical procedure, however, there are various treatment methods available that can visually diminish stretch marks. In chemical peeling, for example, the areas of skin affected by stretch marks are treated with glycolic acid; this stimulates the epidermis to form new epidermal cells and stretch marks, which can appear raised, are also flattened. Flattening and visual attenuation of stretch marks can also be achieved with various laser procedures. Chemical peeling can be supplemented, for example, by so-called mesotherapy: here, various substances are injected under the areas of skin affected by stretch marks. This measure is intended to contribute to the regeneration of the damaged subcutaneous tissue. Last but not least, various pharmacological measures can also contribute to a reduction in stretch marks: in addition to various medications, vitamin A acid, for example, is suitable – both for ingestion and for application to the stretch marks in cream form.

Outlook and prognosis

Stretch marks often appear on the abdomen, hips, buttocks and thighs. However, they are not limited to these areas of the body; they can form almost anywhere. If stretch marks are noticed at the beginning of pregnancy, the affected woman must expect that the stripes will increase during the coming months of pregnancy. Also in the case of other physical changes, the affected persons must expect an aggravation of the stretch marks. In particular, a strong weight gain and frequent, strong weight fluctuations have an unfavorable effect. If the affected persons are still in puberty or already in menopause, the hormonal changes common in this phase of life can increase the visibility and the strength of the stretch marks even more. Weight-bearing sports such as boybuilding also have a counterproductive effect.As a rule, existing stretch marks do not completely disappear. However, their appearance can change over time. Usually they lose their blue-reddish color and begin to fade. However, visible scars, usually very light in color, almost always remain.

Prevention

One of the ways to prevent stretch marks from forming is to avoid severe weight fluctuations. During pregnancy, massaging special creams or oils on the skin can counteract possible stretch marks. Last but not least, a diet sufficiently rich in vitamins can prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

What you can do yourself

Stretch marks that have recently appeared can be treated with retinoids, tretinoin as well as vitamin A acid preparations. This application will not completely remove stretch marks, however they will fade significantly. Laser and light therapies are another excellent option. With the help of certain devices, the process can be performed comfortably at home. This treatment is ideal against stretch marks. In addition, stretch marks can be removed with the “jet your skin method”. This involves powerful hyaluronic acid molecules that are introduced into the strained skin areas with a lot of pressure. This creates a minimal and invisible channel in the epidermis where the special liquid is distributed. The molecules tear the respective skin cells when hitting the same. This creates a wound healing process that provides a significant improvement in stretch marks. This leads to an improved skin appearance after just a few sessions. Furthermore, stretch marks can be treated with ancient Chinese medicine. In particular, the effective active ingredient Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort) is used, which counteracts stretch marks. To promote the regression of stretch marks, glycolic acid peeling or ascorbic acid is also suitable. After increased applications, stretch marks fade quickly.