Synonyms in a broader sense
Stretch marks, Striae distensea, Striae gravidarum, Striae rubrae.
- Stretch marks
- Striae
- Striation of pregnancy
Definition
Stretch marks are a physiological form of stretch marks that occur during pregnancy. Stretch marks are phenomena in the subcutaneous tissue (subcutis), which are caused by excessive stretching of the tissue. During pregnancy, the skin fibers rupture due to the rapid stretching, especially in the areas of the abdomen, breast, thighs, hips and buttocks. The visible bluish shimmering cracks are caused by the blood vessels under the skin shining through.
Epidemiology
Stretch marks occur in 70 to 90 percent of all pregnant women, especially those women who are still very young or are not expecting their first child. The connective tissue in the dermis consists of a network of collagen-containing fibers and ensures that the skin remains elastic. When this is overstretched, the individual fibers separate and fine, irreparable cracks appear in the subcutaneous tissue, which become visible on the surface as blue-reddish stripes.
These are known as stretch marks; if they have developed during pregnancy, they are called stretch marks. In the course of pregnancy, the skin stretches more and more, especially in the areas of the abdomen, breast, buttocks and thighs, which is why the stretch marks appear especially here. As a rule, they are only visible from the 16th week of pregnancy onwards and appear more and more frequently and increasingly only towards the end of the pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the female body releases more of the hormone cortisol, which also reduces the elasticity of the skin. Stretch marks develop differently than is often assumed, and not only during pregnancy. Especially strong weight fluctuations, a very fast muscle build-up – for example during bodybuilding – or pubertal growth cause stretch marks outside of pregnancy.
A major cause of this is the overstretching of the skin. Stretch marks develop as a result. During pregnancy, stretch marks become visible especially at the end of the second trimester.
Stretch marks can also occur during cortisone therapy. However, it is not possible to determine an exact time during the therapy. Stretch marks are found in the skin zones that are most affected by overstretching.
On the abdomen they usually run from top to bottom, on the breasts they are usually arranged in a radiating pattern towards the nipple. Usually the stripes are one to several centimeters long and up to two centimeters wide, although they can also develop into very wide cracks. They have an uneven surface and are initially red to blue and fade until they finally only shimmer silvery white.
The breast can be affected by stretch marks or stretch marks just like the stomach or thighs. These can already occur during puberty due to the growth of the breast or during pregnancy as the breast grows in size. It is the same type of skin change that can also be found on the abdomen or thighs.
They usually run in a semicircle towards the areola and are considered very unpleasant by many women. Why some women are very prone and others less prone to the unpleasant stretch marks is not entirely clear. However, the stretching of the skin plays a very important role in this context.
To prevent the stretch marks on the breast, regular massages during pregnancy are especially important. Skin oils can also be used for this purpose, which prevent the stretch marks and care for the skin. If stretch marks do occur, they can be removed not only from the stomach but also from the breast. Common methods are laser treatment, micro-needling or microdermabrasion. These treatments do not affect the mother’s ability to breastfeed and do not pose a risk to the baby.
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