Skin diseases A to Z

Stretch - are linear scars accompanied by epidermal atrophy occurring in the tissues under the skin by breaking the rapid growth.

Stretch - Signs, symptoms and causes

- Stretch marks occur in certain areas of the body where skin is subjected to continuous and progressive stretching. These include:
Abdomen and breast in pregnant women
Adolescents during growth (thighs, buttocks, breasts)
People obese or overweight.
Stretch marks can also occur from prolonged use of topical corticosteroids. They are also a feature of Cushing's disease, where increased adrenal cortical activity, excessive circulating cortisol is involved in their development.
An early sign of developing stretch marks is when an area becomes flattened and thin skin with pink. This can occasionally induce itch. Soon reddish or purplish lines develop (striae rubra). Over time, it becomes whitish or skin color and much less obvious. Stretch marks are usually several centimeters long and 1 to 10 mm width. Those caused by corticosteroid use or Cushing's syndrome are often larger and wider and may involve other regions, including the face.

Stretch - Treatment

Stretch marks are usually just a cosmetic problem, but rarely, if extensive can ulcerate or break easily in an accident. Stretch marks occurring in adolescents become less visible over time and generally do not require treatment. In other cases, where the stretch marks are a concern, then the following treatments may be tried but have not been proven to be effective in all cases:
moisturizing oils
Topical retinoid therapy
Chemical peels
Pulsed dye laser therapy.