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Stretch marks or striae are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely.
Stretch marks are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth (common in puberty) or weight gain (e.g. pregnancy or muscle building) or in some cases, severe pulling force on skin that overcomes the dermis's elasticity
Symptoms and signs: They first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range. The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch. Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the resilient middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. No stretch marks will form as long as there is support within the dermis.
Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the navel), breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks. Stech marks can cooure any where in the body such as arsm, kegs, abdomen etc. They are not painful and they do not harm the body in any shape or form. Stretch marks are tiny tears in the skin that develop in the tissue that supports the skin. This tissue is called the dermis layer. Women believe that creams and lotions can help prevent stretch marks or minimize the appearance of them. It truly depends on how elastic your skin is and this depends on your genes. Ask your mother if she had a lot of stretch marks through her pregnancy. If your mom had a lot of stretch marks, then you might have more of a chance of developing stretch marks than other women. Stretch marks usually start to appear around the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. This is when the mom-to-be starts to notice more weight gain. Stretch marks can appear on the upper thigh, buttocks, breasts, and also on the arms and lower back. Whether you get them or not and how many you get will be determined by how much weight you gain, how rapidly you gain the weight, your genetic history, and whether or not you make any effort to prevent stretch marks before they start to form.
Diet and exercise: Drink plenty of water. Adequate hydration keeps skin soft and less likely to develop stretch marks.
Caffeine can increase your risk of stretch marks
Stretch marks can also result from nutritional deficiency. Be sure to consume foods that promote skin health: foods rich in zinc, such as nuts or fish; foods high in vitamins A and C, such as carrots and citrus fruits and milk; protein-rich foods, such as eggs.
Dr Guptha, Director for the medical coding services and medical coding training
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