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Stretch marks are reddish, long, sometimes depressed scars that can stay in your skin for a long time. Stretch marks appear in the dermis, the elastic second layer of skin that allows it to keep its form. However, when constantly stretched, the dermis can break down leaving behind marks. Dermal collagen is damaged and blood vessel dilation results in the formation of red or purple-colored stretch marks.

When your skin is excessively stretched during pregnancy, weight changes or growth spurts, stretch marks or striae can show. They can also be caused by certain medications, including hormones and steroids. Stretch marks appear when rapidly expanding skin is stretched to its limit and small tears show in the supporting layers of skin.

Over time the redness of the original scar can disappear and the bands of the stretch mark can become lighter in color than the nearby skin. The bands can become take on a shiny, depressed appearanceor acquire an aberrant scar like texture.

Men and women can get stretch marks on several areas of their bodies, including the abdominal area, upper arms, breasts, flank, hips, thighs or lower back. They afflict 70% of adolescent females and about 40% of young males.

Stretch Marks and Pregnancy

Though the nine months of pregnancy are a beautiful time in a woman's life, there are a number of unwanted alterations that happen in the skin during this period. Some of these are due to hormonal influences and others are due to the mechanical alterations in the organism associated with pregnancy.

Stretch marks are one of the most recognized and talked about skin alterations that can happen during pregnancy. They are thought to be a consequence of the thinning of the skin during this time period due to female hormones which alter the protein equilibrium in the skin. Almost 90% of pregnant women will suffer stretch marks, usually developing during the last trimester.

There is an inherited predisposition to developing stretch marks during pregnancy. Many women consider the look of stretch marks to be distressing. Luckily, the removal stretch marks is possible.

How to get rid of stretch marks

There are plenty over-the-counter therapies aimed to prevent stretch marks, such as Strivectin. Sadly no local remedies have been scientifically proven to improve the look of stretch marks. RetinA, glycolic acid, alphahydroxy acids have been prescribed with very little success. Dermabrasion or chemical peels have also been used. The results of these treatments vary from regular to minimal.

Surgical alternatives to deal with these types of lesions, involve removing large areas of stretched skin. In a tummy tuck intervention, for instance, skin below the belly button is removed. This is usually an area in which stretch marks are prominent. It also works by toning the skin in surrounding regions. These surgical techniques are effective, but are more invasive than other solutions and thus involve longer recovery time.