Stretch marks or striae, are indented streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body. They're common in pregnant women, especially during the last trimester. Stretch marks aren't painful or harmful, but some people don't like the way they make their skin look.
Stretch marks don't require treatment. They often fade over time, with or without treatment. They may never disappear completely.
Stretch marks don't all look alike. They vary depending on how long you've had them, what caused them, where they are on your body and the type of skin you have. Common variations include:
Indented streaks or lines on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body
Pink, red, discolored, black, blue or purple streaks
Bright streaks that fade to a lighter color
Streaks covering large areas of the body
Risk factors
Anyone can develop stretch marks, but some factors increase your likelihood of getting them, including:
Being female
Having a personal or family history of stretch marks
Being pregnant, especially if you're young
Rapid growth in adolescence
Rapidly gaining or losing weight
Using corticosteroids
Having breast enlargement surgery
Exercising and using anabolic steroids
Having a genetic disorder such as Cushing syndrome or Marfan syndrome
Stretch Mark - After baby delivery
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