Stretch marks on skin - causes and signs of stretch marks on skin

Experts distinguish the following types of stretch marks on the skin:

• Filiform striae are whitish shallow stripes.
• Striae scars are small scars that look like pale pinkish small scars.
• Longitudinal striae are cicatricial defects that have a blue-burgundy color. Over time, such striae become light.

Experts distinguish the following types of striae:

• white;
• red.

Striae are atrophic scars that appear on the skin of the chest, lower back, abdomen, thighs and inner surfaces of the shoulder. They look like strands, lines or veins that separate the tissue. They can be red, white or purple.

According to another classification, stretch marks on the skin are:

• horizontal - often, the reasons for their development are hormonal imbalance;
• vertical or longitudinal - most often the reason for their occurrence is rapid weight gain and pregnancy.

Stretch marks have the following stages of development:

• first stage - stretch marks are purple or reddish;
• second stage - stretch marks begin to fade and become whitish, while they can permanently retain a red or purple tint.

Also, the following stages of stretch mark formation on the skin are distinguished:

• First stage - an inflammatory, fresh strip appears, often having a purple color.
• Second stage - superficial and the white striae does not have a step pattern, as well as a palpable depression that is determined on the surface of the skin.
• The third stage - the striae does not have a step pattern, but when palpated, a depression is felt on the surface of the skin.
• The third A stage is atrophic, the white striae has a step pattern no more than 1 cm in width, but without deep dyschromia.
• The third B stage is atrophic, the white striae has a step pattern no more than 1 cm in width and with deep dyschromia.
• The fourth stage is atrophic, the white striae has a step pattern more than 1 cm in width. It can be with or without deep dyschromia.

Causes

Stretch marks on the skin can appear as a result of a person having such diseases as hypercorticism, Marfan syndrome, Itsenko-Cushing's disease.

Reasons that can lead to the development of this skin condition:

• the presence of diencephalic syndrome;
• taking anabolic hormones;
• taking various hormonal drugs by athletes;
• development of adrenal hyperplasia;
• juvenile hypercorticism;
• sharp change in body volume;
• rapidly increasing body weight in children;
• hormonal imbalance on the part of hypothalamus, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and sex glands;
• muscle building by athletes;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding;
• decreased collagen synthesis;
• decreased elastin, fibroblasts;
• heavy physical exertion;
• bodybuilding;
• hereditary predisposition;
• obesity;
• hypertrichosis.

Symptoms

Stretch marks on the skin are considered a cosmetic defect that leads to a serious disruption of the aesthetic appearance of the body. This defect does not cause any inconvenience, except for emotional discomfort.

In this condition, there is a decrease in the synthesis of collagen, elastin, fibroblasts, but the ability to synthesize metalloprotease is preserved. In the cells of the fibroplastic series, fibroclasts begin to predominate, which synthesize enzymes that lead to the destruction of collagen, elastin protein, which leads to a decrease in skin strength. As a result, the skin ruptures, the reticular layer of the dermis is damaged, but the epidermis is preserved. As a result, there is a rupture of blood vessels, elastic and collagen fibers and the formation of a depression in the skin.

This condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• striae are formed as a microtrauma of the skin;
• atrophic scars are formed on the skin;
• striae are red-bluish in color;
• the length of the scars can reach 10 cm, and their width is up to 5 mm;
• the location of the scars is the skin of the abdomen, chest, thighs and buttocks;
• in athletes, striae can form on the inside of the shoulders and arms;
• over time, the color of the scars changes and becomes whitish;
• striae are located at the same level as the skin;
• the scars are characterized by a retracted or convex relief.

Diagnostics

If scars form on the skin, you need to make an appointment and consultation with a dermatologist. The doctor determines striae based on an external examination of the patient's skin. In this case, no special diagnostics are performed. If concomitant diseases are suspected, the following are prescribed:

• blood test;
• urine test;
• magnetic resonance imaging;
• X-ray.

Treatment

For the treatment of stretch marks, the following are prescribed:

• seaweed and mud wraps;
• massage;
• compresses;
• laser resurfacing;
• chemical peeling.

Prevention

Prevention consists of:

• skin care in areas where stretch marks form, if there are reasons for their formation development;
• massage;
• contrast shower.