Stretch marks, or striae distensae, are linear scars that can appear pink or purple and eventually fade to white or translucent. They are not medically dangerous, but can cause low self-esteem. Common causes include growth, pregnancy, steroid use, or Cushing’s disease. Treatments are available but not always effective, and are usually considered optional or cosmetic.
Striae distensae are better known as stretch marks and are linear scars that first appear pink and eventually fade to a white or translucent color. In most cases, they are not a medically dangerous sign, but some people feel uneasy about them. It’s also not always clear why some people get striae, while others don’t. Some common causes of their appearance are normal growth, pregnancy, steroid use, or Cushing’s disease. There are some treatments for stretch marks, but they are usually not medically necessary or totally effective.
When striae distensae first appear, they may be pink or purple. Occasionally, people notice itchy skin as the marks form. In some patients, these signs will almost completely fade, but others may continue to have evidence of them. Skin wrinkling around multiple stretched striae also sometimes occurs, which can draw more attention to this skin scar. A number of individuals suffer from low self-esteem when numerous striae are evident and may avoid showing those parts of the body where they occur, such as the arms, legs, hips or belly.
Medical research hasn’t fully figured out why people develop stretch marks, although there are times when they’re more likely to form. During puberty, rapid growth is associated with striae distensae on the breasts, arms, buttocks, and legs. Rapid weight gain can also cause more stretch marks. Also, during pregnancy, the arms, breasts and especially the belly are more likely to show signs of striae distensae.
People who use steroids for bodybuilding or medical purposes also tend to get these signs. Another possible explanation is Cushing’s disease. This is a high level of cortisol in the body, which causes the face to become rounded and causes a high number of striae. It can come from natural causes or from taking certain steroids.
There are some potential treatments for striae distensae. Retinoid products or some fruit acids can reduce the appearance of scars. Treatment usually works best when done soon after the striae distensae appear. This is not always possible. If you experience striae due to changing circumstances, such as an expanding belly in pregnancy, it may not be safe or appropriate to try to have them removed until the end of your pregnancy.
In most cases, treatment is optional and unlikely to be covered by insurance. Because striae distensae are generally not considered a health risk, their treatment falls into the category of optional or cosmetic surgery. Sometimes the location of a scar could put people at a slightly higher risk of breaking the skin in the event of a serious injury. In these cases, removing a scar might be considered medically necessary, but the chances of that happening are pretty rare.
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