Stretch marks (striae) are a cosmetic defect on the skin in the form of stripes. Essentially, these are scars that form at the site of damage to collagen fibers.
Although dermal proteins are capable of repairing themselves, sometimes the rate of synthesis is not enough to regenerate all the breaks. As a replacement, connective tissue actively grows in these areas, and the body is covered with white stripes. We will find out why this happens, which areas of the skin are at risk, and how to deal with stretch marks.
What causes stretch marks to appear?
Stretch marks on the body are the consequences of stretching the skin. Therefore, we need to look for the reasons for this phenomenon. Usually this is a sharp weight gain, the pace of which does not correspond to the elasticity of the dermis. It is caused by poor diet, hormonal imbalances or pregnancy.
If the skin is not elastic enough, even with a slight change in body weight, stretch marks appear.
This is due to:
- lack of collagen;
- immunodeficiency;
- long-term use of topical corticosteroids;
- endocrine diseases (Cushing’s syndrome);
- Ehlers-Danlos disease (impaired collagen synthesis).
In adolescents, stretch marks may appear against the background of active growth. The situation is aggravated by hormonal changes in the body. In rare cases, stretch marks indicate damage to the musculoskeletal system (for example, displacement of joints or intervertebral discs).