Stretch marks, also known as ‘striae distensae,’ are scars within the skin that occur when your skin rapidly stretches or shrinks, typically appearing as red or purple jagged lines which fade to white or silver within time.
They are very common and can appear on anyone, though they are most commonly caused by pregnancy, changes in weight or puberty. Stretch marks are most often seen on the breasts, stomach, thighs, upper arms and buttocks. As with any scar, there is no cure for stretch marks, and topical creams have limited efficacy when it comes to preventing them, however, a simple moisturizer can work to improve their appearance, as can medical treatments such as fractional radiofrequency, mesotherapy and microneedling.
