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Stretch marks
Stretchmarksarepurple-redstreakyscarsthatappearinoverstretchedskin.Aroundhalfofall pregnantwomenwilldevelopstretchmarks(striaegravidarum),usuallyinthethirdtrimester,as theabdominalskinisforcedtoaccommodatethegrowinguterus.Somepregnantwomenalso developstretchmarksonthebreasts,hips,buttocksandthighs. Anothercommoncauseofstretchmarksisrapidweightgain.Dependingontheskintype,fresh stretchmarkscanbepink,purple,brownorred.Overtime,thestretchmarkslosetheirbright colouringandbecomesilvery,shimmeringlines.

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Development of a stretch mark

Theevolutionofastretchmarkincludessomeorallofthefollowingstages: Theskinisstretchedbeyonditscapacity. Theunderlyingtissuetears. Thebodyrespondsbyformingscartissue. Thefreshstretchmarklookspink,red,brownorpurple,butovertime,thecolourfades. Thestretchmarkbecomesashimmering,silveryline,whichmaylookslightlyindented. Thescarispermanent.

Structure of the skin

Thevisiblelayerofskin(epidermis)ismadefromseveralsheetsofcellsandprotectsthedelicate innerlayers.Epidermalcellsborninthebottomsheetpushupthroughthelayerstoreplaceold, deadskincellsthatareconstantlybeingshed.Theepidermisalsocontainsmelanin,thepigment responsibleforskincolour. Beneaththeepidermisisthedermis.Thisdeeperlayercontainssweatglands,sebaceousglands, hairfollicles,bloodvesselsandnerves.Thedermisismadefromtwotypesoffibre:elasticfibres (elastin)forsupplenessandproteinfibres(collagen)forstrength.

The overstretched dermis

Skinisremarkablyflexibleandcanstretchsubstantiallyifgivensufficienttime.However,arapidly growingfetusoftenmeanstheabdominalskinisstretchedfurtherandfasterthanitcan comfortablymanage.Theovertaxedfibresofthedermistearatthepointsexperiencingthe greateststress. Anothercommoncauseofstretchmarksisrapidweightgain.Somepeopledevelopstretchmarks duringpuberty,iftheirgrowthspurtisparticularlyfast.Whetherornotapersondevelopsstretch marksseemstodependpartlyontheirskin'sinheritedcharacteristics.Othercausesofstretch marksincludecorticosteroidsandCushing'ssyndrome.

Prevention of stretch marks

Moststudiesmaintainthatcreamsandlotionscan'tpreventstretchmarks,improvetheir appearanceormakethemdisappearPreventionsuggestionsinclude: Eatsensiblytoavoidgainingexcessbodyfat. Wearasupportivematernitybrathroughoutpregnancy.

Stretchmarks

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Treatment of stretch marks

Lasertreatmentcanbeusedtofadetheredness,butitwillnotmakestretchmarksdisappear. Anotherapproachistosimplywaitforthestretchmarkstofadebythemselves.

Other skin changes during pregnancy

Theskinisaffectedbypregnancyhormonesinmanydifferentways,dependingontheperson. Apartfromstretchmarks,othercommonskinconditionstriggeredbypregnancycaninclude: Hyper-pigmentationpatchesofdarkcolouringontheskin,particularlytheface (chloasma) Hirsutismanincreaseinhaironthefaceandbody Varicoseveinsandbrokencapillariescausedbytheoverburdeningofthecirculatory systemandthesideeffectsofcertainpregnancyhormones Pimplesandacnecausedbyhormonalfluctuations.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor Dermatologist

Things to remember

Stretchmarksarepurple-redstreakyscarsthatappearinoverstretchedskin. Aroundhalfofallpregnantwomenwilldevelopstretchmarks(striaegravidarum). Overtime,stretchmarkslosetheirbrightcolouringandbecomesilvery,shimmeringlines.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

EpworthDermatology
Contentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforeducationandinformationpurposesonly.Information aboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotimplyendorsementandisnotintendedto replaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Contenthasbeen preparedforVictorianresidentsandwiderAustralianaudiences,andwasaccurateatthetimeof publication.Readersshouldnotethat,overtime,currencyandcompletenessoftheinformation maychange.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessional fordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestions. Forthelatestupdatesandmoreinformation,visitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Copyight 1999/2013StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)atnocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth. Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthecopyrightareprohibitedwithout permission.

Stretchmarks

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