What Are Stretch Marks?

What are stretch marks (or striae as they are called in dermatology)? A stretch mark is not a health risk but it is certainly not beautiful skin and for some people it poses an aesthetic problem.

A stretch mark is a form of scarring that happens when the skin is over stretched.

It is much like a piece of elastic that is stretched too far so that when the elastic is released it has no more snap to it.

The skin is like that. If it is stretched too far and too quickly, it is unable to snap back.

The rapid stretching of the skin causes the connective fibers of the dermis to break and the skin is not able to return to its original shape.

This picture shows where the dermis is located.

A stretch mark looks like a line running perpendicular to the direction of stretching. At first, these lines are dark red or purple, but they can fade to a lighter color similar to the rest of the skin. They often look like white stretch marks as they return to their former size.

So, what are stretch marks? A stretch mark is a scar caused by tears in the skin. When the skin is overstretched it causes the skin to tear.

Want to learn how to cover stretch marks? Visit How To Remove Stretch Marks