Symptoms

Indented streaks or lines in the skin.
Pink, red, black, blue or purple streaks.
Bright streaks that fade to a lighter color.
Streaks on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or thighs.
Streaks covering large areas of the body.

What To Expect

Our connective tissue is held together by elastic collagen fibres. If the fibres are stressed too much, they cannot withstand the strain and tear. This causes irreparable damage to the skin. Particularly affected are parts of the body such as the upper arms, chest, stomach and hips, buttocks and thighs. If the tissue in the lower skin layer tears, we usually do not feel it. Fresh cracks appear as fine, purple or red lines. After a while, the structure and color of the stretch marks change. They fade, take on a pink or white tone and a bulging surface that looks like a scar.

Made Worse By

These factors can promote stretch marks: Abrupt weight gain or obesity often leads to overstretching of the skin and the formation of stretch marks. A balanced, healthy diet can prevent this. In addition, extreme muscle building in a short period of time should be avoided. In most cases, such as during a growth spurt or pregnancy, stretch marks unfortunately cannot be prevented.

How Common

Stretch marks occur in about 90% of all pregnant women in the last third of pregnancy.

Diagnosed By

With stretch marks you do not need to see a doctor. The stripe-shaped, painless skin changes are solely a cosmetic and not a health problem. However, some patients suffer greatly from stretch marks and feel restricted in their everyday life, for example because they no longer dare to show themselves in a bikini. In such cases you should consult a dermatologist (aesthetic medicine) and get advice on the treatment options.