Causes of stretch marks

Streaks or stretch marks can develop on the skin when it is subjected to excessive tension. The stretch marks can appear on thighs, chest or knees in red or brown colors and they can gradually become white. Because of poor blood supply to these areas the skin can become lacking or deficient and can develop stretch marks.

Weight gain, genetics etc are the main reasons for the appearance of stretch marks. They can also appear when the body undergoes changes such as in times of pregnancy. They can appear because of excessive cortisol levels in the blood. During periods of stress this hormone is secreted by the adrenal glands which can also lead to the appearance of stretch marks.

A woman can develop stretch marks during the puberty stage or during pregnancy. During these stages there is enlargement of the body which can put a strain on the skin tissue. Sometimes men can also notice stretch marks especially on abdomen and hip areas. Over weight is also one of the important reasons for this problem even among children.

As far as the mechanical causes are concerned, when there is a sudden change in circumference of some parts of the body or subcutaneous fat then stretch marks can appear. Lactation period, sudden weight loss or gain, excessive physical activity are the other reasons that can lead to the occurrence of stretch marks. You can first notice streaks accompanied by itching and dry skin. Some of these symptoms will go away by itself. However these are the first signs to indicate that you may start to develop stretch marks. Stretch marks can be varying width and depth and can also appear on other body parts such as the buttocks, hips, breasts and other areas. Stretch marks can appear during breast feeding because this action can cause the stretching of skin due to the suckling action and volume of the breasts. Abdominal stretch marks occur owing to obesity and pregnancy. Significant weight loss and sudden growth in height can cause the development of stretch marks on the sides.

There are several creams and lotions that are specially formulated for getting relief from the stretch marks which can be embarrassing and unsightly too.