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Stretch marks: Symptoms, Causes and Risk factors


Stretch marks: Stretch marks are the pink, red or purple color fine lines on the body, especially on the abdominal muscles, thighs, breasts, upper arms and buttocks. It is very common in the last trimester of the pregnancy. There are many treatments available for the stretch marks such as: Laser Surgery, abdominoplasty and also many products like creams and moisturizers.

Symptoms:

The symptoms for the stretch marks are following:

• Fine line or streaks on the skin, especially on the breast, thighs or upper arms.
• Multiple red and pink fine lines (Streaks).
• Bright fine lines or intended streaks that fade to light pink or grayish color.

Sometimes these marks cover large area of the body and can be very unsightly.

When to see a doctor:

If the stretch marks cover the large area of the body, then you should go to the doctor, a dermatologist can help you to find the causes and he can also suggest you the best possible treatments.

Causes:

Stretch marks are basically a phenomenon of stretching the skin. Although our skin is elastic, but due to increase in cortisone, which is a hormone produced by adrenal glands. This hormone may weaken fibers in the skin.

Stretch marks are developed in following conditions:

• Pregnancy: During the pregnancy, hormone factors along with the physical stretching of the skin play an important role here. Most of the pregnant women get the stretch marks on abdominal muscles by the end of pregnancy.

• Weight gain: Stretch marks are sometime occurs due to rapid weight gain. Weightlifters also can develop these marks, particularly on the upper side of the arms.

• Growing guys and girls: It may be noticed that in growing guys and girls experienced the stretch marks on their body. Due to grown-up in the body and hormones, these stretch marks can occur.

• Medication use: Sometimes stretch marks can due to excess use of Corticosteroid creams, Pills and lotions. These Pills and medicines can also make the side-effects on the body.

• Conditions or diseases: adrenal gland diseases can cause stretch marks on large area of the body. Genetic disorders and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can also cause the stretch marks.

Risk Factors: As mentioned earlier, stretch marks are more common in pregnant women rather than the men. So in most of the cases, the stretch marks are of pregnant women or new moms.

Other Risk factors may include:

• Overweight or obese women
• Younger women
• Genetic problem of stretch marks
• Corticosteroid medication use

Now that you know the symptoms, causes and risk factors you will be better able to reduce the possibility of having stretch marks and taking further steps to minimize already formed stretch marks by using lotions and creams.

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