Stretch marks are common condition affecting both men and women and commonly appear on the thigh, upper arms, stomach, breast, and buttock areas. It is usually seen in conditions such as pregnancy or obesity, although stretch marks may occur in certain medical conditions like Cushing’s Syndrome, which is an adrenal gland disorder, where high levels of cortisone are present in the blood. Cortisone ‘weakens’ the elastin fibers in the skin thereby contributing to stretch mark development, even when there is no obvious or significant stretching of the skin. Stretch marks can be treated to reduced the severity but cannot be removed completely or ‘cured’.

What Causes Stretch Marks

Stretch marks happen when the skin is stretched for a prolonged period or when it happens rapidly. Of the three layers of skin; the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous stratum, it is the dermis that appears to be affected by the expansion. It is this region that helps skin retain elasticity.

The dermis contains concentrations of collagen and elastic fibers called elastin. When these substances and tissues are weakened, skin damage occurs. When rapid weight gain happens the resulting stretching seems to lead to tearing of underlying fibers and that results small rips and scarring.