What Causes Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are visible scars occurring in the skin. Stretch marks are caused by a tearing of the dermis and are the result of rapid stretching of the skin seen during periods of rapid growth. The normal expansion of the skin cannot keep pace with the volume growth and a rent or tear occurs within the dermis. This most commonly occurs during puberty, pregnancy or weight gain. The scars are heighted by a color change with pink or red hues occurring when the stretch marks are young... more

A stretch mark occurs when the tissue underneath the skin enlarges more than the overlying skin can stretch. This causes the thick deep part of the skin (the dermis) to rip apart but the top layer of the skin does not rip. The results is an area of skin which is very thin next to a normal thickness area. The resultant stretch mark is often blue or purple at first but eventually becomes lighter than the surrounding skin and less noticeable. The ability of the skin to... more