{
  "id": "enwiki-001363890869",
  "slug": "stretch-marks",
  "title": "Stretch marks",
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  "lead": "Stretch marks, also known as striae ( ) or striae distensae, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. Over time, they may diminish or change in appearance, but will not disappear completely. Striae are caused by tearing of the dermis during periods of rapid growth of the body, such as during puberty or pregnancy, in which they usually form during the last trimester. Usually on the belly, these striae also commonly occur on the breasts, thighs, hips, lower back, and buttocks. Pregnancy-related striae are known as striae gravidarum. Striae may also be influenced by the hormonal changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, bodybuilding, or hormone replacement therapy. There is no evidence that creams used during pregnancy prevent stretch marks. Once they have formed, there is no clearly effective treatment, though various methods have been attempted and studied.",
  "body": "Stretch marks, also known as striae ( ) or striae distensae, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. Over time, they may diminish or change in appearance, but will not disappear completely. Striae are caused by tearing of the dermis during periods of rapid growth of the body, such as during puberty or pregnancy, in which they usually form during the last trimester. Usually on the belly, these striae also commonly occur on the breasts, thighs, hips, lower back, and buttocks. Pregnancy-related striae are known as striae gravidarum. Striae may also be influenced by the hormonal changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, bodybuilding, or hormone replacement therapy. There is no evidence that creams used during pregnancy prevent stretch marks. Once they have formed, there is no clearly effective treatment, though various methods have been attempted and studied. ===Pregnancy=== Pregnancy stretch marks, also known as striae gravidarum, are a specific form of scarring of the skin of the abdominal area due to rapid expansion of the uterus as well as sudden weight gain during pregnancy. About 90% of pregnant women are affected. A number of additional factors appear to promote the appearance of stretch marks: one study of 324 women, done just after they had given birth, demonstrated that low maternal age, high body mass index, weight gain over 15 kg (33 pounds) and higher neonatal birth weight were independently correlated with the occurrence of striae. Teenagers were found to be at the highest risk of developing severe striae. These skin marks are symptoms of pregnancy caused by the tearing of the dermis, resulting in atrophy and loss of rete ridges. These scars often appear as reddish or bluish streaks on the abdomen, and can also appear on the breasts and thighs. Mechanical distension and rapidly developing areas of the body during pregnancy (such as the abdomen, breasts, and thighs) are most commonly associated with striae formation. Some have suggested that relaxin and estrogen combined with higher levels of cortisol during pregnancy can cause an accumulation of mucopolysaccharides, which increases water absorption of connective tissue, making it prime for tearing under mechanical stress. There also seems to be an association between higher body mass indices and in women with bigger babies and the incidence and severity of striae. Also, younger women seem to be at higher risk of developing striae during pregnancy. The prevalence and severity of striae gravidarum varies among populations. The current literature suggest that in the general population of the United States, there is a 50% to 90% prevalence of striae associated with pregnancy, partly as a result of the normal hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and partly due to stretching of skin fibers. Many women experience striae gravidarum during their first pregnancy. An anonymous survey of postpartum women conducted in 2004 found that 43% percent of those surveyed developed striae gravidarum before 24 weeks of gestation. Many women who develop lesions during the first pregnancy do not develop them during later pregnancies. Genetic factors such as genealogy and skin color also seem to be predictive in the appearance of striae. ==History== Since ancient times, people have sought remedies to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Both ancient Greeks and Romans used olive oil, while Ethiopians and Somalis used frankincense. Striae were first recognized by Roederer in 1773, and were later histologically described by Troisier and Ménétrier in 1889. In 1936, Nardelli made the first morphologically correct descriptions. ==Terminology== Medical terminology for these kinds of markings includes: striae atrophicae, vergetures, stria distensae, striae cutis distensae, lineae atrophicae, linea albicante, or simply striae.",
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    "title": "Stretch marks",
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    "publisher": "Anticloud FZ LLE",
    "publisher-place": "Dubai, United Arab Emirates",
    "URL": "https://encyclopegia.org/a/stretch-marks",
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          15
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