Stretch marks are visible linear scars. Stretch marks form in areas where the skin is incapable of withstanding overstretching and the elastin and collagen fibers reach their capacity. Skin weakens and eventually fail resulting in tears in the dermal skin layer. This shows up on a thinner skin surface as visibly curled stripes and in fact are bands of elastin broken beneath the skin. Thus, stretch marks are scars that have formed inside out, rather than scarring from external wounds. Thus stretch marks are the response of the body to heal overstretched thin skin and appear in the form of scar tissue. Using its own resources the body uses stretch marks to heal itself as quick as it can. However once these scars are formed they are prominent because of their depth, length, discoloration, and texture it is thus very difficult to get rid of them.

Stretch marks usually occur during pregnancy, growth spurts, bodybuilding while on steroids, or when other hormonal imbalances may be at work. Surprising as it may be in the United States it is estimated that 90% of pregnant women, 70% of adolescent females, and 40% of adolescent males have stretch marks. Unfortunately the striated appearance of skin will rarely return to normal although the discolouration from stretch marks tends to fade over time.

Its speculated that the way a person's skin heals is a good indicator of the depth and severity of stretch marks they may eventually see. People whose skin that heals poorly (or slowly) or tends to develop raised or thickened scars can generally expect stretch marks that are more pronounced than those who whose skin heals with minimal scarring.

Treat Stretch Marks

By minimising stretch marks in the first place you are reducing the need to treat them. Eating a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables and drinking plenty of water is the first prevention step. Moisturized skin is more elastic and thus less likely to form stretch marks so this is an important prevention. Exercising regularly is also important to keep your skin elastic and healthy.

Available treatment creams have tried to have tried to prevent stretch marks or improve their appearance. Most stretch mark treatments found on the market aim to replenish the skin matrix by stimulating the making of collagen and elastin.

However in for people that suffer from atrophic skin, where the skin is to thin and wont stretch beyond what it is used to, these products will fail. Fortunately there are new creams by doctors being developed always and some have these have proved very effective especially for women with pregnancy stretch marks.