Stretch Marks (Striae Distensae) - Reasons and Treatment

1. Stretch Marks (Striae Distensae) - Reasons and Treatment Striae (stretch marks) are visible linear scars that form in areas of dermal damage due tostretching of skin. They are characterized histologically by thinning of the overlyingepidermis, with fine dermal collagen bundles arranged parallel to the surface. Many authorshave suggested that striae develop as a result of stress rupture of the connective tissueframework. What causes stretch marks? 1. Sudden weight gain / obesity 2. Pregnancy 3. In adolescents, develops at puberty 4. Prolonged topical steroid therapy 5. Endocrine :- Cushing’s syndrome 6. Familial in cases of Marfan‘s syndrome Where are stretch marks commonly seen? 1. Abdomen and breasts in cases of pregnancy

2. 2. Thighs and lower back in boys 3. Thighs, buttocks and breasts in adolescent girls Natural Progression Earlier lesions maybe raised, irritable and pink but they soon become flat, smooth and redor bluish in colour. The surface maybe finely wrinkled. They are commonly irregularly linear,several centimetres long and 1-10mm wide. After some years, they fade and becomeinconspicuous. Treatment 1. Weight reduction and exercise 2. Topical retinoids a. Scar reducing cream 3. Fractional CO2 and 585 nm pulsed dye LASER done every 2-3 weeks 4. Fractional Radiofrequency 5. Mesotherapy 6. Chemical Peeling with trichloroacetic acid. Usually striae (stretch marks) are only a cosmetic problem but can be a reason for stressespecially in young adults. But the good news is, contrary to popular belief, it is treatable. Article Source http://www.skinclinicbangalore.com/post/stretch-marks-striae-distensae-reasons-and-treatment/1395 Published at Dr. Kisalay Saurav’s blog