Stretch Marks: Why Do They Occur and How Can They Disappear!

Dhanya (name changed), my childhood friend came in for a surprise consultation. It had been a decade since I met her. She was trying to get fitand was worried of her stretch marks developed in pregnancy. Through her consultation, Dhanya expressed she had developed itching specifically at the stretched skin areas and found it as a cosmetic hinderance. She had tried various promising products, but nothing seemed to work. That is when she decided that she must seek medical advice. Let us understand about Striae. Striae/Stretch marks are irregular areas of skin that look like bands, stripes,or lines. You might have observed stretch mark impressions are of a different colour and texture than the normal skin. They are usually seen around the abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks, hips, and arms.

- Dr. Sanmathi Puneeth

Stretch marks are usually encountered in pregnancy like in Dhania’s case, in growing children where there is rapid growth spurts/ weight gain, in gym/fitness aspirants where there could either be trying to gain weight or lose weight. They are also seen in overweight people, during puberty, in certain disease conditions or medicine usage. Stretch marks are particularly seen in people with a Vataja/VataPittaja skin type or where the elasticity and hydration of the skin is compromised.

Are Stretch marks a threat?