In plain words
Striae gravidarum are stretch marks that form during pregnancy. They usually appear on the belly, and sometimes on the breasts, hips, or thighs. They start as pinkish, red, or purple lines and often fade to thin, silvery lines over time. They happen when the skin's support fibers stretch faster than they can adapt. Many people get them, and they are a common part of the body changes of pregnancy. Family history may influence them. Creams and oils are sold for them, but research on whether they change the marks is limited. Stretch marks are a normal change, and they do not mean anything is wrong with the pregnancy.
The deeper version
Striae gravidarum are linear dermal lesions that develop in pregnancy, most often on the abdomen, breasts, hips, and thighs. They reflect mechanical stretch and hormonal changes that alter and elastic fiber turnover. They evolve from erythematous to hypopigmented, atrophic streaks over months after delivery. Pregnancy produces predictable physiological skin changes, including hyperpigmentation, striae gravidarum, and vascular changes, and a small group of pregnancy-specific dermatoses, classified by Ambros-Rudolph and colleagues (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2006). Associations with and family history are reported, though findings vary across studies.
Where it comes up
- Your changing body and how you feel about itPregnancy: Mind and Life
- Skin in pregnancy: stretch marks, linea nigra, melasma, itchingPregnancy: Your Body
What mothers here say about striae gravidarum
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Ambros-Rudolph CM et al. — The specific dermatoses of pregnancy revisited and reclassified. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2006