What are stretchmarks?

Stretch marks are long,  stripes, or lines that develop on the skin. They occur when the skin is suddenly stretched due to numerous reasons . Weight gain and sudden weight loss is the most common cause of those streaky lines.  Stretch marks tend to affect more women than men. 

The marks initially develop as wrinkly, raised streaks that can be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown or dark brown, depending on skin color. The streaks eventually fade and flatten and tend to change to a silvery color over time. They can occur on a range of body parts, including the stomach, thighs, hips, breasts, upper arms, and lower back.

The scarring can be temporary or permanent and currently there are no proper treatments to get rid of stretch marks entirely. They can fade over months or years and there are no health concerns due to it. They can lowen anyones confidence and make them anxious low towards self image.

Collagen is a protein that makes your skin more elastic. If your skin doesn’t have enough, the marks may show up as it stretches

In young skin, the collagen framework is intact and the skin remains moisturized and elastic. It’s resilient to the many facial expressions we adopt, as well as everyday environmental exposure. But, over time, the support structure weakens and the skin loses its elasticity. The skin begins to lose its tone as the collagen support wears down. Every time you smile, frown, or squint, you put stress on the collagen in your skin. The effect of these facial expressions is cumulative and facial lines begin to appear.