Stretch marks (striae) can appear when there is rapid stretching of
the skin. Stretch marks appear as parallel streaks of red, thinned
glossy skin that over time become whitish and scarlike in
appearance. They are often associated with the abdominal
enlargement of pregnancy and can also occur during the rapid growth
of puberty in males and females. The stretch marks may be slightly
depressed and have a different texture than normal skin.
Review Date: 05/13/2011
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease,
Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare
Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
