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The Patient’s Guide is the most respected online publication providing information about stretch marks, their causes, treatment, and laser therapy. Our mission is to provide you with unbiased, scientifically accurate information about striae and red skin lesions, as well as potential treatments. The information published on this site is written and provided by some of America’s foremost dermatologists and laser surgery experts.
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What Causes a Stretch Mark to Form?
  • Hormones are the Cause
  • Able to 'Create' Stretch Marks in the Lab
  • Gaining Weight, Pregnancy Changes Hormones

    • The amazing thing about stretch marks is that they're not really caused by the skin "stretching". People associate stretch marks with weight gain or pregnancy and assume that stretch marks are caused by our skin stretching to fit around this new, larger body. The association is so strong that the name 'stretch mark' was given, only further adding to the misperception.

    Hormones are the Cause

    The true cause of stretch marks is hormones. That's right, hormonal influences are the cause. How can I support this fact? Well, when people gain weight, our hormones are produced and metabolized by fat cells. Hormones resemble fat and cholesterol, so when we gain and lose weight it affects the hormones in our body, and also the hormones in our skin.

    Able to 'Create' Stretch Marks in the Lab

    For example, we have been able to artificially create stretch marks on normal skin simply by applying strong topical corticosteroid creams. And this is without any weight loss or gain on the part of the test subject. The steroids are similar to the hormones in our bodies which cause stretch marks so by applying them to the skin, we are inducing a stretch mark. Proof positive that it's not the 'stretching' of the skin that's causing the stretch mark, as the skin isn't stretching.

    Gaining Weight, Pregnancy Changes Hormones

    So why do people who gain weight or are pregnant often get stretch marks? During the times we are growing, certainly when women are pregnant, when guys are lifting weights, or growth during puberty, its true that your skin is expanding as your body is expanding. But these life changes are accompanied by a serious change in our hormones and a change in the metabolism in our skin. It is this, not the 'stretching', that is the cause of stretch marks.

    Last Modified: October 21, 2010
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    Videos
    Laser surgeon Eric Bernstein, MD discusses the cause of stretch marks in this clip.
    How Did Treatment
    ChangeYOUR
    81% Life?
    of reviews werePositive
       (42 reviews)

     Extremely Pleased

    After only 3 laser treatments, my stretch marks are drastica...[more]
    Clermont, FL Jul 15, 2011

     Pregnancy stretch marks

    I've had pregnancy stretch marks for ten years. Five years a...[more]
    St. John's, NL May 15, 2011

     Very Happy With Treatment

    I used to work out a lot last year. I just noticed some gros...[more]
    Mesa, AZ Dec 21, 2010
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    Ask The Doctor
    Q: Why don't they heal over time?
    Like any scar, they will not simply heal on their own. The... [Read More]
    Q: Is weight gain the cause?
    No, weight gain is not to blame. Weight gain can affect the... [Read More]
    Q: Can you prevent stretch marks?
    The use of topical creams like retinoid products and... [Read More]
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