Depending on
your natural
skin
coloring,
stretch
marks begin
as raised
pink,
reddish
brown or
dark brown
striations
that then
turn a
brighter
violet or
purple.
Gradually
these bright
marks
flatten and
fade to a
color a few
shades
lighter than
your natural
skin tone.
They usually
become less
noticeable
over time.
Stretch
marks can
appear
anywhere on
the body
where the
skin has
been
stretched
(often as a
result of
weight
gain).
They're most
likely to
appear in
places where
fat is
stored: the
abdomen,
breasts,
upper arms,
thighs and
buttocks.
They pose
absolutely
no health
risk and
don't
compromise
your body's
ability to
function
healthily;
they are
purely a
cosmetic
issue and
need to be
treated
accordingly.
This
site does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or
treatment. The site and its services, including the information above, are for
informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical
advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment.Always seek the advice of your
doctor. Medical information changes rapidly
and, some information
may be out of date.
We
have three layers of skin: the
epidermis, or outer layer; the
dermis, or middle layer; and the
subcutaneous stratum, or deepest
layer. Stretch marks (also known as
stria atrophica and striae distensae)
occur in the dermis, the elastic,
resilient middle layer that allows
skin to retain its shape. If stretch
marks formed on the skin's surface,
they'd be much easier to treat. When
the dermis is constantly stretched
over time, the skin becomes less
elastic and the connective fibers
break. The result is the markings we
know as stretch marks. 
