Darkened streaks on a woman’s abdomen, breasts, and thighs, often because of enlargement during pregnancy, in which case they are called striae gravidarum, but sometimes also during the growth spurt associated with puberty. The marks later fade but do not disappear completely. They are also sometimes associated with hormone disorders.
Streaks or lines in the skin that are associated with rapid growth, certain diseases, and long-term use of corticosteroid creams; also known as striae atrophicae. At first the lines appear red and glossy but over time become whitish and scarlike. Stretch marks most frequently appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, thighs, and buttocks. They are due to thinning of the skin. Common causes include rapid growth, pregnancy, obesity, diseases such as diabetes or Gushing disease, and medications that cause swelling, including corticosteroids. There is no effective treatment for stretch marks. Tretinoin cream and laser surgery have been tried with mixed success.