How to describe stretch marks

Which words describe stretch marks?

Useful words include "linear" for marks shaped like lines, "curved" for bending streaks, and "depressed" for marks that sit slightly below the surrounding skin. In a medical description, "atrophic" means the skin is thinned. The medical name is striae distensae. Plain language is enough for describing what you see, which spares the conversation an unnecessary appearance by striae distensae.245

How to put the description together

1. 1Start with the location. Name the area, such as the abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks, hips, upper arms or lower back.
2. 2Describe the shape. Use "lines", "bands" or "curved streaks", choosing the word that matches what you see.
3. 3Add the colour. Stretch marks can be pink, red, purple, brown, black, white or silver. Describe the actual colour rather than assuming every new mark must be red.
4. 4Describe the surface. Say whether the marks look flat, slightly raised or slightly sunken, and whether the surface looks wrinkled. Colour alone leaves out part of the description.
5. 5Finish with the change over time. If you have noticed the marks fading, becoming lighter or becoming more sunken, include that change. If you do not know when they appeared, describe their current appearance without guessing their age.

Examples you can adapt

Use only the details that match the marks you are describing:

• "There are pink and purple curved streaks across the breasts. They look slightly raised."
• "There are pale white lines on the thighs, with a slightly sunken, wrinkled surface."
• "The marks on the abdomen appeared during pregnancy. They were brown at first and have become less noticeable since delivery."
• "There are silver streaks on the lower back that have gradually faded."

Does the description need a cause?

Appearance and cause are separate details. Stretch marks are a type of scar associated with damage to the connective tissue beneath the skin when skin expands or shrinks quickly. They often develop during puberty, pregnancy or rapid weight changes. During pregnancy, marks commonly appear on the belly as it grows and on the breasts as they enlarge. If you noticed that timing, include it in your description rather than treating it as something the colour proves.67

What changes as stretch marks get older?

Early stretch marks can look flat or slightly raised. With time, they tend to become lighter and slightly depressed, and their surface can look more wrinkled. Fading means they are becoming less visible, not necessarily disappearing. Stretch marks are common and harmless, and older marks can remain visible even after their colour has faded.14

What should you mention to a doctor?

Mention steroid cream or tablet use, because some steroids increase the likelihood of stretch marks. See a GP if large stretch marks occur alongside increased fat on the chest and abdomen with slim arms and legs, fat at the back of the neck and shoulders, or a red, puffy, rounded face. That combination can indicate Cushing's syndrome, a condition involving excess cortisol. Stretch marks also occur in Marfan syndrome, where skin tissue is weakened, but their appearance alone is not a diagnosis.134

Do stretch marks need treatment?

Treatment is optional for harmless stretch marks. Creams and lotions have very little evidence behind claims to prevent, reduce or remove them, despite the ambitious job descriptions on the bottles. Some treatments improve appearance without removing the marks completely. If you want treatment, a dermatologist can discuss options; newer marks are easier to treat than older ones. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, check with your doctor before starting stretch mark treatments. Do not use retinoid creams during pregnancy.14