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Stretch Marks and Pregnancy
Striae gravidarum, better known as stretch marks, are
small streaks in the skin caused by rapid weight gain. Stretch marks are
actually scars caused by the skin being stretched further than its
natural elasticity allows. As a result of this over-stretching, the
production of a special protein called collagen becomes disrupted. When
this happens, the skin becomes less elastic and more prone to tearing.
When the elastic supportive tissue beneath the skin tears, the result is
a stretch mark on the surface of the skin.
Stretch marks are generally rough and uneven compared to the surrounding
skin. Stretch marks are usually pink, reddish-brown or almost purple in
color in women with light-colored skin. For women with dark-colored
skin, stretch marks are usually very dark brown, though stretch marks
are less common during pregnancy in women with dark-colored skin.
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