Stretch marks are perhaps one of the most common after- effects that commonly happen among women after pregnancy. The main reason and cause why stretch marks occur in our body is not really definitive, but there are several reasons that contribute and remain to be the primary causes (although they do not explain why stretch marks occur) of stretch marks, and these possible causes may be either of the following: (1) stretch marks related to hormonal activity, causing it to appear and occur even to teenage boys and girls; (2) pregnancy (as a result of too much stretching of the skin during the pregnancy period); (3) rapid weight gain/loss (resulting to stretching/de- stretching of the skin); (4) depression and extreme unhappiness; (5) long-term lacking of nutrients; and (6) sudden change in physical or environmental conditions. These are the primary accepted possible causes why stretch marks occur to people.
Pink or purplish lines that usually occur in the stomach, upper thighs, and even the breasts characterize stretch marks. The stretching is the result of the production of collagen in the skin, leading to the breaking up of the skin, which will eventually lead to pink or purple marks called stretch marks. Of course, stretch marks are not exclusive to pregnant women only, but they also occur to men and boys and girls in the adolescent stage. The primary causes mentioned a while ago are the primary reasons why stretch marks are inevitable to happen among people of all gender and ages. The stretch marks at its initial stage are probably at its worst appearance, since the purplish marks are hard to conceal and to be unnoticed by an individual who might notice it. However, as time passes by, the purple marks in the skin become white and faint pale in color, a sign that the blood vessels in the purple marks are breaking up, and this pale whit color might become unnoticeable in the end, and the stretch mark will eventually be gone. Despite the unknown origins of stretch marks, people must not be embarrassed or frightened about having one because it is a normal occurrence and does not bring any harmful effect to the individual (unless that individual is too mentally preoccupied with his/her stretch marks).
