Pregnancy Stretch Marks (courtesy : www.pregnancy.about.com)
Most of the women get stretch marks during their pregnancy, these are also known as striae gravidarum. These are actually small tears formed in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it stretch. It indicates the tearing or separation of collagen from the skin when tearing occurs.
Stretch marks are not harmful or painful and usually fade over time. These are nothing but long lines on the skin that may be either purple or red depending on your skin color. Usually, lighter skinned women develop pinkish stretch marks, whereas darker skinned women tend to get stretch marks that are lighter than their surrounding skin.
Generally, these are found on the abdomen, however it is also common to get stretch marks on the buttocks, hips, breasts, underarms and thighs. They are caused due to the rapid weight gain and stretching of the skin as soon as the bellies start growing. Some women develop these during the later trimesters of pregnancy, while some develop in the beginning itself.
