Editing Stretch marks (section)

{{Short description| Form of scarring}}
{{Redirect|Stria|inner ear structure|Stria vascularis of cochlear duct|brain structure|Stria terminalis}}
{{More footnotes|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
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{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Stretch marks
| image           = Belly Strech Marks.jpg
| caption         = multiple recent (reddish) and a few older (white) stretch marks
| pronounce       =
| field           = [[Dermatology]]
| synonyms        = stria, striae distensae
| symptoms        =
| complications   =
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}}
'''Stretch marks''', also known as '''striae''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|t|r|aɪ|iː}}){{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} or '''striae distensae''',<ref name="Zink2011">{{cite book| vauthors = Zink C |title=Dictionary of Obstetrics and Gynecology|date=15 June 2011|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-085727-6|pages=230}}</ref> are a form of [[scar]]ring on the [[Human skin|skin]] with an off-color hue. Over time, they may diminish, but will not disappear completely. Striae are caused by tearing of the [[dermis]] during periods of rapid growth of the body, such as during [[puberty]] or [[pregnancy]], in which they usually form during the [[Pregnancy#Timeline|last trimester]]. Usually on the belly, these striae also commonly occur on the breasts, thighs, hips, lower back, and buttocks. Pregnancy-related striae are known as ''striae gravidarum''.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2008 |title=Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks Different? |url=http://americanpregnancy.org/your-pregnancy/are-pregnancy-stretchmarks-different/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119091203/http://americanpregnancy.org/commondiscomforts/PE-pregnancy-stretchmarks-different.html |archive-date=19 January 2013 |publisher=American Pregnancy Association |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Striae may also be influenced by the [[Hormone|hormonal]] changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, [[bodybuilding]], or [[hormone replacement therapy]].<!-- Prevention and treatment --> There is no evidence that creams used during pregnancy prevent stretch marks.<ref name=CC-Brennan-2012 /> Once they have formed, there is no clearly effective treatment, though various methods have been attempted and studied.<ref name=L2014/>