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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffStretch marks are more common in women than in men, and more common in white women than in Asian or black women. Risk factors include:
- Being female
- Having a family history of stretch marks
- Being pregnant, especially for younger women
- Having larger babies
- Being overweight or obese
- Rapidly gaining or losing weight
- Using corticosteroid medication
References
- Elsaie ML, et al. Striae distensae (stretch marks) and different modalities of therapy: An update. Dermatological Surgery. 2009;35:563.
- Papoutsis J, et al. Physiological skin changes induced by pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199649567-2/0/1528/0.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Osman H, et al. Cocoa butter lotion for prevention of striae gravidarum: A double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008;115:1138.
- Morelli JG. Diseases of the dermis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199649567-5/0/1608/0.html. Accessed May 4, 2010.
- Karen JK, et al. Skin changes and diseases in pregnancy. In: Wolf K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y,: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2954133. Accessed May 4, 2010.
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