what are striae anatomy

What does striae mean in anatomy?

Striae, also known as striae distensae or stretch marks, are linear atrophic areas of skin that are characterized by an absence of elastic fibers and altered collagen bundles.

What are striae and where are they located?

Striae are linear, atrophic lesions located perpendicular to skin tension lines. They may be several centimeters long with color progression from red to purple to white as they mature. They tend to occur on the thighs, buttocks, and breasts of girls and the thighs and low back of boys during puberty (Figure 7-8).

What are the types of striae?

There are two main types of striae distensae: striae rubra and striae alba.

What are stretch marks anatomy and physiology?

“Stretch marks,” which appear on the breasts and abdomen during pregnancy, are due to the tearing of the elastic tissues in the skin that accompanies enlargement of the breasts, distention of the abdomen, and the deposition of subcutaneous fat.

What are striae and what can cause them?

Striae are a form of dermal scarring associated with stretching of the dermis. They often result from a rapid change in weight (gain and loss) or are associated with endogenous or exogenous corticosteroids.

What does striae look like?

New stretch marks are bright pink, red, blue, black or purple. Older stretch marks fade. Stretch marks (striae) are indented streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body. They're common in pregnant women, especially during the last trimester.

How common is striae?

Approximately 90% of pregnant women, 70% of adolescent females, and 40% of adolescent males (many of whom participate in sports) have stretch marks. Striae affect adolescents, pregnant women (striae gravidarum), and patients with excessive adrenal cortical activity.

How are stretch marks formed?

A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. Not everyone develops these narrow bands on their skin.

What medical conditions cause stretch marks?

CausesCushing syndrome (disorder that occurs when the body has a high level of the hormone cortisol)Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (disorder marked by very stretchy skin that bruises easily)Abnormal collagen formation, or medicines that block collagen formation.Pregnancy.Puberty.Obesity.Overuse of cortisone skin creams.

What layer of skin are stretch marks?

Stretch marks form in the dermis, or middle layer, when the connective tissue is stretched beyond the limits of its elasticity. This is normally due to rapid expansion or contraction of the skin. As the body grows, the connecting fibers in the dermis slowly stretch to accommodate slow growth.

Where are stretch marks most common?

Stretch marks look like lines or streaks across the skin. Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or purple. They usually start off darker and fade over time. Stretch marks are most common on the tummy, breasts, chest, upper arms, legs, bottom, hips or back.

What is the difference between striae rubra and striae Alba?

What is striae? Stretch marks are extremely common, affecting over 70% of the population. There are two types of stretch marks – striae rubra (red or new stretch marks) and striae alba (white or old stretch marks). New stretch marks are more responsive to treatment than old stretch marks.

What diseases cause striae?

CausesCushing syndrome (disorder that occurs when the body has a high level of the hormone cortisol)Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (disorder marked by very stretchy skin that bruises easily)Abnormal collagen formation, or medicines that block collagen formation.Pregnancy.Puberty.Obesity.Overuse of cortisone skin creams.

How do I get rid of striae?

Medical treatments for stretch marksLaser therapy. Lasers deliver focused light to the skin. ... Microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion involves exfoliating the skin in a way that at-home remedies can't. ... Microneedling. Microneedling uses a device that creates tiny pricks in the skin. ... Radiofrequency therapy. ... Chemical peel.

What causes stria?

Skin distention may lead to excessive mast cell degranulation with subsequent damage of collagen and elastin. Prolonged use of oral or topical corticosteroids or Cushing syndrome (increased adrenal cortical activity) leads to the development of striae.

Does striae go away?

Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, but treatment may make them less noticeable. Treatment can also help alleviate the itch. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor before treating stretch marks.