Stretch marks develop when the skin stretches or shrinks quickly during growth spurts, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or weight training. This sudden change causes elastin and collagen to rupture, and as the skin heals, stretch marks appear. They often appear on the abdomen, hips, breasts, and buttocks, but can appear on many different areas of the body. While stretch marks are not harmful, many people do not like the way they look.

Not all stretch marks look alike, and may vary in appearance depending on how long you have had them, what caused them, and where they are on the body. Some common examples of different stretch mark variations include:

• Red, pink, blue, or purple streaks.
• Indented streaks.
• Streaks covering large areas of the body.
• Bright streaks that may fade to a lighter color.

While anyone can develop stretch marks, they are more often in females who have a personal or family history of stretch marks. Using corticosteroids, rapid growth or weight fluctuations, or pregnancy can also contribute to the development of stretch marks.