Stretch marks has been a common skin disorder which can be experienced by everyone. This phenomenon is not only for those who are over-weighed or pregnant, because stretch marks can be found even in slimmer individuals. Stretch marks might be really visible in the form of streak lines which has a different texture from the rest of the surrounding skin, or in the form of thick pinkish lines which scattered in a certain area. A person might have different susceptibility to stretch marks than the others. Someone can develop stretch marks based on the family genes and hereditary. Some others might have weight issues without developing any visible stretch marks. These rough streaks are often related to weight gain. It is believed that stretch marks is a result of merely weight and fat accumulation. However, this might not be a hundred percent true, since there are some other things that might also cause stretch marks formation.

Getting stretch marks without gaining weight

Stretch marks is closely related to skin elasticity. Initially, stretch marks occur as reddish, pinkish, or purplish lines on your abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, arms, or back. These lines are the result of showing off blood vessels from beneath the dermis. These blood vessels are able to show their appearances off because the upper dermis covering them is expanding, breaking the connective tissues. As soon as these connective tissues get damaged, the tiny blood vessels which pass the blood throughout the body become visible and occur as pinkish lines on the epidermis. Weight accumulation is often referred as the cause of this broken connective tissues. This is because when weight is gained, the skin is expanding to support it. This causes the connective tissues beneath the skin break and damaged. However, some other things can also surprisingly lead to stretch marks formation. Among the most common other causes of stretch marks development are as follow:

1. Growth spurt

Teenagers which reach puberty can commonly develop stretch marks. This is a result of an excessive growth spurt occurring during adolescence. This growth spurt causes development of certain organs and body parts rapidly in a short period of time. The skin thus expands to cover these growing organs and parts. In puberty, it is not only the growing organs and weight gain which may cause stretch marks to occur. Instead, puberty also triggers some hormones which might inhibit natural collagen production by the skin cells. Less collagen means a bigger risk of stretch marks. This is the reason why growth spurts in most teenagers contribute to the occurrence of stretch marks.

2. Medications

Besides growth spurts, medications might also be a culprit of stretch marks development. Although most medications do not directly contribute to stretch marks development, certain medications such as corticosteroids might trigger stretch marks. Corticosteroids are used for relieving the pain and symptoms of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, and some other illness and diseases by providing more steroid which cannot be produced sufficiently by the adrenal glands. In the first place, this medication causes stretch marks because it inhibits collagen production by the skin. As a result, the skin loses its stretch and new skin cells production is slowing down. Less elastic skin will cause connective tissues to break easily and promotes stretch marks appearance.

3. Cushing or Marfan syndrome

Cushing syndrome is experienced when the body is excessively exposed to corticosteroids medications. These medications may cause a high cortisol level. In some people, however, high cortisol level is naturally produced. Cushing syndrome can also be caused by tumors. This syndrome might cause stretch marks on buttocks, abdomen, breasts, or arms. On the other hand, Marfan syndrome is a body condition which can be experienced by people in any size, sex, and age, in which their connective tissues are not stretchy enough. Thus, these tissues can break easily, causing the occurrence of streaking scars on the skin referred as stretch marks. Marfan syndrome commonly causes stretch marks on the waist, back, and upper arms.

4. Susceptibility

Stretch marks occurrence can also be determined by someone’s susceptibility to it. This susceptibility is mostly determined by genes and hereditary. Even though you are skinny, for instance, but your parents or grandparents developed stretch marks, you are considered susceptible and can easily grow stretch marks as well, and vice versa. Skin and connective tissues elasticity, which have significant roles in stretch marks development are also determined by hereditary and chromosome genes. Elastic skin can inhibit stretch marks development, while less elastic one is more susceptible to its development.

A common skin disorder, stretch marks is commonly caused by weight accumulation and fluctuation. However, it is possible to develop these streaks even without gaining weight. If you develop stretch marks without gaining weight, you might want to check it with the doctor, as it may lead to something more serious.