Stretch Marks - Skin Problems Message Board

jaboop35 · 02-13-2006, 10:57 PM

Hi everyone. I'm a 20 year old male, and just have a few questions.

I've noticed over the past few years that in my groin area I've seen these marks that are sometimes red, sometimes white. they sort of look like stretch marks, but im actually a little bit underweight, so it doenst really make sense that i would have them there. These patches are about usually 2 inches long and about a half inch wide, where it feels like theres not a lot of skin under them. Could these be stretch marks, and if they are what are they from most likely?

akazie · 02-14-2006, 05:26 AM

They do sound like stretch marks. Stretch marks are caused when the skin is stretched to the point of breaking down, similar to an elastic losing its elasticity. Losing collagen and elastin in the skin causes stretch marks. When there is a breakdown or loss of elastin and collagen fibres or excessive stretching in the skin, the mark actually shows through to the epidermis (top layer of skin).

The main cause of stretch marks is a dramatic increase in size of tissue, in the area of the marks. Pregnancy, weight gain or loss, and bodybuilding are the main causes of stretch marks. However, some people are just more genetically prone to stretch marks. As well, skin type can have an effect. Dryer skin has less elasticity than oily skin, and therefore is more prone to have stretch marks.