striae distensae

Striae distensae are characterized by a thinning of connective tissue  stroma to produce linear, atrophic-appearing skin.  The      histopathology supports the view that striae distensae are scars. There is no evidence that they form by stress-induced rupture of the connective tissue.
Excessive adrenocortical activity, genetic factors and inherited defects of connective tissues, etc. are important causative factors in the formation of striae distensae, but the basic aetiology is not known.Striae distensae are an appreciable cosmetic problem for many pregnant women. Preventive application of a water/oil massage cream make a good results.Treatment with topical tretinoin may lead to significant improvement in their clinical picture. Lasers are now being used successfully to improve various types of scars and striae. It is not only imperative to properly categorize the type of scars and striae present, but to determine which laser or lasers can best treat them. A 585-nm flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser is preferred for the treatment of hypertrophic scars, keloids, and striae distensae.