Diagnosis of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks appear as stretched or thin tissue and that seems to be as less or more.

Persons who quickly loose body weight or put on can be suffered from stretch marks. Stretch marks are in purple, pink or red color on the surface of the skin that has been stretched like after weight loss or weight gain or in pregnancy.

As per the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ National Women’s Health Information Center, about 50% of females who are pregnant get stretch marks which mostly become lighter after delivery time.

It is very difficult to find out the disease. As other health problems also share the same symptoms and signs.

However, the health care provider will conduct a physical examination for diagnosing the problem. The physicians may ask some questions about signs and symptoms of stretch marks such as body weight, obesity, pregnancy, about skin appearance and more.

If one has been taking a corticosteroid medicine for long-term period, the health care provider may think that one has associated stretch marks as an outcome of this medicine.

Females and men can find stretch marks on many parts of the bodies such as thighs, uppers arms, hips, abdominal region, lower back or breasts. One who is obese usually has stretch marks. Sometimes, bodybuilders also get stretch marks due to the changes in the body that bodybuilding can make.

In some cases, the physician can also take a medical history to detect the problem. If the stretch marks are not developed by usual physical alterations, extra studies may be ordered.

The following questions are mostly asked by the health care providers to diagnose stretch marks:

• When did one first see this?
• Has one made use of topical cortisone medicine?
• Is this the initial time that one has associated stretch marks?
• What other signs and symptoms are also present?
• What drugs have one taken?

Imaging Tests - MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT (Computerized tomography) scans can offer images of the affected areas. This is the best way to determine the condition.