15/06/2023
“something we see quite often in young patients with pectus deformity - typically in early teens who are growing a lot …is stretch marks – usually on the lower back but can be other places such as shoulders or even on the chest. What are they?”
Stretch marks, medically known as striae, are a type of skin condition characterized by visible lines or streaks on the skin's surface. They commonly appear as parallel bands or stripes and have a different color or texture compared to the surrounding skin.
During adolescence, when teenagers go through growth spurts, hormonal changes, and rapid physical development, stretch marks may occur. These changes can cause the skin to stretch and expand more quickly than the body's collagen production can keep up with, leading to the formation of stretch marks.
Stretch marks typically appear in areas where the skin is subject to significant stretching, such as the back, abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts, and buttocks. In young teenager boys they appear to most commonly on lower back and occasionally the shoulders. They can vary in colour, ranging from pink, red, purple, or brown, depending on the individual's skin tone. Over time, they typically fade to a lighter shade or become less noticeable.
