Stretch marks may give the impression that they appear „suddenly”, but in reality their development is a gradual process taking place in the deeper layers of the skin. The absence of previous changes in body weight does not rule out their formation, as the key mechanism is not solely the stretching of the skin, but also the weakening of the structure of collagen and elastin fibres. If the skin loses its mechanical strength, even slight changes in tissue volume can lead to micro-damage, which over time develops into visible linear marks.

Hormonal factors play a significant role, particularly cortisol, which slows down collagen synthesis and impairs regenerative processes. Under such conditions, the skin becomes less resilient to everyday stresses, and stretch marks may become visible within a short time, even though the process of their formation had already begun earlier. Furthermore, genetic predisposition and the quality of microcirculation, which affects tissue nourishment and repair capacity, are also significant factors.

In practice, this means that „sudden” stretch marks are merely the moment they become visible on the skin’s surface, not the start of the process. Therefore, the absence of changes in body weight should not preclude their diagnosis or prevention.