Stretch marks are not a condition limited to a single stage of life, although there are periods when they occur significantly more frequently. This is due to the combination of three factors: intense hormonal changes, rapid fluctuations in body weight, and an increased rate of tissue remodelling. The most characteristic periods are puberty, pregnancy and phases of rapid body shape changes associated with dieting or strength training. In these situations, the skin is particularly vulnerable to strain, as the collagen and elastin fibres cannot keep up with the changing volume of the tissues.

This does not, however, mean that stretch marks can only appear during these „typical” periods. In clinical practice, they are also observed in adults who are not experiencing rapid changes in body weight but have poor skin quality. Factors such as genetically determined collagen structure, chronic stress, hormonal imbalances or long-term use of medicines affecting skin metabolism play a role here. With age, there is also a natural decline in tissue elasticity, which increases susceptibility to micro-damage even under minor strain.

Consequently, stretch marks are not a phenomenon associated with a specific age, but rather with moments when the skin loses its ability to adapt to the changes taking place in the body. It is precisely the relationship between the rate of change and the skin’s ability to regenerate that determines whether they develop.