Stretch marks and genetics

They’re unsightly, hard to erase and are a telltale sign of substantial weight gain or loss, but why are some women more prone to pesky stretch marks than others? A study in the November/December 2005 Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that women with stretch marks have a pronounced deficiency of total DNA and protein in the skin and are less quick to repair stretch-dependent skin injuries, hence the formation of stretch marks. When the skin is overstretched at a particular area, the fibers in the elastic middle layer of the skin tear, causing stretch marks to develop. Regardless of your genetic makeup, stretch marks may be preventable. In times of weight fluctuation, keep the skin hydrated.