Stretch Mark Diagnosis

Ailments of any description require to be properly diagnosed before initiating the right remedial treatments. In some ailments it is really very difficult to ascertain the exact type of the disorder unless certain clinical tests or analytical reports are not done. Some of the non-harmful disorders like stretch marks do not require consulting the doctor. However, if such stretch marks have occurred on the body areas that are easily visible or noticeable, then the doctor must be consulted for its proper remedial treatment options. If you feel that the emerged stretch marks are not just due to the sudden gain or loss in your body weight or post pregnancy phase, you should consult the physician because the stretch marks could be even due to the Cushing’s disease.

Usually the stretch marks appear more or less as the stretched or fine tissues. Especially the people abruptly losing their body weight or just put on the weight can easily develop the stretch marks on their skin. Usually the stretch marks in their initial phase are of pale purple, pink or red in color appearing on the top surface of the skin that has stretched due to sudden change in the body weight or especially in the post pregnancy phase for women. According to the declarations by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and National Women’s Health Information Center, almost 50 percent of females develop stretch marks during or after their pregnancies and the same fade outs in due course of time.  

Many health related problems are said to cause almost similar symptoms and signs hence it is really very difficult to ascertain or diagnose the exact cause of the stretch marks in general cases. However, for diagnosing the proper cause the health care provider may conduct certain necessary physical examinations or clinical tests. The doctor may also raise some query to the patient about the signs and symptoms of stretch marks that usually include the change in body weight, obesity, pregnancy or child birth, about the appearance or changes in the skin and so on. Also if the patient is taking medications having corticosteroids since longer phase, the doctor may doubt that the patient may have stretch marks due to its use.

Generally stretch marks are more often found in the body areas such as the thighs, upper arms, hips, abdominal region, and lower portions of the back or the breasts. The obese people would obviously have the stretch marks on his or her body. Due to the changes developed following the bodybuilding exercises in the bodybuilders may also cause stretch marks in many cases. Medical history is also often taken by the doctor for diagnosing the cause of stretch marks in some typical cases. If the stretch marks are not occurred due to the physical changes then some added clinical studies are suggested for properly diagnosing the precise reasons.

The most commonly asked questions by any healthcare provider to diagnose include:

  • When the patient has first noticed the stretch mark?
  • Has he or she used cortisone based topical medication?
  • Is it for the first time he or she has noticed stretch marks?
  • Whether any other signs or symptoms are experienced, and
  • What medicine has he or she taken?

Also the Imaging tests like MRI or CT scan of the affected areas are suggested for diagnosing in some of the remote cases.

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