Stretch marks are small, depressed streaks in the skin that appear most often on the abdomen in the later stages of pregnancy when the belly is rapidly expanding to accommodate a growing baby. Some women also get them on their buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts.

Stretch marks are indented streaks in the skin that look red, purple, dark brown, silver, or white. Stretch marks happen when the skin tears and then heals. During pregnancy and other rapid weight gain, the skin becomes stretched and tear. When the skin heals, small scars form as stretch marks.

Do stretch marks go away? What works to get rid of stretch marks after you’re pregnant? Learn about pregnancy stretch marks and what you can and can’t do to make them look better.

Stretch marks, known as “striae gravidarum” in pregnancy, are basically a type of scar. They look like indented streaks on your skin. They can be pink, red, black, blue, or purple.