Stretch Marks That Can Be Tattooed

Here are the different types of stretch marks and the ones that can be camouflaged:

• Striae gravidarum: Stretch marks which occur as a result of pregnancy.

• Striae nigrae: Dark grey or black stretch marks (usually applicable to darker complexion skin types).

• Striae caerulea: Dark blue / purplish stretch marks (also applicable to those with darker complexions).

• Striae atrophicans: Thinned skin associated with stretch marks – this may develop in those with Cushing’s syndrome, due to the prolonged use of corticosteroids or after a surgical procedure.

Striae rubrae: Pink / red stretch marks

Striae albae: White stretch marks

Striae Rubrae

This phase of the stretch mark can feel really itchy and be predominantly asymptomatic. Striae rubrae is classified as the acute stage of stretch marks which presents the earliest physical indications of overstretched skin. The skin is usually flat and has a loss of rete ridges. The collagen fibers are thick and are densely packed. The pattern of the stretch marks are perpendicular or parallel, and collagen fibers are broken down.

Skin has inflammation due to overstretching the affected skin turns pink / red or violaceous in color. Stretch Marks appear flat but can sometimes be slightly raised too. The stretch mark gradually increases in both length and width. This type of stretch mark is not recommended to have medical tattooing procedures done such as stretch mark camouflage.

Striae Albae

Striae albae is more chronic and mature stage of stretch mark formation. The Marks look more like a scar and have odd shapes. The stretch marks are faded and more of a white color. Some look even wrinkly. The transition from Rubrae to Albae is gradual. Mature stretch marks may also become more prominent as a person naturally loses skin elasticity through the process of aging. These kind of stretch marks can be tattooed using stretch mark camouflage by a medical tattoo artist.

Striae Gravidarum (pregnancy stretch marks)

The type of stretch mark developed during pregnancy are Striae gravidarum and are classified as secondary to striae distensae .

These are most prominent on the stomach, abdomen, breast and thigh areas when a woman is pregnant.

This stretch mark can form around her lower back area, upper arms, hips and buttocks

They begin as striae rubrae and then become hypopigmented depressions, with fine wrinkles.

The elastin fibers become weak and fibrillin microfibrils (a glycoprotein) in the skin is mostly caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.

This is why there is a change in the display pattern of stretch marks in pregnant women. Marks look more perpendicular.

Stretch marks during pregnancy do tend to fade, becoming more mature within a year or two.

For the most part, stretch marks do not disappear completely. This type of stretch mark tattooing can be done using paramedical tattooing methods.

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