Signs youre more likely to develop stretch marks and how to minimize them

Stretch marks: Nobody asks for them, but most of us get them.Whether it’s from pregnancy, puberty or sudden weight gain, these pesky lines love to make an appearance.Some wear their stretch marks like badges of honor, but for others, it’s a never-ending battle to get rid of them — no matter the cost.The Post spoke with two experts to find out which factor puts you at greater risk for these streaky souvenirs and which treatments are actually worth your hard-earned cash when it comes to minimizing them.Stretch marks are a form of scarring that appear after your skin quickly stretches or shrinks beyond its normal capacity.

This strain causes the elastin and collagen in your skin to break, and as it heals, stretch marks may appear. These so-called “lightning strikes” and “tiger stripes” are more common than you might think.Estimates suggest up to 90% of people have stretch marks at some point in their lives, though they’re generally more common in women than men.

“There are many reasons why stretch marks may occur,” said Dr.Maressa C.

Criscito, a dermatologic surgeon at NYU Langone Health.“It could be during pregnancy, it could be due to weight fluctuation or certain medications.

Those are generally the most common causes.”If you hit a growth spurt during adolescence or bulk up through weightlifting, you might also find yourself with stretch marks.Criscito said that genetics play a big role, since our genes influence both the elasticity and structure of our skin, as well as regulating body weight.That means if people in your family have stretch marks, you are more likely to join the club too. “It’s one of the many things that contributes to who we are, how we look and how we feel,” Criscito said. Conditions like Cushing syndrome can also up the odds of developing stretch marks, as the hormonal disorder can lead to rapid weight gain and skin thinning due to excess cortisol, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

People with Marfan syndr...