Striae, commonly called Stretch Marks, are lines or streaks on the skin, which can be pink, purple or white in color (depending on their age), which appear when the inner skin layer is stretched thin and loses its elasticity. The most commonly affected areas are the breasts, thighs, stomach, hips and back. Stretch marks come about as a direct result of the skin getting stretched due to rapid growth , such as during puberty , or weight gain as seen during pregnancy. Although the skin has a fair degree of elasticity, such stretching is bound to leave prominent marks. A lot of pregnant women, in particular, experience stretch marks in different areas especially in the latter half of their terms. Normally, these marks fade over time, and there are a number of treatments that can help in this case.