Striae (in puberty)

Striae are a common manifestation of puberty. Striae may be found in some 70% of girls aged 10-16 years and 40% of boys aged 14-20 years.

Adolescent striae may develop soon after the appearance of pubic hair. Striae development is not directly associated with obesity or with particularly rapid growth. There is an association with the incidence of adolescent striae and the severity of acne vulgaris.

Common sites include:

• girls - thighs, buttocks, breasts
• boys - outer aspect of thighs and lumbrosacral region

Appearance:

• initially may be raised and weal-like
• soon become smooth and flat; colour is bluish or red
• usually linear
• striae in Cushing's syndrome may be larger and more widely distributed

Investigation:

• clinical diagnosis
• if no clinical features suggestive of an endocrine cause then no further investigation is required

Treatment:

• adolescent striae will become less conspicuous with time

Reference:

• Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJG, Textbook of Dermatology.