STRIAE AND THEIR RELATION TO TOPICAL STEROID THERAPY.

Atrophic striae have been reported to occur normally in 35% of adolescents and abnormally in a variety of medical conditions. Recently, the occurrence of striae has been observed in adults after the use of potent topical steroids with occlusion. Pre-existing striae have been found to enlarge after topical steroid therapy, even without occlusion. The mechanism of striae formation appears to be due to the action of the steroids on the dermal connective tissue and/or dermal matrix rather than to mechanical tension.