Stretch marks are more likely to be bothersome if they are:
(1) large
(2) visible to others
(3) discolored (red, purple, different from skin color)
A person is more likely to be bothered by stretch marks if:
(1) the person feels compelled to wear coverup clothing that makes her or him feel self-conscious
(2) other people make fun of them
(3) the person feels a personal need to look perfect
(4) the person has a job that requires the person to look perfect (model, movie star, etc).
Some patients may:
(1) avoid social situations where the marks might be seen
(2) become depressed or angry about the marks
(3) lose work as a result with a drop in income
(4) spend a lot of money trying to get them removed
