By Stephen Adams Health Correspondent For The Mail On Sunday
Published: 23:12 BST, 13 April 2019 | Updated: 00:02 BST, 14 April 2019
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For many women, they are the price of pregnancy, but a lucky few can become mothers without suffering stretch marks.
Now scientists have solved the mystery about why some people are more predisposed to the scars – and the answer is in our genes.
Researchers examined the DNA of more than 760,000 people and found there are 544 'genetic markers' linked to stretch marks.
Genetic and other factors are being blamed for stretch marks whereas the lucky few escape
According to researcher Dr Olga Sazonova, some of these increase the likelihood of suffering stretch marks, while others appear to protect against them.
Her team at the US-based firm 23andMe used the DNA data to create a computer model which could predict whether a person was more or less likely to develop stretch marks.
Dr Sazonova said: 'For me, 81 per cent of people with genetic and other factors similar to me have stretch marks, while 19
