Thinned, erythematous, depressed bands of atrophic skin. Initially, striae appear as flattened and thinned, pinkish linear regions of the skin. Striae tend to enlarge in length and become reddish or purplish. Later, striae tend to appear as white, depressed bands that are parallel to the lines of skin tension. Striae distensae occur most often in areas that have been subject to distension such as the lower back, buttocks, thighs, breast, abdomen, and shoulders.