BARTONELLA STRIAE - BARTONELLA TRACKS - BARTONELLA STREAKS
A family member had Bartonella striae up and down the spine, and those marks helped lead to the diagnosis. Many doctors still brush them off as stretch marks, so I want you to know what they can look like and why they matter.
Short on time or energy? A quick-view graphic with the key points is at the bottom of this post.
BARTONELLA EDUCATION
BARTONELLA MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS
BARTONELLA DIRECTORY
WHAT THEY ARE
- Bartonella can cause a rash that looks like stretch marks. Its formal name is Bartonella striae, and it's also called Bartonella tracks or streaks.
- Dr. Robert Mozayeni, a Bartonella specialist and past president of ILADS, says that when his team biopsied the red stretch-mark-like lesions, they turned out to be Bartonella every time, though larger studies are needed to prove it.
HOW THEY LOOK
- ILADEF (the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation) describes them as intensely red or purple stretch-mark-like lines.
- IGeneX describes the streaks as usually red or dark brown.
- Dr. Horowitz shares that the streaks may be dark red and may form a Christmas tree pattern.
- He often sees white streaks instead, on the hips, thighs, lower back, breasts and upper chest, and their color can change over time.
- Dr. Todd Maderis notes they are especially likely to run horizontally on the back and hips.
HOW THEY DIFFER FROM REGULAR STRETCH MARKS
- ILADEF explains they don't follow the skin's natural lines and aren't from weight gain.
- Dr. Horowitz shares they may run across the skin's natural lines.
- Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt of NC State explains that these lesions can show up where nothing should be stretching, like the arm, and can run up and down or across the thigh. He notes this has become a controversy among doctors.
OTHER BARTONELLA SKIN SIGNS
- Dr. Horowitz also lists small bumps where a cat scratched and raised dark lumps (bacillary angiomatosis).
- Dr. Breitschwerdt explains these lumps were first seen in people with weakened immune systems from AIDS.
WHAT RESEARCH SHOWS
- An older 2020 NC State study found that 24 of 29 people with neuropsychiatric symptoms (mental health and nerve symptoms) and signs of Bartonella exposure or infection (83%) reported skin lesions. Many looked like stretch marks, and most of these people didn't report the usual causes of stretch marks. The researchers say more studies are needed.
WHY THEY MATTER
- Dr. Horowitz explains that, just as an EM rash points to Lyme, these classic Bartonella rashes show exposure to Bartonella.
- Testing is hard. Dr. Rosalie Greenberg shares that a regular skin biopsy may only show inflammation unless special stains are used, and that tests at large labs often aren't sensitive enough.
How doctors diagnose without relying on one test:
WHEN TO SEE A LYME-LITERATE DOCTOR
- Stretch-mark-like streaks you can't explain, especially with neuropsychiatric symptoms.
- If you or your child have unexplained skin marks along with neuropsychiatric symptoms, Dr. Greenberg suggests strongly considering Bartonella testing.
SEE PICTURES
These pages show real photos of Bartonella striae. Some photos may be hard to look at, and a few show the hips, belly and groin area.
- Global Lyme Alliance, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg (photos of her patients' striae on the arm and chest):
- IGeneX (a photo of streaks across the back):
- NC State study, 2020 (Figures 1 to 7 are photos from study participants):
MY EXPERIENCE
- A family member had the Bartonella rash up and down the spine, and it helped with the diagnosis.
- Many doctors will still tell patients that rash is just stretch marks.
RELATED POSTS
BULLSEYE AND OTHER RASHES IN LYME AND CO-INFECTIONS
BARTONELLA - POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
LYME DISEASE AND CO-INFECTION TESTING
SOURCES
ILADEF, Tick-Borne Diseases Other Than Lyme (2024)
LymeDisease.org, Dr. Horowitz, Medical Detective: Bartonella, Parts 1 and 2 (2025)
Global Lyme Alliance, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg, Bartonella (2022)
Bay Area Lyme Foundation, Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt interview (2023)
IGeneX, Identifying Tick Bites (2024)
Breitschwerdt and others, Bartonella skin lesions, NC State, Pathogens (2020, older source, still worth reading)
Dr. Robert Mozayeni, interview with Better Health Guy, Episode 185 (2023)
Dr. Todd Maderis, Bartonella: More Problematic than Lyme Disease? (updated 2023)
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
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