Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are often classified based on their color or cause. Common types include:

• Striae atrophicans, or stretch marks from thinning skin
• Striae gravidarum, or stretch marks that show up after pregnancy
• Striae rubrae, or red, newer stretch marks
• Striae albae, or white, older stretch marks that have faded
• Striae nigra, or black stretch marks
• Striae caerulea, or dark blue stretch marks

Stretch marks happen when your body grows quickly or changes size for any reason. Your skin can’t stretch enough to keep up.

Collagen is a protein that makes your skin more elastic. If your skin doesn’t have enough collagen, the marks may show up as it stretches.

You may get stretch marks because of:

• Quick weight gain (which affects both men and women)
• Childhood growth spurts during puberty. Make sure kids know this is normal and that childhood marks may fade as they get older.
• Pregnancy as a result of stretched skin and a surge in hormones that weaken skin fibers. They might fade as you shed pounds after the baby is born.
• Breast implant surgery
• Bodybuilding, even people with low body fat can get stretch marks where their muscles bulge
• High amounts of steroids, either from steroid medications or illnesses such as Cushing’s syndrome
• Marfan syndrome, a genetic disease that weakens your skin fibers and causes unusual growth
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a group of conditions that result from genetic changes to collagen, a protein in your body

Stretch marks also run in families.

New stretch marks may feel slightly raised and itchy. These rippled, streaky lines in your skin come in different colors. They fade from red or pink to purplish-blue to thinner, pale, more scar-like streaks over time. You may not notice them as much.

They can show up on many parts of your body:

• Arms
• Back
• Breasts
• Buttocks
• Hips
• Shoulders
• Stomach or torso

Your doctor can usually diagnose stretch marks just by looking at your skin. But they’ll probably ask about your medical history. If you’ve taken either oral or topical steroids for a long time, high cortisol levels in your body might be to blame.

A range of medical treatments and home remedies is available to treat your stretch marks. Some work better than others.

Medical treatment for stretch marks

A skin doctor or plastic surgeon can use lasers or other treatments to help fade the marks. These treatments work by helping your skin make more collagen:

Pulsed dye laser therapy is a painless blast of light used on new, red stretch marks. The light’s energy calms blood vessels under your skin that could cause the marks.

Fractional CO2 laser therapy is a new treatment that may smooth out old, white stretch marks. One study showed that women who used this therapy saw their stretch marks fade after five sessions compared to others who used topical creams with glycolic acid and tretinoin.

Excimer laser therapy exposes stretch marks to targeted ultraviolet B (UVB) light. A small study shows that it’s safe and treatments over one to four months can correct pigment problems from stretch marks.

Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals to rub off the top layer of your skin. One new study showed that this treatment helped fade new, reddish stretch marks when combined with skin peels.

Cosmetic surgery, like a tummy tuck, may remove skin with stretch marks. But these operations could leave scars. Plus, they’re often painful and costly.

A chemical peel is an acidic solution that burns off the top layers of your skin to remove dead and damaged cells, boosting new skin growth. This treatment may improve your stretch marks a little, but it won’t completely get rid of them.

Radiofrequency uses radio wave energy to create heat and trigger your body to make collagen. One small study found that this treatment is safe and can improve stretch marks, but scientists need to do more research.

Ultrasound works a lot like radiofrequency treatments. The procedure sends sound waves deep into your skin to heat up and tighten it and to jumpstart collagen production.

It’s possible to prevent stretch marks, but there’s no guarantee. The best way to lower your chances is to stay at a healthy weight, even during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan and how to eat well.

Products with the ingredients centella and hyaluronic acid may work to prevent stretch marks.