Stretch marks: appearance, causes and treatments

All the articles in this blog are written in collaboration and with the supervision of the health professionals at our weight center.

Stretch marks are skin lesions that appear following a tearing of the dermis. Whether they are caused by weight gain, hormones, pregnancy or puberty, let’s see together why, how and where they appear? But above all, how to make stretch marks disappear? Discover in this article everything you want to know about these streaks!

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are skin lesions that appear on the skin as a result of distension of one or more specific parts of the body (pregnancy, puberty, etc.). Indeed the deep dermis undergoes a spontaneous tear, which causes these marks. Their aspect of linear depressions has earned them several nicknames: stripes, streaks, etc.

When they appear, these streaks are purplish red. This color is due to the trauma suffered by the fibroblasts, which causes inflammation of the dermis. This is why this stage is called the inflammatory phase. During this, the marks can scratch and tug, which causes some discomfort. Recent stretch marks are also called immature.

Over time, the repair process replaces damaged cells. This is the scar phase. Thus the streaks lighten until they take on a pearly white color. Hence, they are now called mature stretch marks.

Stretch marks do not harm the health of an affected person. However, the unsightly appearance of these marks can be the source of complexes for many people.

However, men are less affected by this phenomenon than women (40% against 70%).

Where do they appear?

Stretch marks are mainly found at:

• belly
• breasts
• buttocks
• thighs
• arms
• hips

These areas favor the emergence of stretch marks, not because they are more fragile, but because they are more prone to increase in volume (weight gain, pregnancy, etc.). This sudden stretching of the skin decreases the amount of elastic fibers, and breaks the collagen fibers. This results in a tearing of the deep dermis.

What are the causes of stretch marks ?

There are many causes behind the appearance of stretch marks:

• sudden increase in volume: various reasons can be at the origin of this weight gain:
  • rapid weight gain: the increase the body fat in the body promotes their appearance, especially in cases of obesity
  • increased muscle mass: the rapid development of muscle mass acts in the same way as weight gain, especially in the pectorals and shoulders
  • sudden and significant loss of weight: it is not uncommon to observe during episodes of anorexia, the appearance of stretch marks due to the stretching of the skin which has previously been relaxed
  • pregnancy: the growth of the fetus causes a rapid increase in the volume of the belly. In addition to the hormonal changes that occur during this period, they weaken the collagen
  • puberty: during adolescence, the human body experiences significant and rapid growth, in parallel with intense hormonal changes
• the quality of the skin: very thin skin will have stretch marks more easily
• hormonal origin: an organism that produces too much cortisol is exposed to a high risk of developing stretch marks because it reduces the amount of collagen in the organism
• ingestion or application of products:
  • prolonged use of corticosteroids, whether oral or topical
  • taking anabolic steroids: athletes are more affected by this scenario

How to get rid of it?

To no longer have stretch marks, there are two key moments during which it is necessary to intervene: before they appear and as soon as they appear.

1 – Prevention of stretch marks

To avoid the appearance of stretch marks at the times when they are most likely to appear, there are many tips to follow:

• drink enough water daily
• control your weight: avoid strong weight gain and avoid drastic diets
• moisturize your skin morning and evening
• avoid aggressive soaps and products that remove the hydrolipidic film
• apply a suitable cream daily

2 – Reduction of stretch marks

Once the welts appear, there are various methods to reduce their visibility. However, it is essential to treat them during their inflammatory period, when they are still purplish. Once they have turned white, the various solutions to fight against stretch marks will be ineffective.

• anti-stretch mark creams and lotions: moisturize the skin
• peeling and micro-dermabrasion: stimulate skin elasticity
• LED photomodulation: stimulates the production of elastic fibers in the skin
• the various lasers: in particular the non-ablative laser which stimulates the fibroblasts, thus a regeneration of the cells follows
• microneedling: also stimulates the healing process
• fractional radiofrequency: sends waves to stimulate collagen production
• PRP injections: injections of platelet-rich plasma also allow the stimulation of collagen
• cosmetic surgery: tightens the affected parts

All these methods greatly improve the appearance of the skin, but do not allow to completely get rid of it. Combining these solutions in addition to advice on how to protect yourself from them makes it possible to obtain better results.

What to remember about stretch marks

Stretch marks are skin lesions that appear following a sudden stretching of the epidermis.

They appear on the areas of the body where it is most likely to gain volume: the belly, the breasts, the buttocks, etc.

These streaks appear either following a gain in volume: pregnancy, weight gain, puberty, muscle mass gain, etc. Either because of hormones: high cortisol production or taking certain medications.

It is impossible to make stretch marks completely disappear. However, it is possible to limit their appearance provided you follow certain advice before, during and after their appearance: stay hydrated, avoid strong weight variations, etc. Then to mitigate them with: specially designed products, microneedling, laser, cosmetic surgery, etc.

In any case, taking care of your body is the best option to prevent their appearance and promote their reduction!

Do you have weight issues ? From weight variation, to obesity and eating disorders. Contact our weight clinic located in Brussels on +32 (0)2 673 90 71 and receive personalized advice from our expert doctors.