If you've noticed red or purple markings on your skin that look like wiggly lines or stripes, they may be stretch marks. Stretch marks, also known as striae, are a common skin condition affecting as many as 90% of people. While often associated with weight gain, pregnancy, and puberty, they can also appear with weight loss. This article explores the relationship between weight loss and stretch marks, delving into the factors that influence their appearance and offering strategies for prevention and treatment.
What are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks can look like purple, blue, black, pink or red streaks on your skin. New stretch marks will look slightly raised with a red or glossy colour. Over time, they eventually fade to white and start to look slightly depressed. They are essentially scars in the inner skin tissue which fade to white over time. Stretch marks are a form of ‘scarring’ that appears where your skin stretches or shrinks. They vary in colour from purple and red, to light grey or whitish, and the first sign stretch marks might appear is when your skin feels itchy and irritated. When you touch them, you might feel a slight ridge or indentation on your skin.
Stretch marks can occur anywhere on the body where fat is stored. You can find these long, narrow streaks in the tummy, breasts, chest, upper arms, legs, bottom, hips, or back. Most commonly, they occur on the thighs, hips, buttocks and breasts. They can also appear on your shoulders, arms, back and abdomen.
They can occur as a result of rapid weight gain when your skin stretches, causing tears in the inner layer of the skin. The skin loses its elasticity when stretched beyond its limits, leading to tears in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. These tears initially appear as reddish or purplish lines and gradually fade to white or silver over time. Stretch marks are commonly known to be a typical result of pregnancy, but they can also occur as a result of rapid growth due to puberty. Fast growth in muscle size due to bodybuilding can also cause stretch marks.
Stretch Marks and Weight Loss
Stretched skin as a result of weight gain is often associated with the development of visible lines called stretch marks, but stretch marks from losing weight are also possible. While most people think stretch marks appear primarily due to rapid weight gain or pregnancy, losing a significant amount of weight can also reveal stretch marks that were previously less visible.
Read also: Weight Loss and Stretch Marks: Solutions
When you put on weight rapidly, it makes sense that your skin has to adjust by stretching, but stretch marks from losing weight are also possible. In this scenario, your skin is stretching for a different reason. Stretch marks during weight loss are usually “striae distenseae,” a specific type of stretch mark resulting from stretching of the skin. Other types of stretch marks exist, such as stirae atrophica, a type of stretch mark that develops when the skin becomes too thin.
During slow, incremental weight loss, your skin is able to adjust by contracting and tightening. When weight loss happens too rapidly or changes your weight dramatically, your skin may not be able to keep up with your new body composition. This causes excess skin that hangs and pulls on the skin around it, creating tears in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin.
When there’s a tear in your dermis, it triggers an inflammatory response which increases blood flow to that area, creating the red, brown, or purple colors of a new stretch mark. Over time, the tears in the dermis heal and scar over, and the pale, visible lines characteristic of older stretch marks are what remain.
Factors Influencing Stretch Marks from Weight Loss
Several factors affect whether you'll develop stretch marks after losing weight:
- Genetics: If your family has a history of stretch marks, you may be more prone.
- Amount of Weight Lost: Losing significant weight rapidly can reveal existing stretch marks.
- Skin Elasticity: Younger skin with more elasticity tends to resist stretch marks better.
- Hydration Levels: Proper hydration helps maintain skin elasticity, potentially reducing visibility.
- Hormones: hormones, and underlying medical conditions may increase your chance.
For some people, stretch marks may appear more severe after weight loss. If you gained weight rapidly, such as during pregnancy, and developed stretch marks but then lost weight rapidly after giving birth, your skin may experience additional stretching. The initial stretch from the weight gain can be worsened by the stretch caused by loose skin during weight loss.
Read also: Preventing Itchy Stretch Marks
Not everyone notices worsened stretch marks after weight loss. The development, appearance, and progression of striae depend on your individual circumstances. In some cases, stretch marks may even appearless noticeable with weight loss.
Preventing Stretch Marks During Weight Loss
Stretch marks are common, but it’s possible to reduce your chances of developing them during weight loss.
- Lose Weight Gradually: Stretch marks during weight loss are less likely if you lose weight slowly. Aim for a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week. Rapid weight loss strains the skin, increasing stretch mark risks. By keeping the process consistent but slow, you allow your skin the time it needs to adjust to the changes in underlying tissues.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily to keep your skin supple.
- Moisturize and Massage: According to a 2022 review, some research indicates massaging vitamin-rich moisturizers into your skin may help prevent stretch marks. Apply moisturizing creams containing hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, or cocoa butter daily to improve skin elasticity. However, it’s unclear if the moisturizing or the massage is more beneficial.
- Consume Skin-Friendly Foods: Foods that support your skin’s elasticity and suppleness may help it withstand stretching caused by weight loss. Eating a balanced diet that is rich in Vitamin C and protein can help to prevent stretch marks from weight loss. Protein can be found in seafood, nuts, legumes and lean meat, while you can get Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. These two nutrients can also stimulate collagen production which will promote skin regeneration and skin elasticity. Avoid sugar as much as possible. If you eat too much sugar, the extra sugar can attach to your collagen fibres and damage them, reducing your collagen levels.
- vitamin E
- vitamin C
- zinc
- silica
- vitamins B2 and B3
- Work with a Dermatologist: If you’re entering a time when weight loss is planned, working with a dermatologist from the start can help you maintain your skin health. Dermatologists have in-depth knowledge about the skin at all stages of life. They can also prescribe medications, like topical creams, that may make a difference.
Effective Treatments for Stretch Marks
You can treat stretch marks, but no singular approach works for everyone. Supporting research for most options is limited. Overall, significant weight gain or rapid growth changes in the body are why the majority of people develop stretch marks. Pregnancy, puberty, and obesity are all factors that commonly cause stretch marks to develop.
Stretch marks treatment can vary on how old or new they are. If your stretch marks have a red or purple colour, that means they still have a blood supply and can be repaired. However, if the stretch marks have a kind of greyish or silvery colour, they no longer have a blood supply, so they can’t disappear completely.
Topical Therapies
Most people use treatments and creams to reduce the appearance of new stretch marks. These treatments may fade stretch marks which are typically red or purple to a lighter colour. You can also prevent stretch marks or reduce the likelihood of them forming with treatment in the early stages.
Read also: Preventing Stretch Marks
- vitamin-rich moisturizers
- silicone gels
- tretinoin cream
- chemical peels
- Stretch mark creams typically contain lipids and peptides that stimulate the collagen and elastin in your skin to promote skin regeneration and healing. They strengthen and firm the skin while reducing the formation of new stretch marks. Stretch mark oils usually have Vitamin E which provides omega fatty acids to increase skin elasticity. This improves the appearance of stretch marks while reducing new stretch mark formation.
Available Physical Treatments and Procedures
- laser and light therapy, such as microneedling, are known treatments to effectively stimulate the growth of collagen or promote skin elasticity. Your doctor or licensed esthetician can help you determine which technique is best for you, however, is not recommended to undergo laser skin resurfacing while pregnant.
- massage
- broadband ultraviolet radiation exposure
- radiofrequency therapy
- microdermabrasion: A minimally invasive procedure that gently exfoliates the outer layer of skin, promoting new skin growth.
- microneedling: Tiny needles puncture the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, significantly improving stretch mark appearance.
- pulsed magnetic fields
- galvanopuncture
- ultrasonic therapy
Some skin types may not be candidates for every available stretch mark treatment. Your dermatologist can help you decide which therapies make sense for your unique skin needs.
Natural Remedies
Several home remedies can improve the appearance of stretch marks, though results vary:
- Aloe Vera: Regularly applying fresh aloe vera gel may soothe and hydrate skin.
- Coconut Oil: Rich in fatty acids, it deeply moisturizes and supports skin elasticity.
- Sugar Scrubs: Exfoliating gently with sugar can enhance blood flow and promote skin regeneration.
When to Seek Professional Help
If home treatments aren't sufficient, professional aesthetics treatments offer more consistent results. The most drastic treatment is surgery, but this is unnecessary in most cases.
Do Stretch Marks Ever Go Away?
Stretch marks may become less visible over time after the inflammatory response is long gone and they’ve fully healed. However, due to structural changes in the deeper middle layer of the skin, the natural shedding of surface skin cells over time won’t be enough to make most stretch marks vanish completely.
Depending on the location, size, number, and visibility of stretch marks, you can often improve their appearance with treatment. To date, no therapy is universally effective at completely removing stretch marks.
It is not realistic to expect stretch marks to completely resolve once they appear, but the appearance can improve to the point where it’s barely noticeable. First, assess your stretch marks.
The Role of Exercise
To understand the relationship between exercise and stretch marks (striae), we should first cover the underlying factors that contribute to stretch mark formation. Striae occur when the skin is stretched beyond its elastic capacity, causing the middle layer of skin (the dermis) to tear. Exercise does promote increased blood circulation, which can improve the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. Moreover, exercise triggers the release of antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress and support skin health.
So, can losing weight reduce stretch marks? Well, the answer might surprise you. Yes, weight loss resulting from exercise can directly impact the appearance of stretch marks. However, it is important to note that stretch marks may not disappear entirely - they are scars, after all.
Regardless of what type of exercise you start doing, make sure to ease into it gently. Generally speaking, low-impact activities that fall into the “cardio” category are going to be your best bet. Exercises like swimming, walking, yoga, riding the elliptical, or biking would be great options.