Health · Skin, Hair & Hormonal Signs
Stretch Marks: Why Do They Happen?
By the eva team · · 2 min read
Stretch marks are lines that can develop when the body grows or changes quickly. They are especially common during puberty, when height, weight and body shape may change rapidly. Stretch marks are harmless and usually become less noticeable over time, although they may not disappear completely.
1. Why Am I Getting Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are common during the teenage years. They may appear when your body grows quickly or changes shape during puberty. Having them does not mean that anything is wrong with your body.
2. They Form When Skin Changes Quickly
Stretch marks can form when the skin stretches or changes faster than its supporting tissue can comfortably adapt. Genetics, skin elasticity and the speed of the body change can influence who develops them.
3. Puberty Is A Common Time For Them
Growth spurts and changing body shape during puberty can make stretch marks more likely. They may appear even when you are healthy and your body is developing normally.
4. They Can Appear In Different Places
Stretch marks commonly appear on areas such as the thighs, hips, bottom, breasts, abdomen, upper arms or lower back. Their location depends on where the body has grown or changed.
5. Their Colour Can Change Over Time
New stretch marks may look pink, red, purple, reddish-brown or darker than the surrounding skin. As they mature, they often become lighter and less noticeable, although the final colour varies between skin tones.
6. Creams Cannot Promise To Remove Them
Many oils and creams are advertised for stretch marks, but common remedies such as cocoa butter, olive oil, almond oil and vitamin E have not been shown to prevent them reliably. Stretch marks often fade naturally, but no product can promise to erase them completely.
7. Sudden Or Unusual Changes Can Be Checked
Most stretch marks are harmless. Speak with a healthcare professional if many appear suddenly without an obvious growth or body change, or if you are concerned about medicines such as steroid creams or tablets. Rarely, stretch marks can be linked with another health condition.
8. Stretch Marks Are A Normal Body Change
Stretch marks are extremely common and are not caused by poor hygiene or something you did wrong. Your body does not need to be perfectly smooth to be healthy, normal or worthy of confidence.