What Can You Actually Do About Stretchmarks?

What are stretchmarks?

Stretch marks, medically known as striae, are scar-like lines that appear when skin rapidly stretches and shrinks. Although they most notably occur during adolescent growth, rapid weight fluctuations and pregnancy, they can also be caused by accelerated muscle growth from weight training, or as a side-effect of taking certain medications such as the long-term use of a corticosteroid.

Affecting more women than men, stretchmarks are completely harmless and fade over time, however, they can often leave people feeling self-conscious, and treatments are increasingly in demand. With myriad myths surrounding this common skin complaint, what - if anything - can be done to successfully prevent and treat them?

How do they occur and how can I prevent them?

Abrupt physical changes in our skin cause the underlying collagen and elastin fibres to rupture, leaving narrow visible bands. When stretch marks first appear, they are called striae rubrae and tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown - depending on your skin colour - and can also feel slightly raised and itchy. Like any scar, stretchmarks are permanent, but early treatment may make them less noticeable. Over time they mature into streaks of white lines called striae albae which are harder to manage and less likely to fade, so tackling them early in their formation is key. At the risk of sounding like your mother, the preventative ‘holy trinity’ of good hydration, diet and exercise really is your best bet. Boosting circulation through physical activity and supporting your skin’s plumpness and elasticity with nutritious foods and solid hydration, will help keep your skin healthy and supple enough to withstand bodily changes more easily. 

Fact over fiction

There really is no silver bullet for stretchmarks. The market is awash with creams, lotions and gels all promising results, when in reality, stretchmarks are generally friends for life. Popular home remedies such as massaging almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, or vitamin E into your stretchmarks may make your skin feel softer and improve skin condition, but it isn’t going to raise a physical depression in your skin. Contrary to popular myth, tanning isn’t going to get rid of stretchmarks either - in fact, the contrast between your tanned skin and the scar tissue will make them more obvious. Another good reason to keep sunbathing to a minimum and turn to the fake tan to help disguise the colour disparity, should you wish to.

Does anything work?

Up to a point, yes. Like kids, catch them early and you can manage them more effectively. Topical retinoids can help minimise the scarring by helping to build collagen, boost skin cell turnover, and fade discolouration - but results vary, and treatment should be done consistently in the first few weeks for the best outcome*. Remember to start slowly and increase frequency as you would do with the use of retinoids in your facial skincare routine. Regarding other topicals, there is limited research data or evidence on their effectiveness, although it has been documented that centella and hyaluronic acid may help prevent stretchmarks via a combination of wound-healing properties, fibroblast stimulation, and the ability to improve skin elasticity and skin barrier resilience.

Professional treatments can also help. Procedures that resurface the skin and promote new skin cell formation - such as microdermabrasion, microneedling and chemical exfoliation - can all help reduce the appearance of stretchmarks and improve overall skin texture, as can light and laser therapies. Depending on the maturity and prevalence of your stretchmarks, a trained aesthetician or dermatologist will be able to guide you on the best treatments for your individual circumstances.

Words by Caroline Hirons, Skin Rocks Founder and Skincare Expert

*The use of retinoids whilst pregnant, is a personal choice.