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Stretch Marks and Weight

Stretch marks are streaky lines on the skin, caused by a tearing of the middle layer of skin--the dermis--after the skin is rapidly stretched. According to the British National Health Service (NHS), they tend to occur more often in women than men and are common during pregnancy and after sudden weight gain.

  1. Identification

    • Stretch marks usually appear as red or purple lines on the skin. You may notice them appear gradually or overnight, and they may be raised to the touch. Over time these lines may fade and flatten out and become silvery and lighter than your skin tone.

    Weight Gain

    • Weight gain can cause stretch marks.

      Sudden weight gain over a short period of time can cause stretch marks to appear, especially on body areas where fat is stored, such as the stomach, buttocks, thighs and arms and women's breasts. The NHS website lists these as the most common areas for stretch marks.

    Weight Loss

    • It isn't just weight gain that causes stretch marks, according to webMD. Rapid weight loss, especially if you had a lot to lose, can cause stretch marks to appear, although not to the same extent as weight gain.

    Prevention

    • Lose weight slowly with diet and exercise

      Prevention is better than cure, as getting rid of stretch marks is hard. If you want to lose weight, do so slowly rather than quickly, allowing time for your skin to adjust. If you are gaining weight, again do so slowly to minimize stretch marks.

    Treatment

    • Sometimes it is not possible to avoid stretch marks, and even after years they may not fade completely. Although there is no "cure" for stretch marks, the NHS lists some treatment options. Creams that moisturize the area, bringing some of the elasticity back may help, but will not remove them completely. Laser therapy is reported to help with new stretch marks--ones that are still red or purple--by speeding up the healing process. But even with new treatments developing daily, there is little medical evidence to suggest these will truly cure your stretch marks, according to the NHS.

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