Why do I have stretch marks?

No, not this kind of stretching.

Are you looking into the mirror wondering ‘why do I have stretch marks?’. Stretch marks are a normal part of bodily growth. Yep, you might find them annoying, but they’re more common than you might think. Can stretch marks go away? What can you do about them? Read on to find out.

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are lines or streaks that show up on your skin unannounced. How rude. They could at least bring flowers or a box of chocolates to thank you for their stay, right? They’re usually white, purple, or red, and like to congregate on your hips, thighs, boobs and bum.

But why do I have stretch marks?

Stretch marks appear because, well, your skin stretches, which can happen for a number of reasons. You can get them when:

• You’re pregnant, for obvious reasons
• You put on or lose weight rapidly
• You go through puberty. 7/10 girls and 4/10 boys get stretch marks during puberty. Your skin just can’t keep up with how fast you’re growing

How can I stop getting stretch marks?

Stretch marks are often a standard part of growth, so it might be best to just accept that they’re going to come knocking at some point.

However, if you’re worried that they’ll appear when you’re trying to lose or gain weight, then be sure to go about this in a healthy way. If you lose or gain weight slowly and steadily, then you’re less likely to put too much pressure on your skin.

As a general rule you can always take steps to keep your skin healthy by sticking to a healthy diet. Vitamins C and E can help keep your skin in a good condition. We’ve got a guide to foods that are good for your skin here.

Can stretch marks go away?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to make stretch marks go away. Despite there being many creams, oils and gels on the market promising stretch mark removal, there is little medical evidence to prove that they actually work. Nevertheless, treatments such as Bio Oil are often recommended to try and encourage stretch marks to go away.

If stretch marks are affecting your confidence

If your stretch marks are affecting your confidence then visit your GP. They may be able to recommend some alternative treatments such as laser or cosmetic surgery. It is important to point out though that these treatments are not available on the NHS. You could also look into buying camouflage make up.

Stretch marks often fade away by themselves, so give it time and they’ll get bored of being a nuisance.

Wear your stretch marks with pride

Yep, stretch marks aren’t there to look pretty. They can come in all different colours, from white to purple, and in all different sizes. But remember that they’re very common and your friends and family most likely have them too.

Your stretch marks are an example of the wonderful things your body can do, from growing and carrying a real life human, to changing size and shape through puberty. They’re your unique stripes, so wear them with pride.

Further support if you’re struggling with your self confidence

If you’re under 25 and would like free confidential telephone counselling from The Mix to help you figure things out, complete this form and we’ll call you to arrange your first session.

Have you got any home brew stretch mark remedies? Let us know on our discussion boards.