Stretch marks: Nobody asks for them, but most of us get them.
Whether it’s from pregnancy, puberty or sudden weight gain, these pesky lines love to make an appearance. Some wear their stretch marks like badges of honor, but for others, it’s a never-ending battle to get rid of them — no matter the cost.
The Post spoke with two experts to find out which factor puts you at greater risk for these streaky souvenirs and which treatments are actually worth your hard-earned cash when it comes to minimizing them.
Stretch marks are a form of scarring that appear after your skin quickly stretches or shrinks beyond its normal capacity. This strain causes the elastin and collagen in your skin to break, and as it heals, stretch marks may appear.
These so-called “lightning strikes” and “tiger stripes” are more common than you might think. Estimates suggest up to 90% of people have stretch marks at some point in their lives, though they’re generally more common in women than men.
What puts you at risk for stretch marks?
“There are many reasons why stretch marks may occur,” said Dr. Maressa C. Criscito, a dermatologic surgeon at NYU Langone Health. “It could be during pregnancy, it could be due to weight fluctuation or certain medications. Those are generally the most common causes.”
If you hit a growth spurt during adolescence or bulk up through weightlifting, you might also find yourself with stretch marks.
Criscito said that genetics play a big role, since our genes influence both the elasticity and structure of our skin, as well as regulating body weight. That means if people in your family have stretch marks, you are more likely to join the club too.
“It’s one of the many things that contributes to who we are, how we look and how we feel,” Criscito said.
Conditions like Cushing syndrome can also up the odds of developing stretch marks, as the hormonal disorder can lead to rapid weight gain and skin thinning due to excess cortisol, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
People with Marfan syndrome often develop stretch marks as well, even without any weight fluctuations, because the weakened connective tissue in their skin makes it less elastic.
The worst part of stretch marks
While stretch marks don’t hurt and aren’t dangerous, they can take a toll on mental health, especially when it comes to self-esteem, body image, depression and anxiety.
In one study, nearly a third of women with stretch marks reported feeling “a lot” or “moderate” embarrassment about the lesions. These women were also more likely to say that their stretch marks affected other parts of their lives, like socializing and wardrobe choices.
“Many of the women said the stretch marks caused similar or more emotional distress than other skin problems, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis,” said Dr. Timothy Johnson, co-author of the study and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan Medicine.
Can you prevent stretch marks?
Criscito said her patients often ask how to keep stretch marks from appearing in the first place.
“There’s nothing we know for sure that will help prevent stretch marks,” she said. However, Criscito noted that keeping your body moisturized, staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy weight — especially during pregnancy — could reduce the risk.
“But ultimately, even with all of those things, someone may still develop stretch marks,” she added.
How do you get rid of them?
While prevention can be tough, minimizing their appearance is no walk in the park either. Like any scar, stretch marks are usually permanent, but certain cosmetic treatments might help make them less noticeable.
“There are things like non-ablative fractional lasers and microneedling with radiofrequency that can help,” said Dr. Lisa O. Akintilo, board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at NYU Langone Health. “I also like lasers that target redness to shut down those blood vessels and make the scars less visible.”
If you want to skip a trip to the dermatologist, Akintilo recommends over-the-counter products like body retinol and vitamin A cream, which can stimulate collagen production over time and may help minimize stretch marks.
“That’s usually something I recommend for everyone,” Akintilo said, though she pointed out that pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using topical vitamin A due to potential risks to the fetus.
In general, Akintilo said she advises women who are planning to have more children to hold off on treating their stretch marks until their childbearing years are behind them.
“If we treat the skin and get it better and then you have another baby and run into the issue again, you may have to repeat the treatments which may not be cost-effective,” said Akintilo.
