Chances are, you’ve got stretch marks, or striae, on at least one part of your body. Most of us consider stretch marks a side effect of pregnancy, but non-pregnant women and men also get them regularly. And when they do, they’re usually concerned that the thin, linear scars that begin as purplish in hue and then lighten to almost white are signs of a more serious condition.
The good news—they’re almost certainly not. The bad news—they probably won’t go completely away, no matter how many expensive creams you buy.
But I’m Not Pregnant!
Ninety percent of pregnant women get stretch marks, which is why most treatments are targeted toward moms-to-be. But 70 percent of women who aren’t pregnant and 40 percent of men also bear these scars on their bodies. So what causes stretch marks on non-pregnant bodies?
Stretch marks occur when the elastic middle layer of skin, the dermis, is continuously stretched over a prolonged period. The collagen fibers that allow the skin to stretch and snap back into shape (the way it does when you’re twenty, but not when you’re forty) break down and form scar tissue that shows through to the upper layer of skin, the epidermis. Initially, the blood vessels dilate, causing the reddish or purple color of early striae. Eventually, though, the loss of pigment-producing melanocyte cells leaves mature stretch marks almost completely white.
There may also be a hormonal connection. Stretch marks are most common during pregnancy and puberty and in those who are obese, lift weights frequently, or suffer from Cushing’s disease. In other words, they happen when the adrenal glands are secreting increased amounts of glucocorticoids, which stop inflammation but also impede collagen and elastin fiber formation. During these same periods when skin is being stretched to accommodate a growing tummy or bulging muscles, the dermis cannot generate enough supportive material and ends up tearing.
Rub Skin the Right Way
Dry skin is more prone to stretch marks because collagen and elastin fibers require moisture to stay strong. That’s why most stretch mark creams are really just good moisturizers. You can avoid their artificially inflated prices and instead opt for a quality cream with a cocoa butter, vitamin E, or sweet almond oil base. Extra virgin olive oil and mashed avocado are also great treatments for binding moisture to the skin.
