Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions about stretch marks (a type of scar) is that the only kind of stretch marks are pregnancy stretch marks. While this isn’t true, pregnant women do tend to be the most likely individual to develop all types of stretch marks. In this post, we’ll take a look at the different kinds of stretch marks, where they appear, and discuss some stretch marks treatment options that may help you reduce the appearance of your scars.

The Types of Stretch Marks

While stretch marks may appear as a variety of colors, from red or lighter in skin-tone, they’re actually the same type of scar. In fact, all stretch marks start out red and dark, due to the fact that the skin itself has been torn and damaged beneath the surface. As the wounds heal, the damaged tissue gets replaced with scar tissue, creating the tiger stripe bands of lighter skin tone that we’re used to seeing. It’s incredibly important to either prevent stretch marks from occurring or to intervene when they are in the reddish/purple stage. This will minimize the appearance of your stretch marks when they have healed completely.

Common Stretch Mark Areas

Stretch Marks On Stomach

These are the most common types of stretch marks. As mentioned above, most pregnant women will develop stretch marks due to the abdomen’s rapid change in size. Pregnancy stretch marks can be minimized by preparing your skin for stretching and treating any pregnancy stretch marks that appear during your trimesters. While pregnancy stretch marks are more common, individuals who gain weight quickly may also develop stretch marks in the abdominal area.

Stretch Marks On Hips

Hip stretch marks, just like abdominal ones, are usually the result of rapid weight gain or pregnancy. In pregnancy, the weight of carrying a baby in the abdomen can often tug on the skin at the hips, causing stretch marks to appear.

Stretch Marks On Legs

Since the legs aren’t necessarily a main area for weight gain, leg stretch marks are more often caused by increasing muscle mass. This is especially true for bodybuilders, runners, and hikers. Some individuals may find that stretch marks accumulate on the inner thighs if they gain weight. Additionally, individuals who experienced rapid growth during their childhood and adolescence may find that they developed stretch marks both on their arms and legs.

Stretch Marks On Arms

The upper arms can be a spot for rapid weight gain, but, like with leg stretch marks, the arms are also susceptible to muscle mass increase. When the muscles expand more quickly than the skin can replicate and accommodate, stretch marks are likely to follow.

Stretch Marks Treatment & Prevention

Now, keep in mind that stretch marks are a normal phenomenon, and many men and women wear them with pride一 they are battle scars for some. However, should you wish to decrease the appearance of your stretch marks, there are options. First and foremost, you should always be moisturizing your skin properly一 this will help minimize the effects of stretching and growing. 

However, even the best preventative measure can be insufficient. In these cases, intervention during the early stages of wound healing (that purple and red stage) with scar creams like our Stretch Mark Cream will help you get the jump on scar healing. In order to get the best results, make sure to use your scar cream properly.