What causes stretch marks on a skinny person?

Author: Frederique Littel  |  Last update: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Aside from the obvious causes like pregnancy and rapid weight change, a few other reasons why stretch marks might appear include: Genetics or a hereditary condition. Having overly dry skin. Having previous damage or injury to the skin.

Why do I have stretch marks if I never gained weight?

The cause of stretch marks is stretching of the skin. Their severity is affected by several factors, including your genetics and the degree of stress on the skin. Your level of the hormone cortisol also might play a role. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.

Do stretch marks go away as you get skinnier?

In general, stretch marks from weight loss fade or disappear completely on their own. Sometimes rapid weight loss can actually cause stretch marks because of excess skin weighing down on the healthy skin.

What are stretch marks caused by?

The medical name for stretch marks is striae. Stretch marks (striae) result from rapid stretching of the skin which may occur with obesity, pubertal growth spurts, pregnancy, or from other influences such as Cushing syndrome. Stretch marks (striae) can appear when there is rapid stretching of the skin.

Can you reverse stretch marks?

Stretch marks usually fade over time but may not disappear completely. Many creams and lotions claim to prevent, reduce or remove stretch marks. But there's very little evidence these work. There are some treatments that may help make stretch marks look better, but they will not get rid of them.

What Causes Stretch Marks? 😩 #shorts

Why am I suddenly getting loads of stretch marks?

Stretch marks are a form of scarring that appear after your skin quickly stretches or shrinks. They often happen due to pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss and bodybuilding. Treatment options include laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, microneedling and retinol creams.

What do purple stretch marks mean?

The skin is stretched as a consequence of underlying tissue expansion. There is an inflammatory reaction in the skin that is responsible for the characteristic red or purple colour. The inflammation eventually fades and is replaced by scar tissue.

Does it mean I'm fat if I have stretch marks?

Stretch marks are often caused by gaining weight rapidly over a short period of time. Avoiding rapid weight gain and weight loss can help prevent stretch marks. If you need to lose weight, you should do it slowly by: eating a healthy, balanced diet.

What vitamin gets rid of stretch marks?

Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.

At what age do stretch marks appear?

It's common for stretch marks to appear during teen years when rapid growth of weight gain occurs. Other factors that make teens predisposed to stretch marks appearing include a genetic risk or family history of stretch marks, pregnancy, being overweight or obese, or topical or oral steroids, like prednisone.

Do stretch marks mean low collagen?

Stretch Marks Causes and Risk Factors

Collagen is a protein that makes your skin more elastic. If your skin doesn't have enough, the marks may show up as it stretches. Childhood growth spurts during puberty. Make sure kids know this is normal and that childhood marks may fade as they get older.

Why does my skinny daughter have stretch marks?

The marks occur when a person experiences a significant amount of growth or weight gain in a short period of time, such as during puberty. Getting stretch marks does not necessarily mean a person is overweight. Thin people can get the marks too, especially when experiencing a rapid growth spurt.

What does skinny fat look like?

What does “skinny fat” look like? Phenotypically, they look lean and healthy, but when we check them out they have high levels of body fat and inflammation. This ectomorph body build has hidden high levels of body fat. They appear thin and flabby.

How can I remove a stretch mark naturally?

Can stretch marks be removed at home?
  1. Method 1: Massage. One of the most effective ways to combat skin imperfections at home is through massage. ...
  2. Method 2: Exercise. ...
  3. Method 3: Nutrition. ...
  4. Method 4: Using creams and oils. ...
  5. Method 5: Using aloe vera. ...
  6. Method 6: Exfoliation. ...
  7. Method 7: Masking. ...
  8. Method 8: Regular skin care.

Why do I have stretch marks on my hips and I'm skinny?

Aside from the obvious causes like pregnancy and rapid weight change, a few other reasons why stretch marks might appear include: Genetics or a hereditary condition. Having overly dry skin. Having previous damage or injury to the skin.

Do stretch marks on breasts mean they are growing?

Puberty. For teenagers, the most common reason for red lines on breasts or stretch marks is puberty, when you're experiencing accelerated growth. Other developments during puberty include menstruation and changes in body hair.

Why do I have stretch marks if I didn't gain weight?

Fluctuating hormone levels seem to play a role. You may also have a higher risk if people in your family get stretch marks. If you develop stretch marks, you're most likely to do so during these times: Growth spurts that happen in puberty.

How do celebrities get rid of stretch marks?

Radiofrequency Treatments

Allure reports that RF treatments use energy to heat the skin's deeper layers, stimulating collagen and elastin production. This process tightens the skin and reduces the appearance of stretch marks by improving skin elasticity and texture.

Does vaseline remove stretch marks?

Can Vaseline remove stretch marks? While Vaseline can help to moisturise the skin and improve its overall appearance, it is unlikely to completely remove stretch marks. Using Vaseline in combination with other treatments can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks over time.

Are stretch marks genetic?

Unfortunately, stretch marks that appear during pregnancy are primarily hereditary. Another contributing factor is weight gain, and that is one reason, among many, that Tanya Beckford, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist at Piedmont, stresses the importance of managing weight gain during pregnancy.

Can you 100% get rid of stretch marks?

Stretch marks do not usually go away completely on their own when you lose weight. Weight loss can reduce the tension on the skin, which may help make stretch marks less noticeable, but it won't eliminate them entirely.

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