Stretch marks usually start darker (pink, red, purple, or brown) when new and then fade over time to a lighter, silvery-white or flesh-colored appearance, though they can remain visible. Their color changes with age, becoming less noticeable as they mature, but they typically don't disappear completely and can become slightly indented.
Signs of stretch marks
Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or purple. They usually start off darker and fade over time. Stretch marks are most common on the tummy, breasts, chest, upper arms, legs, bottom, hips or back.
Stretch marks occur when skin gets overstretched. They can occur in the abdomen, chest, hips, lower back and thighs. Because of the connective tissue and collagen in these areas, stretching too much causes the purple-reddish scars to appear. Over time, they usually become white and thinner.
How to Get Reduce Stretch Marks After Pregnancy
When stretch marks first appear, they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early stretch marks may feel slightly raised and can be itchy. In time, the color fades and the narrow bands sink beneath your skin.
Many people confuse cellulite and stretch marks, but these are two very different skin concerns. Understanding what sets them apart and how to address each safely can help you make informed decisions about your skin health.
Stretch marks can look like purple, blue, black, pink or red streaks on your skin. New stretch marks will look slightly raised with a red or glossy colour. Over time, they eventually fade to white and start to look slightly depressed. Older stretch marks may look like scars.
In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.
It'S The Perfect Time To Take Care Of Your Skin With Bio-Oil Skincare Oil. Made For All Skin Types, This Skincare Oil Can Be Used To Help Reduce The Appearance Of Stretch Marks, Scars, And Other Marks Due To Pregnancy, Surgery, Injury, Acne, Aging, And More. Its Fast-Absorbing, Non-Comedogenic Formula Won'T Clog Pores.
Whenever your skin has gone through major weight gain or weight loss, it might leave behind some stretch marks. These long stretches of tissue are tightened spots on the skin that don't seem to ever smooth out over time.
You may be more prone to stretch marks if you are deficient in nutrients such as Vitamin c, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc and Protein. As such, eating foods that boost skin health is always advised.
While there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of natural remedies for stretch marks, some ingredients like Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, or Shea Butter are frequently used to moisturise the skin and improve its appearance. It's essential to note that results may vary.
So, what do early-stage stretch marks look like? New scar tissue is a purple-red color, so it makes sense that your stretch marks are going to be an odd purple-y color during the first stage of the healing process. This is the part of the healing process where stretch mark creams will work extremely well for you.
Their texture may also feel different than the rest of your skin. Older or white stretch marks are harder to treat than new ones. This is because the blood vessels have become narrow, which then makes it difficult to stimulate collagen production.
Simply put, it's just the stage of healing your mark is in! Less intense stretch marks may heal quickly, and seemingly skip the red and purple stage, which is why some marks from growth spurts or weight training may appear white all along.
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.
Bio-Oil's disadvantages include potential skin irritation, breakouts (especially for oily/acne-prone skin), and allergic reactions from its fragrance and botanical ingredients like linalool, making patch tests crucial; it also doesn't penetrate deep enough to reverse severe scarring or stretch marks, merely hydrating the surface, and isn't recommended for broken skin or potentially high-risk pregnancies without doctor consultation.
Best results are seen after using Bio-Oil® twice daily for 3 months. Use twice daily and apply directly to stretch marks for easy absorption. You may start to notice results as early as 2 weeks—but consistency is key. Most notice results at 8 weeks but 3 months is recommended for best results.
At times, you get confused between stretch marks and varicose veins. When you notice the purplish red lines on your skin, which are also twisted at times, you get a feeling of having either stretch marks or varicose veins. Unfortunately, the two conditions can occur simultaneously, making it difficult to differentiate.
So, does “mom pooch” go away? Yes — at least, most of the time. Although postpartum belly is stubborn, the good news is that eventually, much of it will disappear on its own. Just as you experience hormonal changes during pregnancy, your hormones shift after you've given birth.
Stretch marks usually lose their color in six to twelve months, changing from red to white. Stretch marks should be treated as soon as they appear, when laser procedures are much more effective. Red stretch marks are easier to remove with laser treatments than old scars or stretch marks that have already turned white.
Females tend to gain the most weight during two key periods: emerging adulthood (late teens to mid-20s) when life changes often disrupt habits, and midlife (around ages 45-55) during menopause due to hormonal shifts that decrease muscle and increase abdominal fat, although the rate of gain slows in later decades. While the 20s see significant overall gain, menopause brings distinct body composition changes and fat redistribution, not just scale weight.
Darker colored stretch marks, such as purple ones, are newer. Typical causes of purple stretch marks include rapid weight gain or muscle growth, weight loss, puberty, pregnancy, genetics, and topical or oral steroids.