With hereditary factors or a hormonal imbalance like Cushing's syndrome, your body produces too much cortisol. This can cause red or purplish stretch marks on your breasts. Dehydration can lead to the sudden appearance of red lines or marks on your breasts.
“Stretch marks on your breasts are a normal physiologic response to stretching of the skin in most people,” Dr. Ahktar says. New stretch marks look like curvy lines or streaks that are pink, red or purple in color. Older stretch marks appear lighter in color and fade with time but may never disappear completely.
If your skin is stretched farther than it's used to in a short period of time -- during pregnancy or a childhood growth spurt, for example -- the elastic fibers in your skin can tear. Those damaged areas make long, thin scars called stretch marks. They can show up as pink, red, or purple streaks.
Stretch marks can appear on the breasts during puberty and pregnancy, when a person's body shape changes, or as the result of various health conditions and treatments. There is no guaranteed way of removing stretch marks, although some therapies may reduce their visibility.
Females especially may notice the appearance of stretch marks on their breasts as they develop. While you can't get rid of stretch marks, they may be less noticeable when you're younger. Younger skin is more elastic and can repair itself more quickly.
Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or purple. They usually start off darker and fade over time.
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.
Stretch marks are long, thin streaks that occur on the surface of the skin. They're often red or purple to start with, before fading to a silvery-white colour. They're particularly common during pregnancy, puberty or following rapid weight gain. They're more common in women but can also affect men.
How long do stretch marks take to fade? In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.
Weight gain is more likely to cause stretch marks, especially on your stomach. They do however usually become more visible when you shed the pounds again.
Too much cortisol can cause some of the main symptoms of Cushing syndrome — a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin.
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.
When does breast development begin and end? In general, breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 13. A girl's breasts are typically fully developed by age 17 or 18, however in some cases they can continue to grow into her early twenties.
In two large studies, applying hyaluronic acid to early stretch marks made the stretch marks less noticeable. Tretinoin is a retinoid, which may also make early stretch marks less noticeable. In one study, people who applied this prescription cream every night for 24 weeks had less noticeable stretch marks.
Vaseline petroleum jelly can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks by keeping your skin hydrated and improving its elasticity. However, it will not eliminate them completely as they form deep within the dermis layer.
They can also occur in body builders, as a consequence of rapid weight gain, and in some medical conditions where the skin is exposed to excess amounts of a hormone called cortisol. Early stretch marks are usually red or purple. Over time, stretch marks lose their colour and become white or silvery in appearance.
The presence of functioning blood vessels allows red stretch marks to be more responsive to treatment. White stretch marks are older and much more difficult to treat. Over time, your blood vessels will narrow, making it hard to stimulate collagen production.
Some people are prone to develop stretch marks on the upper arms, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. New stretch marks are bright pink, red, blue, black or purple. Older stretch marks fade.
In some cases, however, sleeping in a bra can be a good idea. Bigger breasts can drag and pull sideways when a woman lies down, contributing to stretch marks as well as crease marks between the breasts over time so the extra support can prevent stretch marks that may naturally happen during your sleep.
Breasts that aren't well supported can sag and cause stretch marks on your skin that last a lifetime. You can also get grooves in your shoulders from the straps digging into the skin over time.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, which may help keep your skin soft and less prone to stretch marks. Avoid caffeine during pregnancy, which can increase your risk of developing stretch marks. Maintain a healthy pregnancy diet with adequate nutrients.