Whether they are battle scars from pregnancy, the souvenirs of a growth spurt, or subtle reminders of weight fluctuations, stretch marks are as unique as you are. But have you ever wondered why stretch marks prefer to set up camp in some regions of your body and not others? It is a question that is as intriguing as it is common and one we will answer for you today. Keep reading to learn why stretch marks appear on some areas of the body and not others.
Causes of Stretch Marks
When your skin stretches or shrinks rapidly, it causes tearing in the dermis and results in the jagged skin appearance we know as stretch marks. Consider a rubber band: when new, it stretches and bounces back to its original shape quickly and without complication. But every time the rubberband is stretched, it becomes slightly less taut and does not bounce back like it did the time before. Over time, the rubber band loses its elasticity, becomes loose and brittle, and breaks. Our skin functions similarly. When we are young, our skin has more elastin, the protein responsible for skin elasticity. As we age, we naturally produce less elastin, and our skin stretches and bounces back less easily. When your skin rapidly stretches or withdraws, the elastin in your skin may break. When the skin heals afterward, stretch marks appear in the areas where elastin is absent.
Stretch marks are commonly found in areas such as the:
- Abdomen
- Lower back
- Hips
- Thighs
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Upper arms
Contributing Factors
While the most common cause of stretch marks is the rapid stretching and reduction of the skin paired with a lack of elastin, there are a number of other factors that can affect your likelihood of developing stretch marks. Increased cortisone, for instance, does not directly cause stretch marks, but elevated levels of cortisone can increase the likelihood that stretch marks will occur because cortisone reduces the pliability of the skin. Specifically, cortisone affects the dermis by preventing fibroblasts from forming collagen and elastin fibers, necessary components for keeping your skin taught and supple. A lack of supportive material as your skin is stretched can result in tearing and scarring of your tissue.
On the other hand, vitamin C supports the body’s production of collagen, which is responsible for maintaining the skin’s structure and strength and aids in the growth and repair of damaged skin. As stretch marks benefit from a lack of skin strength and repair function, an increase in vitamin C and collagen can help prevent their appearance.
Why Do Stretch Marks Appear on Some Areas of the Body and Not Others?
Stretch marks are more common in some areas of the body than others because some areas of the body are more prone to rapid stretching and retracting. These areas are more prone to stretch and retract because they gain and lose body mass more easily than others when faced with weight gain or loss, growth spurt, pregnancy, muscle development, or other bodily changes.
A female’s body, for instance, will stretch and swell considerably if she becomes pregnant. The belly will expand as the fetus grows and gains mass, the breasts will enlarge as a result of milk production, and the hips will widen to prepare for birth. The thighs and buttocks may also stretch to balance the new weight distribution and provide more nutrients required to support a healthy pregnancy and birth. All of this rapid change and skin expansion can result in stretch marks.
Stretch Mark Treatment
Available data indicates that between 50% and 90% of the population has stretch marks. Because of the prevalence of these marks, the beauty industry has developed a number of practices to lessen their appearance. If you want to get rid of your stretch marks, consider visiting a medical spa to learn about the options available to you. An experienced professional can help you stop wasting time on ineffective home remedies and get you on a treatment plan that works.