Stretch Marks: Why They Appear and What Really Helps Fade Them

What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are fine, linear scars that sit in the deeper layers of your skin. They appear when the tissue underneath the surface tears because it’s being stretched or compressed more quickly than it can adapt. Collagen and elastin –

The fibres that give your skin bounce and strength are pulled beyond their limit and start to fracture. As the body repairs this micro-damage, those familiar lines begin to form.

They don’t harm your health, but they can be a cosmetic concern and often come with an emotional weight that I see daily in the clinic.

The Different Types of Stretch Marks

In the clinic and in dermatology texts, you might come across many different names for stretch marks. They all describe similar changes, but highlight colour, cause, or timing:

• Striae: the medical word for stretch marks (singular: stria).
• Adolescent striae: stretch marks that appear during teenage growth spurts.
• Physiological striae: marks that aren’t linked to an underlying disease.
• Pathological striae: stretch marks associated with a medical condition.
• Striae rubrae: fresh, red or purple marks.
• Striae albae: older, pale, silvery marks.
• Striae atrophicae: marks where the skin looks thinner and more fragile.
• Striae gravidarum: stretch marks in pregnancy.
• Striae distensae: a general term for stretch marks caused by stretching.
• Striae nigrae: very dark stretch marks.
• Striae caerulea: blue-toned stretch marks.

There is also a similar condition called linear focal elastosis, where you see raised, cord-like lines with extra elastic fibres, almost like scars. It can look a little like stretch marks, but it’s a different process under the microscope.

Who Gets Stretch Marks?

Almost everyone, at some point. Research suggests that up to around 70% of adolescent girls and 40% of boys will develop stretch marks during periods of rapid growth. They tend to show up where the skin is under the most constant tension:

• Abdomen and breasts during pregnancy.
• Thighs, buttocks, hips, and breasts in teenagers as they grow.
• Bodybuilders’ shoulders and upper arms increase in muscle volume quickly.
• Abdomen, back, and flanks in those who are overweight or losing weight rapidly.

Certain medications and conditions increase the likelihood of stretch marks. Long-term use of topical or oral corticosteroids can thin and weaken the skin. Hormonal disorders such as Cushing syndrome, or connective tissue disorders

Conditions like Marfan syndrome also make the dermis more vulnerable to tearing.

Genetics also quietly steer the ship – if your parents or siblings have prominent stretch marks, your skin may respond in a similar way to growth and weight changes.

How Stretch Marks Look and Feel 

Stretch marks are not static; they evolve. Early marks often start as flat, slightly thinned areas of skin with a pinkish or reddish hue. You might notice mild itching or sensitivity as the skin is actively stretching and
inflamed.

Over time, these lines deepen in colour to red, purple, or dark brown depending on your skin tone, and may feel softly raised. This early stage is often called striae rubrae. As the months and years pass, the colour fades, and the marks settle into striae

albae – pale, whitish or silvery streaks that sit slightly below the surface, like fine, soft scars. They are often several centimetres long and a few millimetres wide.

Stretch marks linked to potent steroids or endocrine disorders tend to be wider, more dramatic in colour, and can appear in less typical areas, including the face or upper arms.

What’s happening below the surface

We don’t need to get too technical, but understanding the basics can be reassuring. This research shows that when we look at a fresh stretch mark under the microscope, we see:

• Swelling and fluid in the dermis (the supportive layer beneath the surface).
• Elastic fibres that have broken down or thinned (elastolysis).
• Changes in collagen bundles – they look disrupted and poorly organised.
• Active fibroblasts – the cells that try to rebuild collagen.
• A sprinkling of inflammatory cells around blood vessels.

In older stretch marks, the picture shifts:

• The epidermis (surface layer) looks thinner.
• Hair follicles and glands are reduced, as they are in scar tissue.
• Collagen bundles become dense and aligned in a single direction, rather than woven into a strong, flexible mesh.

This is why mature stretch marks feel a little like fine scars when you run your fingers over them.

Can You Get Rid of Stretch Marks Completely?

This is the question I hear most in the clinic, and I want to answer it honestly for you. Stretch marks are a form of scarring. Like any scar, they never vanish entirely. However, the right treatments can:

• Soften the colour contrast.
• Improve texture and smoothness.
• Help the skin feel stronger and more comfortable.

Early intervention always works best, but even older marks can be gently improved.

Topical Treatments: What Helps and What Doesn’t

The marketplace is full of creams that promise miracles. Sadly, most don’t live up to the hype. Studies have found that popular ingredients like cocoa butter, almond oil, olive oil, and vitamin E have little to no effect on stretch marks
mark fading, although they can keep the skin soft and comfortable.

There are, however, a few ingredients that do show promise – especially on newer marks:

• Hyaluronic acid to improve hydration and elasticity.
• Retinoids (such as tretinoin or cosmetic retinol) to encourage collagen remodelling in early-stage marks.
• Coenzyme Q 10 to support wound healing and healthy connective tissue.
• Peptides that help signal the skin to rebuild structural proteins.

With any topical treatment, two things really matter: massaging the product in and using it consistently for weeks, not days.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid retinoids and always get medical clearance before starting a
treatment programme.

The Naked Chemist Approach to Stretch Marks

As a professional skin specialist, I always come back to repairing and protecting the skin barrier first. When the barrier is supported, the skin is calmer, more resilient, and better able to respond to any treatment you use – whether topical or
in-clinic.

Xcell Skin Shot for Regeneration

I created Xcell Skin Shot as a concentrated recovery serum to support compromised, fragile, or
inflamed skin. On areas with early stretch marks, Xcell can be used to:

• Flood the tissue with soothing, reparative actives.
• Support the skin’s own regeneration process.
• Help calm redness and irritation, especially when the marks feel itchy or tender.

Apply it to clean skin and take your time to massage it in with gentle, circular movements. This massage element is essential – it encourages microcirculation and helps the formula reach where it’s needed most.

Fortify Barrier Repair to Support Structure

Our Fortify Barrier Repair cream is rich in ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids – the very lipids your barrier is built from. When used over areas prone to stretch marks, it helps to:

• Rebuild and reinforce the protective barrier.
• Prevent excessive water loss, so the skin stays supple rather than brittle.
• Create a healthier environment for collagen and elastin to function.

Think of it as scaffolding that holds everything together while the deeper layers try to heal.

Barrier Repair Balm for Comfort and Protection

For those times when the skin feels tight, itchy, or thin, a richer occlusive formula can be incredibly comforting.

Our Barrier Repair Balm can be smoothed over more targeted areas to:

• Cocoon the skin in protective lipids.
• Reduce friction from clothing and movement.
• Help maintain hydration overnight, when repair is naturally at its peak.

I like to layer Xcell Skin Shot first, then Fortify, and finally “sea” everything in with a whisper of Barrier Repair Balm on top for those who are very dry or prone to irritation.

This is also a good article on 10 dermatologist-tested ingredients for treating scarred tissue.

Professional Treatments and When to Consider Them

If your stretch marks are causing significant distress or if you’d like more dramatic improvement, in-clinic procedures can be beneficial. A dermatologist or qualified skin specialist may suggest:

• Laser treatments to target colour and stimulate collagen.
• Microdermabrasion or gentle peels to refine texture.
• Radiofrequency or ultrasound to firm the deeper layers.

No procedure can erase stretch marks, but they can soften edges, improve tone, and give the skin a more
even, blended appearance.

Always ensureyou’ree in experienced hands, and be prepared for a series of sessions rather than a one-off” “fi””.

Can Stretch Marks Be Prevented?

Prevention is not an exact science. Some skins are easier to mark than others. However, we can certainly support
the skin through times of rapid change:

• Keep the skin on vulnerable areas well hydrated and moisturised.
• Use formulas with hyaluronic acid and barrier-supportive lipids.
• Where possible, avoid sudden, extreme changes in weight.
• During pregnancy or growth spurts, massage creams or oils into the skin to improve comfort and flexibility.

Even with perfect care, stretch marks can still appear – and that’s okay. Your worth is not measured in the smoothness of your skin.

To Conclude. The naked truth

Stretch marks tell a story: of growth, of pregnancy, of healing, of seasons in your life where the body had to adapt quickly. They are not a sign of weakness; they are evidence of resilience.

From a clinical point of view, they are scars in the dermis. From a human point of view, they are part of your lived experience.

While we can’t erase them, we can absolutely help your skin look and feel better. With barrier-focused care, targeted actives like Xcell Skin Shot, supportive creams such as Fortify Barrier Repair, and protective balms to lock in moisture, you give your skin the best chance to soften and adapt.

If you wish, you can combine this with professional treatments for a more visible change.

Care for your skin, nurture your barrier, and choose treatments that honour both your body and your story. Your skin doesn’t need to be flawless to be worthy of love.

FAQs

1. Will my stretch marks ever completely disappear?

No. Because they are a type of scar, stretch marks are permanent. However, they almost always fade and flatten over time, and proper care can make them much less noticeable.

2. Do over-the-counter stretch mark creams work?

Many don’t, especially those relying on cocoa butter or simple oils alone. Look instead for evidence-based ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, centella, and gentle retinoids (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), and combine them
with consistent barrier repair.

3. Can I use Naked Chemist products on stretch marks?

Yes. I often recommend a layered approach: Xcell Skin Shot to support regeneration,
Fortify Barrier Repair to strengthen the lipid barrier, and a light layer of
Barrier Repair Balm on top at night to lock everything in.

4. Are professional treatments worth considering?

If your stretch marks affect your confidence, speaking with a dermatologist or trusted skin therapist can be very helpful. Procedures such as lasers, radiofrequency, or microneedling can offer noticeable improvement when carried out as part of a well-planned treatment course.

5. I’m a teenager and have new stretch marks. What should I do?

First, know that this is extremely common and not something to be ashamed of. Focus on gentle cleansing, daily moisturising, and barrier repair. As you move out of your growth phase, the marks will usually soften and fade. If they worry you, or if you notice other symptoms, a chat with a dermatologist or skin professional can give you tailored advice.