What do stretch marks on your legs mean

Teens face many struggles navigating through growing up: changing body, new responsibilities and freedoms, as well as social life adjustments. Change can be difficult to accept for teenagers, especially when it comes to their bodies and the way they view themselves. One unwelcomed change can be stretch marks. When rapid growth or weight gain occurs, especially during teenage years, it is common for stretch marks to appear in boys and girls alike.

Other factors that makes teens predisposed to stretch marks appearing include a genetic risk or family history of stretch marks, pregnancy, being overweight or obese, or taking a cortisol medication. Stretch marks occur when skin gets overstretched. They can occur in the abdomen, chest, hips and thighs. People who are obese often have stretch marks. Bodybuilders can get stretch marks because of the quick body changes that can come with bodybuilding. People who use steroid-containing skin creams or ointments such as hydrocortisone for more than a few weeks also may get stretch marks.

So might people who have to take high doses of oral corticosteroids for months or longer. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon are doctors who can help treat stretch marks. They specialize in caring for the skin. To reduce the appearance of stretch marks, they might use prescription creams, microdermabrasion, and laser treatment.

The manufacturers of SilDerm Stretch Mark Repair Cream claim that the ingredients help reduce the redness of stretch marks. However, they provide neither an explanation for how they tested this product nor any data. Liforma Stretch Marks Cream also contains chamomile and vitamin E, which may have anti-inflammatory properties.

There are no published trials to support their use. People are increasingly interested in minimally invasive procedures that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. These techniques can increase collagen production, decrease the presence of blood vessels, and improve skin pigmentation. According to the authors of a review article , while many products purport to prevent stretch marks on the thighs, there is little research to back up many of the claims. However, certain types may work for some people.

The manufacturers of Cussons Mum and Me Bump Stretch Marks Cream claim that the active ingredient, lupin seed extract, increases collagen in the skin.

However, there are no published clinical trials to confirm this fact. Many stretch mark products contain centella, which increases cell reproduction. According to some research , women rated Liforma Stretch Mark Day Gel and Night Cream, which contains centella, as more effective than other products. Trofolastin also contains centella, along with tocopherol and collagen-elastin hydrolysates.

These ingredients led to a lower incidence of stretch mark formation in women using the product than in those using a placebo. People also use Alphastria, Thalgo Stretch Marks Cream, and Palmers Cocoa Butter cream to prevent stretch marks, but researchers have not yet confirmed how well they work. Researchers have tested various home remedies for stretch marks, including olive, coconut, and almond oil. They noticed that the application of almond oil led to a significant difference in the percentage of people who developed stretch marks.

Stretch marks on the thighs are common, especially in females during adolescence and pregnancy. They are harmless and tend to fade over time, though some people use creams or medical procedures to try to minimize their appearance.

Doctors may recommend a combination of products to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the thighs. Further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of any treatment for stretch marks.

They will also need to take a full medical history to ensure that they make the correct choice. McGraw Hill; Accessed Nov. Ferri FF, et al. Striae stretch marks. Elsevier; Landon MB, et al. Skin disease and pregnancy. Wick MJ, ed. Month 8: Weeks 29 to Mayo Clinic; Kutlubay Z, et al. The color of skin: Brown diseases of the skin, nails, and mucosa.

Clinics in Dermatology. MacGregor JL, et al.