Do you want to proudly show off your new beach body after having lost a lot of weight or planned weight loss? Stretch marks might be a visible reminder of the body you left behind. So, dive in and find out how to change the picture left behind from your past body!
Why do I get stretch marks when I lose weight?
Excess skin after rapid massive weight loss might cause some stretching and tearing,[1] but the majority of stretch marks are not actually caused when you lose the weight, but rather when you first put it on. They do however usually become more visible when you shed the pounds again. Overall, several factors including hormones and genetics determine how prone you are to getting stretch marks,[2,3] and common scenarios causing the appearance of stretch marks are rapid weight gain followed by weight loss, pregnancy and birth, and rapid gain of muscle mass followed by its loss. In these cases, the skin can be stretched too fast for the underlying connective tissue to keep up and thus causing it to rupture. This leaves a type of scar – the stretch mark.[2]
The appearance of stretch marks can differ. When stretch marks are still fresh (upper image) they usually appear as red or pink to purplish-blue streaks, and the skin may appear very thin or slightly elevated. Over time they become more scar-like: thinner, paler, and rather indented (lower images).