A lot of us are familiar with stretch marks on breasts, or striae gravidarum, because most women have them. A lot of us want to find ways to prevent, fade, and make those stubborn stretch marks disappear.
Here are some common causes of stretch marks on breasts:
Pregnancy
Pregnancy may be one of the most common reasons why women develop red stretch marks on their breasts and bellies. About two months into a pregnancy, a woman’s breasts will begin to grow because of the increased female sex hormones in the body. Causing some tenderness, the breasts will begin to prepare for breastfeeding as early as the first trimester. The sudden increase in breast size can result in stretch marks.
Puberty
For teenagers, the most common reason for red lines on breasts or stretch marks is puberty, when you’re experiencing accelerated growth. Other developments during puberty include menstruation and changes in body hair.
Weight gain and loss
One of the main causes of stretch marks on breasts is gaining and losing weight rapidly. These stretch marks usually appear on your thighs and arms as well as your breasts. If you are expecting, work with your doctor to make sure you aren’t gaining weight too rapidly. This can make stretch marks worse and isn’t good for your health.
Other causes
Aside from these common causes, there are other reasons why women develop stretch marks on their breasts.
- Hereditary factors or a hormonal imbalance like Cushing’s syndrome, where your body produces too much cortisol, can cause red or purplish stretch marks on your breasts.
- Dehydration can cause the sudden appearance of red lines or marks on your breasts.
- Sometimes birth control pills can trigger a sudden change in your hormones, causing your body to develop stretch marks even if you aren’t pregnant or experiencing puberty.
How to prevent stretch marks
While we can’t totally prevent stretch marks, there are a few things we can do to minimize their appearance.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is good for your body overall and can reduce the chance of getting stretch marks.
- Eat a healthy diet. If you lack certain nutrients, such as vitamins C, D, E, zinc, or protein, you might be more prone to stretch marks.
- Treat stretch marks as soon as you notice them; the longer you wait, the harder they are to treat. You can use special stretch mark oils or creams to minimize their appearance while you’re pregnant.
How to treat stretch marks on breasts
Lots of women want to know how to get rid of stretch marks on breasts. Here are some of the safest and easiest ways to deal with unwanted stretch marks.
Home treatment
Let’s take a look at some of the easiest and most effective ways to minimize the visibility of stretch marks, wherever they appear on your body.
Massage
Massage has been proven to increase the blood flow and collagen production of our skin, allowing our skin to recover and stretch marks fade. It’s easy to do this; just massage your breasts in a circular motion for at least 30 seconds before going to bed. You can also use creams to do this.
Hydrate
We can’t reiterate enough how important water is for our bodies. With proper hydration, your skin will be healthy and less prone to stretch marks and premature aging.
Exfoliate
Exfoliate once a week and use organic scrubs to remove dead skin cells and help your skin produce collagen. Gently scrub in an upward or circular motion when exfoliating. Remember to moisturize after exfoliating.
Medical treatment
While stretch marks on breasts can be addressed with home treatments, there are some cases where medical intervention is advised using laser therapy, cosmetic surgery, or microdermabrasion techniques. Your doctor can offer advice about these treatments depending on the severity of the stretch marks, but the choice is ultimately yours.
