Stretch Marks, What Actually Helps
Stretch marks are one of those things that most people have, and very few people talk about openly.
They appear during pregnancy, growth spurts, weight changes, and times of rapid physical change. They show up on stomachs, thighs, hips, breasts, and arms. And they're incredibly common, affecting the majority of people at some point in their lives.
And yet the conversation around stretch marks is often loaded with shame, with the idea that they're something to fix, hide, or prevent at all costs.
We want to have a different conversation. One that's honest about what stretch marks actually are, what genuinely helps, and what the skin really needs during and after the times of change that cause them.
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks, known medically as striae, form when the skin is stretched faster than it can accommodate. The middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, contains collagen and elastin fibres that give skin its strength and elasticity. When the skin stretches rapidly, these fibres can tear, and stretch marks form where that tearing has occurred.
Initially, stretch marks appear as pink, red, purple, or dark brown streaks depending on skin tone. Over time, they typically fade to a lighter, silvery colour as the skin heals. But they don't disappear entirely, and that's completely normal.
They are not a sign that something went wrong. They are a sign that your body changed.
What actually influences whether they appear?
Genetics plays a significant role in whether someone develops stretch marks and how pronounced they are. If your mother or grandmother developed them during pregnancy or growth, you're more likely to as well. This isn't something that can be changed with topical products, no matter what the marketing might suggest.
Skin hydration and elasticity also play a role. Skin that is well nourished, hydrated, and supported with the right ingredients tends to have more resilience and flexibility during periods of rapid change. This is where skincare can genuinely make a difference, not by preventing stretch marks entirely, but by supporting the skin's ability to adapt as gracefully as possible.
The speed of change matters too. Slower, more gradual changes give the skin more time to adapt. Rapid changes, like those that occur during growth spurts or certain pregnancies, are harder for the skin to keep up with.
What actually helps
This is the part where we want to be honest with you, because the stretch mark product industry is enormous and a lot of what's being sold doesn't do what it claims.
No topical product can fully prevent stretch marks if your genetics and the speed of your body's changes are working against you. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being truthful.
What topical products can do is support the skin's health, hydration, and elasticity during times of change, and support the appearance and texture of stretch marks as they heal and fade over time.
The ingredients that genuinely support the skin during these times are those that deliver deep nourishment and fatty acids that help maintain the skin's elasticity and resilience. Vitamin A supports skin cell renewal and can help improve the texture and appearance of stretch marks over time. Vitamin E supports healing and has antioxidant properties that protect the skin during periods of stress. Oils rich in essential fatty acids help maintain the skin's suppleness and support its ability to stretch without tearing as severely.
Consistency matters enormously here. Applying nourishing products regularly throughout a period of physical change, rather than waiting until stretch marks appear, gives the skin the best possible support.
What about existing stretch marks?
For stretch marks that are already there, the focus shifts to supporting the skin's natural healing process and improving the appearance and texture over time.
Ingredients that support collagen production and cell renewal, like vitamin A and fatty acids, can gradually improve the appearance of stretch marks, particularly newer ones that are still in the red or purple stage. Older, silvery stretch marks have less active tissue to work with and are harder to influence with topical products, though well-nourished skin will always look and feel better than skin that isn't cared for.
Hydration is fundamental. Dry skin makes stretch marks more visible and pronounced. Skin that is consistently nourished looks smoother, more even, and more resilient regardless of what marks it carries.
A different way of seeing them
We want to say something that might feel simple, but we think matters.
Stretch marks are not flaws. They're not evidence of neglect or failure. They're the marks of a body that grew, changed, expanded, and adapted. They tell a story of pregnancy, of adolescence, of transformation.
The goal of skincare isn't to erase your story. It's to care for the skin you're in with as much nourishment, gentleness, and intention as possible.
Because skin that's truly cared for, marks and all, carries a kind of beauty that no product can manufacture.
Explore more about natural skincare, nourishment, and body care over on the Arise + Glow Journal.
References
- Striae Distensae. StatPearls / NIH National Library of Medicine, 2025. View here
- Topical management of striae distensae: prevention and therapy of striae rubrae and albae. PMC / National Institutes of Health. PMC
- Management of stretch marks with a focus on striae rubrae. PMC / National Institutes of Health, 2018. PMC
- A Narrative Review of Current Striae Treatments. PMC / National Institutes of Health, 2022. PMC
The information in this article is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have a specific skin concern or condition, we recommend consulting a qualified dermatologist or healthcare professional.