I know a lot of us immediately think of pregnancy when the topic of stretch marks comes up. While this isn’t completely unreasonable, it still surprises me when some people think they can’t get stretch marks because they’re male, have no plans to get pregnant, or are too young for it.
Stretch marks, or striae in medical terms, can happen to anyone and anywhere in our bodies. Stretch marks on the inner thighs are one of the most common examples of striae.
3 Causes About Stretch Marks on Inner Thighs
Stretch marks, whether on your thighs or belly, are formed when your skin is pulled too thin and too far. When your skin can no longer take the stretch, the inner connective fibers break or tear. This then leaves a mark that is visible from the outside.
Different situations and circumstances can cause stretch marks on the inner thighs. Here are three of the most common causes of inner thigh stretch marks for people of all genders and ages:
Weight or Muscle Gain
As I’ve mentioned, pulling and expanding the skin is the primary cause of stretch marks. This is why rapid weight or muscle gain can cause stretch marks on the inner thighs.
I always advise my friends and clients to gain weight or muscle gradually. I know everyone loves to see immediate results. However, at the end of the day, going slowly and surely would ensure little to no stretch marks and better results overall.
Puberty
Puberty is the reason why many boys and girls develop stretch marks on their inner thighs despite their youth. Aside from pregnancy, puberty is perhaps the only time we experience rapid growth naturally.
The good news about having stretch marks while you’re young is that you have more time to help them heal and fade away.
Genetics or Family History
Doctors believe that genetics can worsen stretch marks. If your mom, dad, sister, brother, or an extended family member has stretch marks, you are a prime candidate for them as well. Take note though that genetics only increases your odds of getting stretch marks — there is still a chance you won’t!
7 Different Types of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks come in a variety of colors and appearances. Even those that appear in a specific place, such as stretch marks on inner thighs, still look different from one person to the next.
I got curious about how different stretch marks look so I did some research. It turns out that the different colors of stretch marks are due to the cause, skin complexion, and health condition.
Here are the different types of stretch marks you may encounter:
Striae atrophicans
This type of stretch mark is associated with thin skin. This is one of the most common types of stretch marks in general and usually isn’t serious.
People with low skin collagen levels, either due to a health condition, medicine use, or surgical procedure, commonly develop this type of stretch mark.
Striae gravidarum
This is the type of stretch mark that only pregnant women develop. With enough time and skincare help, this type of striae would eventually fade away.
However, the emotional distress and insecurity it can cause among us women can be serious.
Striae distensae
You might already have an idea about this stretch mark based on its name. This is the type of stretch mark formed when skin is pulled and distended beyond its capacity. If you ever had stripes-looking stretch marks during puberty, this is it.
Since it is formed while the skin is still young and elastic, this type of stretch mark has a high chance of lightening and disappearing as you grow older.
Striae rubrae
The first three types of striae are all based on the cause — now we move on to the color and appearance. If your stretch marks are red or pinkish, then you’ve got striae rubrae.
Although it may look worse than other types of stretch marks, this is still in the acute or earliest stage. The redness is a sign of inflammation and will calm down eventually. Striae rubrae can become itchy, though, which can worsen the markings.
Striae albae
Among the different types of stretch marks, this can be seen as the most serious. Striae albae is characterized by scar-like and irregularly shaped marks. Compared to the red, inflamed rubrae, these are white and may have a wrinkled texture.
This is the type of stretch mark you and I would encounter as we grow older. Aside from stretch marks on inner thighs, this is also commonly found in our bellies.
Striae nigrae
If your stretch marks appear as black or dark gray marks, then it’s most likely the striae nigrae type. Don’t be alarmed by the appearance, though. Most of the time, the color is only due to men and women’s darker skin complexion.
Striae caerulea
This is another type of stretch mark that is commonly seen among those with darker skin. Characterized by purple or dark blue lines, the color doesn’t signal a serious health issue. Dark purple color is similar to the rubrae stretch marks and acute or newer ones.
What To Do About Inner Thigh Stretch Marks
The first thing is to accept that stretch marks are natural and do not take away from your beauty. They fade naturally over time, as well. But if you want to hasten your stretch marks’ disappearance, I’ve got you covered! Here is a list of ways to safely get rid of your stretch marks and prevent future ones, as well.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/inner-thigh-stretch-marks#causes
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stretch-marks/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322231#what-causes-stretch-marks
https://www.healthline.com/health/stretch-marks-on-breasts#overview
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-stretch-marks
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stretch-marks/symptoms-causes/syc-20351139
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/skin-hair-and-nails/9-things-to-know-about-stretch-marks
https://www.healthline.com/health/purple-stretch-marks#origins
