Stretch marks in adolescence: why they appear and how to care for them

They often appear without warning, at the end of a summer or after a growth spurt: stretch marks affect a large proportion of teenagers, girls and boys alike. According to the available dermatological data, around 70% of adolescent girls and 40% of adolescent boys have them^1,2. A common phenomenon, rarely explained, and often experienced in silence. Let's talk about it, with no taboos.

Why do stretch marks appear during adolescence?

Puberty brings together two favourable conditions: rapid growth, which stretches the skin faster than it can adapt, and hormonal upheavals that alter the quality of the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis. When these fibres break, a small scar forms deep in the skin: that is the stretch mark³.

Certain factors increase the risk: a family predisposition, rapid weight gain or loss, a sport that quickly builds muscle mass, or certain treatments, such as corticosteroids³.

Where do they appear most often?

In girls: hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts. In boys: lower back, thighs, shoulders and upper arms^1,2. They are often arranged in parallel lines, in the direction in which the skin stretches.

Red, purple or white: what their colour tells you

A recent stretch mark is red, pink or purple: this is its inflammatory phase, when the skin is most receptive to care⁴. Over the months, it fades, becomes pearly and slightly sunken. The earlier you act, the more room for manoeuvre you have. To find out more, read our article Red or white stretch marks: what's the difference?

How to care for them day to day

• Moisturise the skin every day, massaging the exposed areas: supple skin copes better with stretching.
• Act at the first signs, while they are still red or purple.
• Choose a suitable treatment: during adolescence, the skin is still thin and reactive. Choose a formula whose tolerance has been assessed for this age group.
• Be consistent: it is regularity, more than quantity, that counts.

Both KOUAGA treatments have a tolerance validated by toxicological assessment for all populations, including teenagers: the prevention cream to support the skin during growth spurts, and the fading cream to care for recent stretch marks.

When should you see a doctor?

Stretch marks in adolescence are usually harmless. However, it is advisable to talk to a doctor if they are very numerous, wide and purple, if they appear without a growth spurt or weight gain, or if they come with other signs, such as rapid weight gain around the face and trunk, unusual fatigue or high blood pressure. They may then be the sign of a hormonal imbalance that deserves to be looked into⁵.

And above all, take the drama out of it

Stretch marks are the sign of a body that is growing and changing, not a flaw. Talking about them, understanding what is happening and caring for your skin without shame is already a lot. At KOUAGA, we believe in a kind approach: supporting the skin, and sharing information to better understand the phases it goes through.

Sources

1. Sisson WR. Colored striae in adolescent children. J Pediatr. 1954;45(5):520-530.
2. DermNet NZ. Stretch marks (striae). dermnetnz.org.
3. Al-Himdani S, Ud-Din S, Gilmore S, Bayat A. Striae distensae: a comprehensive review and evidence-based evaluation of prophylaxis and treatment. Br J Dermatol. 2014;170(3):527-547.
4. Ud-Din S, McGeorge D, Bayat A. Topical management of striae distensae (stretch marks): prevention and therapy of striae rubrae and albae. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016;30(2):211-222.
5. Nieman LK, Biller BMK, Findling JW, et al. The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(5):1526-1540.