Like many people, you may have thought stretch marks were only caused by pregnancy or weight gain. Yet after significant weight loss, you might notice fine streaks appearing on your stomach, hips and thighs — often tinged with colour. How do these stretch marks form? We explain everything here.
Why can weight loss cause stretch marks?
Stretch marks are the visible result of a breakdown of the skin’s elastic fibres. The dermis, located just beneath the epidermis, is partly made up of an elastic network that maintains the skin’s suppleness, resilience and structure.
Certain events weaken the skin and cause these fibres to break. The most well-known include:
- puberty,
- pregnancy,
- sudden and significant weight gain
- rapid muscle mass gain
- rapid weight loss can also cause stretch marks
Significant weight loss — whether following a strict diet, bariatric surgery or pregnancy — can weaken the dermis. Skin that was previously taut suddenly becomes slack. It loses firmness and elasticity and may start to sag. The collagen and elastin fibres can then break, causing stretch marks. This process is often made worse by nutritional deficiencies associated with weight loss. Depriving the body of essential fatty acids (found only through diet!), vitamins A, C and E, and minerals significantly increases the risk of skin damage, including:
- Redness and dry skin (omega-6 and omega-3)
- Eczema (trace elements)
- Flaking and wrinkles (vitamin B-carotene)
- Slower healing process (vitamin C)
What are the solutions for reducing stretch marks caused by weight loss?
If you notice stretch marks appearing on your body (buttocks, thighs, hips, or even your back) following significant weight loss, there are several treatments available to help reduce them.
1- At-home solutions
Since aesthetic medicine treatments for stretch marks can be costly, you may prefer cosmetic solutions you can use every day, right from your bathroom!
Natural anti-stretch mark treatments
Nature offers a wealth of particularly beneficial ingredients that can help treat stretch marks. These can be found in various forms:
Natural plant oils
These are cold-pressed from oilseeds (sweet almond, jojoba, marula, sesame…) or fatty fruits (avocado, coconut, olive, piqui…). Rich in nourishing, healing, soothing and softening properties, when applied daily they help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, restore the skin’s natural hydrolipidic film and bring back its suppleness.
Macerated oils
These are made by macerating plant matter (flowers, leaves, roots, buds…) in a vegetable oil. Some are particularly beneficial for the skin thanks to their active compounds: rosehip, carrot, borage, pomegranate, hibiscus, sea buckthorn…
Essential oils
Essential oils are concentrated plant essences obtained through distillation. Highly potent, they should be used sparingly and always diluted in a carrier oil. Some essential oils are particularly effective at fading stretch marks, including rose geranium, rosewood, rosemary verbenone, lavender, cistus, Italian helichrysum and myrrh.
Plant butters
Plant butters are obtained in the same way as vegetable oils (cold extraction), except that their lipid profile gives them a solid rather than liquid texture. They share similar benefits to oils and are excellent allies in preventing and treating stretch marks. The most famous is shea butter, but cocoa, mango and kombo butters are also worth mentioning.
Plant extracts
Applying plant extracts (in powder or gel form) topically — as a body mask or poultice — can also yield good results on stretch marks, provided the routine is consistent. Certain plants, such as hydrating Aloe Vera, soothing Centella Asiatica, antioxidant Urucum and regenerating Tepezcohuite, are particularly well-suited for use on both inflammatory and mature stretch marks.
Complete skincare routine
Cosmetics have a real role to play when it comes to stretch marks! Many products, combining natural active ingredients, deliver impressive results. This is the case with our 100% Stretch Mark Routine, which brings together products that work in synergy. On average, 96% of those who have tried it would recommend it. The routine includes:
- A Body Brush, whose bristles and nodules stimulate the lymphatic system and deeply release toxins and impurities from the skin, leaving it cleaner and clearer.
- An Anti-Stretch Mark Serum, packed with active ingredients, it boosts the effectiveness of other treatments.
- A Repairing Anti-Stretch Mark Cream, enriched with provitamin B5 and macadamia oil, it supports cellular regeneration and stimulates natural collagen production, for visibly reduced stretch marks and plumper-looking skin.
- An Anti-Stretch Mark Prevention Oil, a blend of 6 natural plant oils that simultaneously hydrates, protects, nourishes and helps repair all skin types (men, pregnant women, teenagers).
- A Massage Roller to help the oil penetrate deeply into the skin.
- The Anti-Stretch Mark Scrub with fine grains, which gently exfoliates the epidermis to remove dead skin cells and smooth its texture.
Devices and scrubs
A skincare routine can easily be complemented with massage devices or accessories. Stretch mark exfoliation can, for example, be carried out using a natural-fibre glove or a plant-based sponge such as a konjac sponge or loofah. As for devices, there are now home-use LED and microdermabrasion medical-grade tools available. They typically cost between €100 and €300 and claim to deliver satisfying results on stretch marks. Before investing in such devices, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist for an informed opinion on their effectiveness.
2- Aesthetic treatments at a medical clinic
There are now many aesthetic medicine procedures aimed at reducing the appearance of stretch marks, whether old or recent. Non-invasive and largely painless, they are increasingly popular, despite sometimes coming at a significant cost.
Treatments to stimulate collagen production
Some aesthetic techniques focus on stimulating fibroblasts (the subcutaneous cells responsible for producing the skin’s elastic fibres) in order to boost collagen production. The skin then tends to plump up and stretch marks begin to fade. These techniques include plasma injections, laser therapy, micro-needling, radiofrequency and LED light therapy.
Treatments to smooth the skin’s surface
Other techniques focus on repairing the visible surface of the skin. These include mechanical and chemical peelings and microdermabrasion, which exfoliate the skin to varying depths, triggering an inflammatory response and then smoothing the surface through the healing process. As for cosmetic surgery for stretch marks, this option can only address stretch marks on the abdomen and is only performed under specific conditions.
Medication-based treatment
Certain vitamin A acid creams (tretinoin, isotretinoin) such as Retacnyl, prescribed exclusively by a dermatologist — as they are pharmaceutical products — may improve the appearance of stretch marks. They cause skin irritation followed by a “natural” exfoliation, prompting the skin to regenerate. Results vary from person to person and are generally not comparable to those achieved through aesthetic medicine procedures. It should be noted that the use of tretinoin-based creams is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.