Dr Phil Kieran: Is there a treatment for my teen's stretch marks?

Stretch marks occur in up to 70% of adolescent girls - there is nothing to feel embarrassed about them

Strech marks are very common in adolescence. Picture: iStock 

My 17-year-old daughter is very health-conscious and works out in the gym up to three times a week. Though her weight is normal, she has developed stretch marks on her lower back and thighs and is very self-conscious about them. Is there a treatment you could recommend?

Stretch marks are incredibly common, particularly during adolescence. You might be aware of them related to pregnancy, when they most commonly appear, but stretch marks occur in up to 70% of adolescent girls and 40% of boys. We are not entirely sure why some people get these and others don’t.

The areas of highest incidence include the thighs and back, as in your daughter’s case, and also along the breasts.

I remember when I was a teenager panicking about some that showed up on my back. They are still there but barely visible.

The two most important points to help your daughter understand are: first, they are extremely common, and second, they will fade and become much less noticeable.

Unfortunately, there is no consistent, guaranteed treatment for stretch marks. Dozens of creams and services, such as micro-needling, laser treatments, and other ointments and unguents, claim to cure them but the evidence supporting any of these treatments is pretty weak at best.

When stretch marks first appear, they are usually dark red or even purple. While people often feel that they look unsightly on their own bodies, they are usually nowhere near as obvious or as visible to others as they are to themselves.

After a few months, the darker colour usually fades, and by 12 months, the marks will often be smaller and pale or even nearly silvery. They also tend to flatten against the skin at this time and usually become difficult to notice.

Sometimes the skin around and on stretch marks can become drier and itchy. This reaction can lead to inflammation, which can also make them more visible.

I usually advise patients to find a plain body moisturiser they like and rub it in firmly once or twice a day. Moisturising will help reduce the itch and potentially inflammation. I have had some patients report that massaging the cream into the mark can help it appear flatter or paler.

If your daughter has a large number of stretch marks or if they are very wide and dark, it may be worth taking her to see her GP for a set of basic blood tests. These can rule out any medications that could be contributing to them or any blood abnormality that could be the cause. These are both extremely rare, though.

The fact that your daughter takes an active role in her health and exercise is a great habit to build and keep into the future. If she can be comfortable knowing that stretch marks are common and most women in real life have them, then good for her. There is no need to be embarrassed by them.

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