Stretch marks after pregnancy vs. stretch marks from the gym — different cause, different treatment
Not all stretch marks respond to treatment the same way — first, understand where they came from.
7 min readwritten for women
Stretch marks look similar, but their cause determines how — and when — they can be treated effectively. Pregnancy stretch marks result from a double impact: hormonal and mechanical. Training-related stretch marks come from mechanics alone. This difference has a direct bearing on the choice of therapy and the results you can realistically expect.
What stretch marks actually are
Stretch marks (Latin: striae distensae) are linear scars that form within the dermis — the second, deeper layer of skin. Not in the epidermis. Not on the surface. Deep down.
Your skin is made up of three layers:
Epidermis — a thin protective layer on the surface.
Dermis — a thick layer containing collagen, elastin, blood vessels and glands. This is where your skin's "scaffolding" lives.
Hypodermis — a layer of fat and connective tissue.
Stretch marks form when the dermis is mechanically stretched beyond its ability to compensate. Collagen and elastin fibres tear — literally. These are structural micro-tears, which the body heals like a wound, forming scar tissue instead of normal collagen. That's why a stretch mark has a different texture, colour and elasticity to the skin around it. It's a scar — just one that forms from the inside.
Pregnancy: hormones + stretching = a double impact
Pregnancy stretch marks (striae gravidarum) can appear in a large proportion of pregnant women — most often on the abdomen, hips, breasts and thighs. The pregnancy mechanism has two components.
The gym: mechanics without hormones
Training-related stretch marks form for a different reason — and usually in different places. Rapid muscle growth stretches the skin mechanically over the growing muscle. If muscles grow faster than the skin can adapt, the dermis tears.
Arms (biceps, triceps) — particularly with intensive upper-body training
Thighs (quadriceps) — with leg training (squats, leg press)
Back (latissimus dorsi) — with significant back muscle development
Chest — with rapid growth of the pectoral muscles
Red vs. white — the therapeutic window
This is the single most important piece of clinical information about treating stretch marks. Stretch marks pass through two phases.
Treating red stretch marks
If your stretch marks are red, purple or pink, this is the best moment to act.
Treating white stretch marks — harder, but not hopeless
If your stretch marks are white or silvery, the inflammatory process has settled. The tissue is stable, metabolically less active, with reduced vascularisation. Treatment is more difficult and needs a more consistent approach.
Can stretch marks be removed completely?
No. That's the answer every honest dermatologist and cosmetologist should give from the outset. Stretch marks are scars. Scars can't be removed completely — but they can be reduced, flattened, evened out with the surrounding skin, and improved in texture and colour.
Approximate results after a full course of treatment:
Red (rubrae), early treatment — visibility reduced by around 60–80%, over several to a dozen or so sessions
Red (rubrae), treatment after 6+ months — reduction of 40–60%, more sessions required
White (albae), up to 2 years old — reduction of 40–60%, requiring patience and a series of sessions
White (albae), over 5 years old — reduction of 30–50%, the longest protocol
