People get stretch marks when the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, becomes stretched. They appear on the thighs either when a person gains weight or muscle around the thighs or when they lose weight in this area. Growth spurts and pregnancy can also cause stretch marks on the thighs.
Spider veins and varicose veins are practically a rite of passage. As we age, many of us find the jagged purple lines or swollen bluish cords spreading across our thighs and calves. These warped blood vessels occur in up to 60% of adults.
As a result, the skin can develop stretch marks. At first, stretch marks may show up as reddish or purplish lines that can look indented and have a different texture from the skin around them. Stretch marks often turn lighter and almost disappear over time.
It's common for stretch marks to appear during teen years when rapid growth of weight gain occurs. Other factors that make teens predisposed to stretch marks appearing include a genetic risk or family history of stretch marks, pregnancy, being overweight or obese, or topical or oral steroids, like prednisone.
Stretch marks fade with time; however, treatment may make them less noticeable more quickly. A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear.
Why do I get stretch marks when I lose weight? Excess skin after rapid, massive weight loss might cause some stretching and tearing, but the majority of stretch marks are not actually caused when you lose the weight. Weight gain is more likely to cause stretch marks, especially on your stomach.
People get stretch marks when the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, becomes stretched. They appear on the thighs either when a person gains weight or muscle around the thighs or when they lose weight in this area. Growth spurts and pregnancy can also cause stretch marks on the thighs.
These stretch marks initially appear pinkish or purple in color and over time start looking white or silver in color. Some of the common causes of stretch marks on legs and inner thigh include: Pregnancy. Weight gain.
Though it's relatively rare, these marks might indicate more serious underlying health conditions, such as Cushing syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Therefore, talk to your doctor if you have stretch marks but haven't gained weight or lost weight.
Answer. These sound to me like they are potentially stretch marks, which are very common on the back of the thighs. Stretch marks occur when the the skin becomes stretched, often under the influence of a change in hormone levels (this is why, for example they are more common during and after pregnancy).
Anatomy of cellulite
As fat cells increase, they push up against the skin. Tough, long connective cords pull down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling, often referred to as cellulite. Cellulite is a very common, harmless skin condition that causes lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen.
Although muscle tone can be tightened with targeted exercises, surgery is the only solution to remove excess skin. Surgical removal of excess skin and tissue with a thigh lift can slim the lines of the inner and outer thighs.
Stretch marks are often caused by gaining weight rapidly over a short period of time. Avoiding rapid weight gain and weight loss can help prevent stretch marks. If you need to lose weight, you should do it slowly by: eating a healthy, balanced diet.
People under a lot of stress for an extended time can also develop stretch marks due to the simple fact that their cortisol level has increased. This is why many women get stretch marks on their skin between the ages of 25 and 35, when they are not pregnant and have not put on weight.
The marks occur when a person experiences a significant amount of growth or weight gain in a short period of time, such as during puberty. Getting stretch marks does not necessarily mean a person is overweight. Thin people can get the marks too, especially when experiencing a rapid growth spurt.
In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.
Bodybuilding or intense workouts can increase your chances of stretch marks. The rapid increase of muscle mass in your shoulders and arms can cause stretch marks to appear. However, you can prevent stretch marks if you're willing to be patient for results.
Stretch marks look like lines or streaks across the skin. Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or purple. They usually start off darker and fade over time. Stretch marks are most common on the tummy, breasts, chest, upper arms, legs, bottom, hips or back.
You can't get rid of cellulite. But, it's not harmful to your overall health. You can reduce the appearance of cellulite through a combination of exercise, diet and treatments.
Losing weight and strengthening the muscles in the legs, buttocks and abdomen may make cellulite less noticeable in those areas, but it won't go away altogether. That is because once a fat cell develops, it is yours for life.
In terms of how your body looks, “it usually takes 4 weeks for your friends to notice weight loss, and 6–8 weeks for you to notice,” says Ramsey Bergeron, a certified personal trainer. “Your friends who don't see you every day are much more likely to see a change than someone you're around all the time,” he adds.
Though exercise won't get rid of cellulite, it may help reduce its appearance. When designing an exercise program, you want to make sure that you're doing a combination of cardio and strength training exercises 4–7 days a week, as this helps to achieve weight loss and prevent muscle loss ( 9 ).