Purple Stretch Marks: Causes, Risk Factors, And Treatment

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Scott Frothingham on July 19, 2019

Origins
Common places
Treatment
Home remedies
Risk factors
Takeaway

If you have stretch marks, you’re not alone. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that between 50 percent and 80 percent of people have stretch marks.

Stretch marks can vary in color among people. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the color of your stretch marks depends on the color of your skin. They may appear:

red
purple
blue
black
brown

How do you get purple stretch marks?

Stretch marks, also called striae, are scars that are associated with the skin being stretched and thinned, which causes the elastic fibers to break.

Typical causes of stretch marks include:

rapid weight gain or loss
pregnancy
rapid growth, such as an adolescent growth spurt
rapid muscle growth, such as a result of weight training

Stretch marks are also associated with long-term application of corticosteroids and with certain health conditions, such as Cushing’s disease and Marfan syndrome.

Darker colored stretch marks, such as purple ones, are typically newer. Without treatment, they’ll usually fade to white or silver over time.

Where are you most likely to get stretch marks?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common places for stretch marks to appear include the:

abdomen
breasts
buttock
lower back
hips
thighs
upper arm

Treating stretch marks

Stretch marks don’t typically require medical treatment. They aren’t dangerous, and although they may first appear dark purple or red, they usually fade over time.

If you’re interested in products to improve the appearance of stretch marks, consult your dermatologist or doctor.

Some of the treatments commonly used for stretch marks include:

Retinoid cream. One example of retinoid cream is tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, Renova), which is often used on relatively new stretch marks. If you’re pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend alternatives to retinoid creams.
Microdermabrasion. This minimally invasive procedure exfoliates (removes) the outer layer of skin to allow new and potentially more elastic skin to grow.
Chemical peel. These treatments, which may include trichloroacetic acid, remove the top layer of skin to promote new skin growth.
Light and laser therapies. Your dermatologist may suggest one of a variety of light and laser therapies, such as pulsed-dye laser treatment, which can help stimulate elastin or collagen growth in your skin.

According to the Mayo Clinic, although these treatments may help improve the texture and appearance of your stretch marks, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to remove them completely.

No one treatment has been clinically proven to be more successful than any of the others.

Home remedies

There are many products, such as glycolic acid, vitamin E, and cocoa butter, that claim to treat stretch marks of all colors.

While these products are not harmful to the skin, it’s unlikely they’ll completely erase the appearance of stretch marks, the Mayo Clinic says.

Preventing or treating stretch marks by applying lotions, oils, or creams isn’t supported by current research.

Are you at risk for stretch marks?

Although anyone can get stretch marks, the likelihood increases if:

you’re female
your family has a history of stretch marks
you’re overweight or have obesity
you’re pregnant
you experience rapid weight gain or loss
you use corticosteroid medication
you have a condition such as Marfan syndrome or Cushing’s syndrome

Takeaway

Although purple stretch marks are physically harmless, they can be a source of significant anxiety and affect your quality of life.

If you have stretch marks, and they make you uncomfortable or affect your self-esteem, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. They can suggest some products or treatment options that may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

At this point in time, there’s no treatment that will make your stretch marks completely disappear.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Brennan M, et al. (2012). Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23152199
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Stretch marks. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stretch-marks/symptoms-causes/syc-20351139
Oakley AM, et al. (2018). Stretch marks (Striae). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436005/
Stretch marks. (2015). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10785-stretch-marks
Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/stretch-marks
Striae. (n.d.).https://www.aocd.org/page/Striae
Tung TY, et al. (2013). Genome-wide association analysis implicates elastic microfibrils in the development of nonsyndromic striae distensae.https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36019-X/fulltext

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Scott Frothingham on July 19, 2019

Purple Stretch Marks: Causes, Risk Factors, And Treatment

How do you get purple stretch marks?

Where are you most likely to get stretch marks?

Treating stretch marks

Home remedies

Are you at risk for stretch marks?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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