Stretch Marks in Children?

[suedonim]

I was shocked to notice this week that my 9yo dd is developing a few stretch marks at the top of her thighs though she doesn't seem to have seen them herself, thank goodness. She is growing like a weed but even so, should a 9yo really be getting stretch marks?? I know there's nothing that really stops them in pg but I wonder if there's anything to be done for children. Has anyone else's child had this problem and what did you do?

[GhostofNatt]

I think girls do get them near puberty - i remember i got them on my hips at about age 12 as did some other girls i knew.

[jayzmummy]

The 12 year old girl who lives next door to me has huge stretch marks on her thighs...poor thing is really upset by them as she is very dark skinned and they are very visible

[suedonim]

Dd1 got stretch marks when she was about 14 but 9yo?? I'm worried dd2 will go on and on developing them until she's fully grown. I don't feel I want to take her to the Dr (who will probably say there's nothing to be done anyway) because I don't want to draw dd2's attention to them. I guess I could phone the Dr, though.

[zippitippitoes]

I think they are quite common for the same reason as adults get them ie a strong growth spurt, a friends son had them quite badly on his back when he grew several inches in a very short period...I don't know if you can ameliorate them in any way, though

[saadia]

I got them as well as a teenager. Dh reckons they were caused by some kind of vitamin deficiency.

[suedonim]

Thanks for the replies. I guess she isn't the only one, from what you all say! Ds2 also had stretch marks on his back but they were from steroid usage. What vitamin is your dh thinking of, Saadia? I could give dd vitamins if it would help.

[zippitippitoes]

This is on ivillage and mentions Vits C and E, and silica Stretch Marks

[suedonim]

Thanks, Zippitippitoes, that's v interesting!

[zippitippitoes]

I was quite surprised that it seems to suggest that you can help them which i didn't think was possible

[suedonim]

I was surprised, too!

[almost40]

I had them as a child on my thighs and knees. Most of them eventually went away. I wouldn't be too concerned, although sadly, this probably means that she will have significant stretch marks on her belly if and when she ever gets pregnant. Mine were horrible! I obviously have a genetic predisposition to having them.

[saadia]

sorry suedonim, dh is now denying ever having said anything about stretch marks and vit deficiency (although I'm sure he did - he has an appalling memory).

He is now saying they are caused when the skin has stretched after putting on weight and then goes back to normal (duh, as if we didn't know that).

[Gobbledigook]

dh has some on his lower back from growth spurts as a child. He's 6ft 3in now so he too grew 'like a weed' at some point!

[fqueenzebra]

i have stretch marks from my youth (presumably growth spurts). Esp. on my thighs and breasts.
Luckily, I like them. I think they're pretty. I didn't get any stretchmarks from pregnancy, btw.

[suedonim]

Lol at your dh, Saadia! Thanks for the reassurance, everyone. It seems pretty normal, from what you all say.