Teenage stretch marks

[Designerenvy]

My 14 year old dd has stretch marks in her buttocks. She says they appeared very recently. She has never been over weight and is approx 5foot 5 inches. She has gone through a recent growth spurt… would this cause them ? They are quite red/ purple at the moment, can I get her to do anything to help reduce their appearance because we are going on holidays soon and she’s very self conscious about swim wear now because of them, TIA

Definitely not anything to do with weight- my DS isn't overweight either. It's totally vertical growth in his case anyway. Teenagers are like having a science experiment in your own home! It's an interesting and complex time...

Yes, definitely caused by growth spurt. Many of the top models actually have them, although they're unfortunately airbrushed out of images.

Insiders in the modelling industry will tell you they're really common. I think there was a campaign a while ago to stop them being airbrushed out of photographs, don't remember who was involved but I've noticed recently models for clothes lines / shops haven't had them edited out as much which is really encouraging.

I got them a lot of them on my thighs and hips through puberty, stick insect though I was. I'll be honest and say I'm still a bit self conscious of them 15 years later although the rational side of my brain tells me not to be, so I do get it. However, only 1 person has ever mentioned them which was a curious ex - and not as a criticism either, just curiosity. The only thing thing they've ever had an impact on is my body image, which should tell you (and me) that they actually have no impact on anything whatsoever.

Nothing treats them. You can only improve the appearance, so daily moisturising is what I recommend.

My son has stretch marks all over his knees!!
He's also 14 and most definitely not overweight.

He's grown about 17ft this last year though 😂

Daughter has them on her legs and most distressingly on her calves which is hard to hide. They are angry and look like scratches. She is also slim and tall. I think she's just grown upwards too fast

Sadly I think it's normal and hopefully in time will fade.

They will fade BackT, in the meantime she might find fake tan helps to disguise them.

Microneedling can work on stretch marks, I got mine personally done at MD Laser and Cosmetics, down in San Mateo. And within 2 weeks after the treatment, the stretch mark's gone like a miracle.

@Jahssck how old and deep were the stretchmarks you had treated?

I got some nice swim shorts at Lands End recently. Not sure whether your daughters looking at the teen or adult range but theres some in both

there's a myth that it's only to do with weight loss/gain. It's hormonal

lack of collagen as you age is also another reason why you can escape them in pregnancy. A 20 yr old mum is much more likely to get them then a 40 yr old mum.

Thank you…. We got through the holiday and she doesn’t seem as upset/ obsessed with them thank goodness! I just explained they’re perfectly normal and will fade in time…. Thanks for all the advice, I will look into a moisturiser for her and it’s just about being there and listening mostly I think….. they have so much pressure theses to look perfect …. Not easy…. Thanks again !

That’s good to hear, OP. Being an teenager is so hard, it was when we were going through it, but now they see filtered images on SM and it gives the false impression that everyone is perfect. I can’t stand filters.

That's good that she feels ok. They're totally normal. Everyone I know got them as teens somewhere. Mine are my hips/butt - I've also never been overweight or pregnant. They're from growing and filling out!

Mine are beautiful silvery lines now. She won't care when she's older.

ThAnk you @Cameleongirl yes those filters drive me mad ! Such pressure on young people these days !

That’s a lovely way to describe them @TheWayoftheLeaf

Like many, I had loads as a teenager, all faded to near-invisibility, and none when pregnant.

One interesting possibility worth noting though - my physio told me that they are often an indicator of hyper mobility (apparently the cause of some of my later-life back troubles), because of what it tells you about the genetics of your collagen production. Not that there's much you can do about it, but it might be a good impetus for her to pay attention to her core strength and her posture (both of mine are rubbish!)

I'm resurrecting this thread, because DS's stretch marks, after fading over the summer, are back on his back! He's growing like a weed, towers over me now.

It's weird though, because I didn't really get them, and he looks far more like my side of the family than DH's. I wonder whether I had them but didn't know they were on my back?!