What Causes Stretch Marks on Thighs? How to Avoid and Treat Them

Stretch Marks on thighs are a common problem, especially in women. True, they don’t cause any pain, but many don’t like having them for several reasons. Above all, they look ugly and make you feel shy of using all those short dresses in your wardrobe.

If you are wondering why do I have stretch marks on my thighs, keep reading. In this article, we will look at the topic in detail and try to see why we have stretch marks on our thighs and how you can avoid them or treat them to have a perfect look. You can also read our detailed discussion where we have debunked all stretch marks myths.

Why Do I have Stretch Marks on My Thighs?

Stretch marks can appear on thighs due to many reasons. After the abdomen, your thighs are most likely to have those strips and lines. Beside thighs, they can appear on buttocks, biceps, breasts,  or any other part of your body.

Though more common in women, both men and women, even teenagers can have stretch marks for many reasons. Stretch marks appear when your skin is stretched beyond its capacity, thus tearing its inner layers. 

Our skin is pretty flexible and can stretch to a great extent. Still, during periods of rapid growth, as in puberty or pregnancy, this stretching can disrupt collagen production. 

Collagen is the protein that binds the skin together. It’s the connective tissues that make up our skin. Lack of collagen for any reason can cause stretch marks. 

You can have stretch marks on your breasts, thighs, buttocks, or any other muscles. 

What Causes Stretch Marks on Thighs?

Stretch marks on thighs are particularly related to sudden weight gain or loss. The middle layer of skin is stretched, and a growth spurt or pregnancy are two common reasons for stretch marks on thighs.

Stretch marks can appear on the inner thighs, outer thighs, abdomen, or buttocks, depending on your skin condition and body muscles. 

How to Avoid Stretch Marks on Thighs

Stretch marks are natural and, in some cases, unavoidable. For instant, if you have a hereditary problem, these are difficult to avoid, but you can do a lot to avoid them. (You can check a detailed discussion on why are you getting stretch marks here).

In most cases, stretch marks are avoidable, and you can prevent them. Prevention is actually better and easier than curing old stretch marks that are difficult to fade.

As we said, stretch marks happen when skin is stretched. Keeping your skin supple and healthy is one of the easiest ways to avoid stretch marks. 

You can take care of your skin and use some good moisturizer to keep it soft and flexible. Any topical creams can be used to boost the collagen and elastin production of your skin. Flexible and soft skin can stretch without tearing its inner layer that later appears as stretch marks.

Here are some simple ways to avoid stretch marks on thighs:

• Stay Hydrated:

Drinking enough water is essential to keep our skin healthy and soft. 

• Control Weight

While it may seem difficult to control weight in pregnancy, you can still maintain a healthy weight. Gaining more than necessary can cause more stretch marks. A healthy diet and lots of exercises can help you maintain a healthy weight.

• Nutrient-Rich Diet

Our skin is just another organ of the body and needs nutrients to stay healthy. Eating nutritional food boosts your skin health. So take a balanced diet comprising all food groups. Make sure you have vitamin C, D, E, Protein, and zinc in food. Especially vitamin C is vital for collagen building and keeping your skin elastic and firm.

Avoiding processed and junk food is also important. 

• Use of Topical Creams

Having a skincare routine is essential for preventing stretch marks. You can use cocoa butter, coconut oil, or Shea butter to keep the skin soft and supple. There are some specific stretch marks preventing creams in the market as well. These creams, lotions, or oil that boost collagen production can help you avoid stretch marks. Look for any good anti-stretch marks cream, lotion, or oil that keeps your skin hydrated and allows it to stretch without tearing.

Types of Stretch marks on Thighs

Stretch marks on thighs can be red, pink, purple, white, or silver, depending on how old or new they are. 

Red Stretch marks on Thighs

Red or purple stretch marks on inner thighs indicate their earlier stage. It is how stretch marks start developing on your skin. These red stretch marks on thighs are new and easier to treat as compared to white or blue stretch marks on inner thighs. 

The red or pink color shows that they have blood vessels under them, making them responsive to any stretch mark healing cream or lotion. Stretch marks at this stage can be itchy as well.

White or Silver Stretch Marks

This is a chronic stage of stretch marks that is also the most difficult to fade or remove. Pink or red stretch marks on the thighs can develop into a wrinkle-like shape. Progress from red to white stretch marks takes months to years. These mature stretch marks become more visible with age as the skin loses its elasticity.

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks on Thighs?

Stretch marks on thighs treatment are like treating stretch marks on any other part of the body. As we said, it is easier to prevent stretch marks than the actual treatment. Still, if you develop those strips and streaks, it is easier to deal with them when red and pink. 

When treating red stretch marks, the aim is to reduce the skin’s redness in the beginning. Once they turn white or silver, you need more extensive therapy for removing them.

Here are several ways of stretch marks on thigh treatment.

Skincare Routine

Follow a strict skincare routine to fade and ultimately remove the stretch marks. A good moisturizer keeps your skin smooth and soft. Regular exfoliation removes the dead cells from the skin and ensures a good flow of blood. It increases the elasticity of your skin.

Topical Creams

It is by far the easiest and less expensive method of treating stretch marks. Creams like Maely’s B Flat cream are very effective for fading and eventually removing stretch marks from your body. The results are not the same in all cases as it depends on your skin, the cream or lotion you use, and the type of stretch marks. 

Look for the cream or lotion that has collagen-building properties. They can be expensive, but low-quality creams do little to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Laser Therapy

It’s an expensive procedure but offers a quick and effective solution for stretch marks. The therapy uses laser beams to regenerate cell growth and regeneration. It is helpful, especially for old stretch marks that are difficult to go with topical creams.

Microdermabrasion

It’s a procedure to remove or exfoliate the cells from the skin to reduce stretch marks appearance. It is also an expensive treatment and not easy for anyone to afford.

Are There Any Exercises to Get Rid of Stretch Marks on Inner Thighs?

Jogging and running are two exercises that tone the muscles of your thighs. Cardiac exercises or aerobics improve the circulation of blood so that more nutrients reach your skin. Good exercise also maintains a good weight.

Prevention of Stretch Marks is Better Than Cure

Stretch Marks on outer thighs or inner thighs can be caused by pregnancy, rapid weight gain, puberty, and many different reasons. Sometimes they are just hereditary, and you can’t help but have them even after all care. The best approach is to try to prevent them with a good skincare routine. You should drink a lot of water and stay healthy and fit to avoid these marks. 

For best results, make sure you treat them as early as possible. Even old and silver stretch marks on thighs are difficult to go but not impossible.