Does Weight Loss Cause Stretch Marks?

Each one of us has an ideal body weight, and maintaining it is crucial for maintaining overall health. However, body weight is not always in control, and there are times when you have to take extra weight loss measures to trim your waistline or shed the spare kilos. But while doing so, should you be worried about stretch marks after weight loss? Read on to know more.

Do Stretch Marks occur from a Weight Loss Regimen?

Stretch marks look like markings on your skin that appear as stripes or wriggly tapering lines. Since these marks appear when your skin undergoes rapid changes, stretch marks due to weight loss are quite possible. This is especially true if you have lost lot of weight over a short period.

Stretch marks that have newly developed can be slightly raised with a glossy texture and appearance. Soon, the texture fades which makes them stands out in contrast with normal skin. Generally, stretch marks appear in those areas of the body where you have excess fat stored; this means the breasts, buttocks and thighs. This is not to say that they will not appear in other places where the skin is stretched tight or shrinks.

What causes Stretch Marks when you lose weight?

Stretch marks appear where the skin rapidly stretches or shrinks. This is why we see stretch marks after weight loss in those areas where you have slimmed down significantly. Many factors determine whether or not you have stretch marks, how they appear, and in how many places they occur. Some of these factors are:

• Your skin tone

• How elastic and healthy your skin is

• Which part of the body has skin stretched or shrunk

Weight loss stretch marks usually are not caused directly by the drop in your body weight but by the fact that you gained weight at some earlier point which has stretched the skin. When you lose weight, these marks become more visible. A good way to keep stretch marks to a minimum would be to follow a careful regimen of diet and exercise, so you lose weight slowly and consistently rather than rapid and drastic.