Skin texture alterations such as stretch marks and cellulite are hugely prevalent, but also capable of catching us off guard when they appear. If you’ve ever questioned why they occur, what (if anything) you might be able to do to prevent or treat them, or simply are interested in the science behind these changes, you’re in the right place.
What are Stretch Marks and Cellulite?
Stretch marks and cellulite both change the appearance and sensation of your skin, but they are very different from each other. Stretch marks usually appear as streaky marks, which are usually reddish, purple, or silvery. Cellulite creates a dimpled, irregular texture that people tend to say looks like cottage cheese or orange peel. Neither is unhealthy, but they can affect how we feel about ourselves.
Causes and Risk Factors
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks form when your skin stretches or contracts rapidly, which tears the supportive strands, such as collagen and elastin. It tends to happen when there is a major body change, such as pregnancy, puberty, sudden weight gain or loss, or even muscle development. Your genetic makeup has a lot to do with whether or not you develop them. Eventually, they do tend to fade, but they don’t completely disappear.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a bit trickier. It occurs when fat cells bulge against the skin as the connective tissue stretches downwards, giving it this puckered appearance. Hormones—particularly estrogen—appear to be a major factor. Genetics, skin type, and shape also have a bearing on who develops it. Women are more likely than men to develop it, largely due to the variation in the way fat and connective tissue are distributed. Even your undergarments might come into play—tight elastics can cut off circulation and might contribute marginally to how cellulite occurs.
How Prevalent Are These Ailments?
Extremely common. Between 80 and 90 percent of women will develop cellulite at some point, and stretch marks are also extremely common, particularly during life transitions that involve rapid body changes. Being thin or fit won’t save you— individuals of all shapes and sizes can get them.
Treatment Options
Medical Treatments for Stretch Marks
It is not simple to get rid of stretch marks, but medical treatments exist that can reduce them. Laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, and microneedling are popular options. These treatments work by encouraging new collagen growth or removing the top layers of skin to smooth things out. Retinol creams can also help a bit over time, though they can be irritating and take months to show results. While these options may improve how stretch marks look, they usually don’t erase them completely.
Medical Treatments for Cellulite
Cellulite treatments are out there, but none are guaranteed. Certain laser therapies can cause the hard bands beneath the skin to break up and even thicken the skin so that it’s no longer as noticeable as dimples. Subcision, in which a needle breaks them up, has more permanent results. Acoustic wave therapy and vacuum treatment are also out there, but inconsistent results are achieved. Other treatments, like carboxytherapy or deep massage (endermologie), have more limited supporting evidence and can only create temporary improvement. Liposuction and dieting don’t really help cellulite since they don’t treat the tissue structure underlying it.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Approaches
Home remedies are popular, but they don’t always have dramatic effects. For stretch marks, people find benefit in the daily use of aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid, or centella asiatica. Cocoa butter and coconut oil feel wonderful, but they do not work to decrease stretch marks. For cellulite, caffeine creams will temporarily smooth out the skin by dehydrating fat cells, but it does not last long. Retinol can help to plump up the skin, but again, results come with time and frequent use.
Healthy living—good nutrition, regular exercise, and not smoking—is a good way to minimize the visibility of both conditions, and maybe even halt new ones. Nonetheless, bear in mind that even individuals who do every “right” thing may get stretch marks and cellulite.
What Works and What Does Not
Here’s the bottom line: there’s no magic cure for stretch marks or cellulite. Some treatments can make them look better, particularly if you notice them early on, but they don’t tend to make them disappear. Most creams and home remedies bring little improvement, if any. Much of it is due to genetics, hormones, and aging—things you can’t always avoid.
Living with Stretch Marks and Cellulite
These skin changes are totally normal and extremely common. They don’t mean there’s anything wrong with your health, and treating them is completely optional. If they bother you, there are ways to try to reduce their appearance. But it’s also completely okay to accept and embrace your skin just the way it is.