Whether they snake around the hips, trail across the tummy or decolletage, stretch marks are usually thought of as scars to be hidden away rather than flaunted.
Commonly associated with pregnancy and rapid weight loss and gain, they are the result of tears in connective tissue as skin stretches. But it appears the tide is beginning to turn in their favour, as more and more mothers are choosing to celebrate their ‘tiger stripes’ as reminders of the incredible feat their bodies achieved in growing a baby.
Some artists are even painting the lines on women’s bodies in rainbow colours or glitter paint and photographing them as works of art in an attempt to destigmatise them.
But whether you see them as badges of honour or bruises to your self-esteem, how do the marks appear in the first place?
Rebecca Lowrie (pictured), 52, first noticed her stretch marks at age 29 and believes it’s important to love yourself as perceptions of beauty are always changing
‘The loss of elasticity [as skin stretches] results in a visibly damaged and ridged texture,’ says Dr Howard Murad, a dermatologist and the founder of Murad skincare.
‘Inflammation may then cause raised pink, reddish or dark brown marks that eventually fade to a colour that is a few shades lighter than your natural skin tone.’
Believe it or not, young skin is more prone to developing the marks as it contains more collagen, fat and supporting tissues, according to Dr Kristy Lau, a dermatologist on doctor-on-demand app GPDQ. When older skin loses its youthful elasticity, it has more ‘give’, meaning stretch marks are less likely to occur.
Dry skin is also more susceptible, as it doesn’t adapt to changes in body weight and shape as well as moisturised skin. Genetics come into play, too: you’re more likely to get them if your mother did. Meanwhile, when you’re expecting, pregnancy hormones soften the fibres of the skin, leaving eight out of ten women with stretch marks.
‘Anyone who yo-yo diets or gains a lot of weight over a short period of time is also at risk,’ adds Dr Lau. ‘And for those who have growth spurts during puberty, stretch marks occur as a result of pulling on the skin caused by rapid growth.’
For those of us who aren’t ready to show off our tiger stripes, is there a way to banish them completely? In short, no. But dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting says some products have been proven to reduce their appearance.
‘The only topical agent that offers any convincing evidence is a retinoid in the form of a cream, lotion or gel — this needs to be used for three to six months. Retinoids should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
‘Lasers can be helpful in the red phase of stretch marks when they first appear, but it’s difficult to improve the appearance of the more advanced, silvery marks.
‘And collagen-stimulating treatments, such as medical needling and some forms of lasers that deliver microscopic amounts of heat into the skin, may help, but we need more research.’
Here, five women proudly bare their stretch marks and celebrate what they represent — by turning them into works of art.
Jess Gaston (pictured), 28, claims seeing her stretch marks in glitter helped her to accept them
MY LINES TELL THE STORY OF MY LIFE
Rebecca Lowrie, 52, a therapist, lives with her partner in Mill Hill, London and has a 23-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. She says:
I felt so self-conscious about my stretch marks when I started dating my current partner, who is ten years younger than me. They cross my tummy as well as my upper thighs — one is almost 8cm long — and I was concerned that he had never been with a woman who’d had a child.
When I told him about my worries, we agreed to choose a special time and place for me to reveal my stretch marks to him. He told me they were beautiful and even traced them with his fingers. I actually cried a tear of joy!
I was 29 and heavily pregnant when I first noticed them. I naively thought the skin would heal after I had my daughter, but that wasn’t the case.
With time, however, I’ve learned to love my body in spite of them. They are part of me and the path my life has taken.
What women often don’t realise is that men are just as worried about their own body hang-ups. I’ve learnt that through my work as a relationship coach.
Sunny Andrea (pictured), 34, first began to notice her stretch marks during her teens but claims they’ve never worried her
What makes us beautiful is who we are on the inside and I’ve always told my daughter she’s perfect just as she is. There is no point worrying about imperfections. Rubenesque women were adored at one time in history.
In the Sixties, the world fell at slender Twiggy’s feet. Today, a strong, fit female body is admired. It changes all the time, which is why it’s so important to love yourself the way you are.
Celebrating stretch marks with glitter is such a good way to promote a positive body image.
I’VE LEARNT TO LOVE MINE AT LAST
Jess Gaston, 28, is a retail assistant manager from Chester. She says:
I was just 13 when I first noticed stretch marks across my thighs, hips and bottom. Initially I thought they were scars or scratches and I couldn’t work out how I had got them. I showed them to my mum and she calmed me down and reassured me that they were perfectly normal.
She bought me a variety of lotions and potions but nothing ever worked. When I was in the school changing rooms, my friends always asked what they were — especially in the summer when I was tanned as they were particularly prominent.
Rosie Barker (pictured), 23, first spotted her stretch marks at age 14 and says the glitter helped her to accept them
So I became extremely self-conscious about them. I’d dress so they were covered and was very hurt when an ex-boyfriend thoughtlessly asked if I could get rid of them.
But a decade on, I have learnt to live with them. They have faded to a less obvious silver and I accept them as part of me.
I’m glad that people are becoming a lot more accepting of body ‘imperfections’. Seeing them coated with glitter has made me love them more.
I’M PROUD OF MY ARMS AS THEY ARE
Sunny Andrea, 34, a stay-at-home mum, is married to Danny, 50, a management consultant. They have a son, Hari, 21 months, and live in Northampton. She says:
The most prominent stretch marks on my body are the ones that run along my upper arms. I put them down to my childhood and teenage years when I was extremely active.
I did gymnastics and dancing at school and I was a keen swimmer throughout my youth. At the time, I was proud of my upper body — I could match my male peers in strength. But I wonder if I did push it too far and that’s how I stretched my skin.
Kylie Philip (pictured), 30, says her husbands reassurance helped her to accept the stretch marks she had after pregnancy
I was in my late teens when I first noticed the marks. I wasn’t worried about them though, and even today they don’t bother me.
I love showing off my arms. I’m a size 8-10 and they are still in really good condition so I’m proud of them, and I have no problem wearing sleeveless dresses or tops on holiday.
While it is an unusual place to have stretch marks, I embrace the fact that my body has served me so well. My husband loves them, too, because they’re part of me and my life so far.
THE GLITTER HELPED ME EMBRACE THEM
Rosie Barker, 23, a beauty therapist, lives with fiance Sam Clark, 26, a builder, in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Together they have a son, Reggie, 16 months. She says:
My stretch marks appeared overnight aged 14 and I was incredibly insecure about them.
At 5 ft 7 in tall, I already stood out among my friends. Then along came these bright red, angry-looking squiggles across my chest.
I was devastated. Even if I wore a vest top under all my clothes in hot weather they were noticeable across my cleavage.
I was so self-conscious about them that choosing clothing revolved entirely around what would and wouldn’t hide them.
My mum used to take me to Marks & Spencer to get good-fitting and comfortable bras with full cups that covered me.
Becoming a mother myself has helped put the situation into perspective.
The marks have never been an issue for my fiance — they don’t faze him at all, he loves me for who I am and that has helped me to embrace all my body hang-ups with confidence.
Even so, emphasising them with glitter was a real challenge for me. I had to talk myself into doing it — but I thought it was a really good way of accepting the marks once and for all.
Actually I think it looks lovely, so I’m glad I did it.
NOW I TREASURE MY TIGER STRIPES
Kylie Philip, 30, a teaching assistant, is married and lives in Hackney, London, with her daughter, two. She says:
When I fell pregnant three years ago, I used everything on the market to protect my ballooning stomach from stretch marks.
I first got them when I was going through puberty — as my chest developed and I got taller, they appeared on my breasts and thighs. I’m pale-skinned so they stood out. Mum reassured me they were nothing to worry about and her positive words have always stuck with me.
Despite all my efforts, however, I was left with tiger stripes on my tummy and thighs during pregnancy. At first I was really conscious of them, but my husband gave me the confidence not to worry. Now I’m happy to have them on display at home.
They signify creating and carrying my daughter, so I’m no longer embarrassed or ashamed of them. They’re not imperfections to be airbrushed away, but part of everyday life. That’s why I loved the idea of highlighting them with glitter — I think it looks great!