Many people develop stretch marks on the inner and outer thighs. These occur when the skin stretches due to weight gain, muscle growth, or medical conditions. They typically fade over time.
Stretch marks are very common and are a normal part of life, especially during adolescence and pregnancy.
They pose no health risks, and there is no medical need to get rid of them. However, some people dislike how stretch marks look and prefer to reduce their appearance using creams, light therapy, and medical procedures.
In this article, we explain what causes stretch marks on the thighs and the methods that people can use to try to remove them.
Stretch marks are a type of skin damage, or scar, that develops when the skin either stretches or shrinks quickly. The medical term for stretch marks is striae.
Stretch marks appear as long, thin scars on the skin, and they often change in color and prominence over time. Stretch marks form at a 90 degree angle to the direction in which the skin stretches.
On the thighs, stretch marks often first appear as raised pink or purple linear streaks on the skin. Over the next few months or years, these marks change to white or silver scars.
The location of stretch marks
- the thighs, buttocks, and breasts in adolescent females
- the back in adolescent males
- the abdomen, breasts, and thighs during pregnancy
Some people may complain that their stretch marks are itchy, but most usually do not report any symptoms. People often consult a doctor to find a treatment to hide them or reduce their appearance.
People get stretch marks when the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, becomes stretched. They appear on the thighs either when a person gains weight or muscle around the thighs or when they lose weight in this area. Growth spurts and pregnancy can also cause stretch marks on the thighs.
Common causes of stretch marks may include:
- growth spurts
- weight loss or gain
- pregnancy
- exercises that increase muscle size
- certain medical conditions
- a side effect of some medications
Stretch marks are
During pregnancy, young females have a higher risk than older females of developing stretch marks. Researchers have also shown that pregnant women who have a large abdominal circumference due to large fetal size are at an increased risk of stretch marks.
Other causes of stretch marks include:
- chemotherapy
- prolonged antibiotic therapy
- contraceptives
- surgery
- neuroleptics
- corticosteroids
- Cushing’s disease
- Marfan syndrome
- febrile illness
- chronic liver disease
Doctors classify stretch marks according to their appearance or cause. The following table lists the different
| Type | Classification |
| Striae atrophicans | thin skin |
| Striae gravidarum | pregnancy |
| Striae distensae | stretched skin |
| Striae rubrae | red marks |
| Striae albae | white marks |
| Striae nigra | black marks |
| Striae caerulea | dark blue marks |
When stretch marks first appear on the skin, they will appear red, but over time, they change to white or silver.
When reducing red stretch marks, the aim is to
Topical remedies are popular for preventing and treating stretch marks. However, there is little evidence that over-the-counter ointments, creams, or gels are effective.
There is more evidence to suggest that laser and light therapies may reduce stretch marks. However, the studies tend to be of low quality, involving only a small number of participants, and the results are often difficult to interpret.
Topical creams and gels
The most common treatments for stretch marks are topical creams, ointments, and gels, some of which have evidence to support their use. The following sections cover these options.
Collagen therapies
Increasing collagen production at the site of the stretch mark may make the skin more elastic, thereby reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
Several products
- StriVectin-SD
- Cussons Mum and Me Bump Stretch Marks Cream
- Clarins Stretch Marks Cream
- Bio-Oil
- Kelo-Cote
- Kelo-Stretch
- Apothederm Stretch Marks Cream
- Skinception Intensive Stretch Marks Therapy Cream
Many of these products have no published evidence supporting their effectiveness in stretch mark reduction.
Skin cell growth creams
Some products claim to treat stretch marks by helping stimulate cell growth and reproduction. These
Thalgo Stretch Marks Cream contains an extract from the Centella asiatica plant, often called centella, which research has shown may help stimulate collagen production.
Researchers suggest that the vitamin B-5 in Liforma improves cell reproduction and helps decrease the appearance of stretch marks.
Anti-inflammatory creams
The manufacturers of SilDerm Stretch Mark Repair Cream
Liforma Stretch Marks Cream also contains chamomile and vitamin E, which may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Hydrating creams
Palmers Cocoa Butter cream contains:
- cocoa butter
- vitamin E
- elastin
- collagen
Researchers
Others
TriLASTIN-SR and RegimA Scar Repair and Anti-Stretch Complex are two other products available for stretch mark treatment and repair. There are no published trials to support their use.
The following ingredients are common in stretch mark creams with various levels of evidence:
- tretinoin
- retinoic acid
- hyaluronic acid
- silicone
- glycolic acid
- ascorbic acid
- cocoa butter
- chamomile
- coconut oil
Nonsurgical procedures
People are increasingly interested in minimally invasive procedures that can help
Dermatologists can offer the following procedures:
- ablative lasers
- nonablative lasers
- copper bromide laser
- microneedle fractional radiofrequency
- platelet-rich plasma dermal injections
- microneedling therapy
- microdermabrasion
- intense pulsed light
- light based therapies, including UVB, IR light, chemical peeling, galvanopuncture, and carboxytherapy
According to the authors of a
The manufacturers of Cussons Mum and Me Bump Stretch Marks Cream claim that the active ingredient, lupin seed extract, increases collagen in the skin. However, there are no published clinical trials to confirm this fact.
Many stretch mark products contain centella, which increases cell reproduction. According to
Trofolastin also contains centella, along with tocopherol and collagen-elastin hydrolysates. These ingredients led to a lower incidence of stretch mark formation in women using the product than in those using a placebo.
The researchers also noted that women using Trofolastin with a history of stretch marks during puberty had 100% prevention of stretch marks compared with 89% prevention in the placebo group.
People also use Alphastria, Thalgo Stretch Marks Cream, and Palmers Cocoa Butter cream to prevent stretch marks, but researchers have not yet confirmed how well they work.
Researchers
About 20% of people who used almond oil with massage techniques developed stretch marks, compared with 38.8% of the participants who just used almond oil and 41.2% of those in the control group.
Stretch marks on the thighs are common, especially in females during adolescence and pregnancy. They are harmless and tend to fade over time, though some people use creams or medical procedures to try to minimize their appearance.
Doctors may recommend a combination of products to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks on the thighs. Further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of any treatment for stretch marks.
To offer the best treatment, dermatologists must thoroughly examine the stretch marks and determine the person’s skin type. They will also need to take a full medical history to ensure that they make the correct choice.