Is it possible to get stretch marks on the back? While stretch marks, technically known as striae, are most commonly found on the belly, breasts, buttocks, thighs, and upper arms, they can be found in other places as well, including on the back. You may develop them in multiple places. We’ll tell you what causes them, and perhaps more importantly, how to get rid of them.
What Causes Stretch Marks on Back?
Stretch marks on the back, like stretch marks anywhere on the body, are caused when the skin is stretched too much, usually due to excessive and/or rapid weight gain. When skin is stretched too much, the elastic fibers in the dermis, or middle layer of the skin, break down or tear, causing the characteristic red or purplish-colored streaky marks.
Excessive amounts of cortisone, a hormone made by the adrenal glands and released in response to stress, weaken the elastic fibers in the skin and increase the likelihood of developing stretch marks. Corticosteroid medications have a similar effect. While cortisone and corticosteroids alone do not usually cause stretch marks, they increase your chances of developing them.
Who Gets Stretch Marks on The Back?
While anyone can get stretch marks on their backs, you are most likely to get them if you:
- Are female
- Are significantly overweight
- Have a family history of stretch marks
- Are experiencing excessive amounts of stress
- Take corticosteroid medications
- Have certain adrenal gland disorders or genetic disorders (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome)
How Can You Prevent Stretch Marks on Back?
It’s difficult to prevent stretch marks, sometimes impossible to prevent them. The most important thing you can do to prevent them is to maintain healthy body weight (1). If you’re overweight and need help losing weight, talk to your doctor, or see a registered dietician for assistance and advice. Be aware that if you’ve already developed stretch marks on your back or other areas, though, losing weight won’t get rid of them. Weight loss will only prevent them if they have not yet developed.
If you’re at risk for developing stretch marks and are concerned about that, talk to your doctor for information about what you can do to help prevent stretch marks. You can also check out our page on how to avoid stretch marks for more information.
How Can You Get Rid of Stretch Marks on Back?
Once you have stretch marks, it’s difficult to get rid of them. They tend to fade in time and become less noticeable, but they usually do not disappear completely.
Medical treatments for stretch marks include prescription ointment containing a vitamin A derivative (which, while it may sound natural and benign, can cause serious side effects and should not be used during pregnancy), chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser surgery. These treatments can be quite costly and health insurance usually won’t cover them since they are considered cosmetic and not medically necessary. They can also cause quite a bit of discomfort. Some people that opt to undergo such medical treatments end up dissatisfied with the results since these treatments usually don’t completely eliminate stretch marks but just make them less noticeable. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
Our Preferred Remedy For Stretch Marks
Our preferred remedy for stretch marks is Insta Natural Stretch Mark and Scar Cream. We like it because it’s affordable, it’s easy to use, it doesn’t require a prescription or multiple visits to a doctor’s office, and best of all, it works. Like medical treatments for stretch marks, Insta Natural Stretch Mark and Scar Cream do not always eliminate them completely. People who’ve used it give it 4.8 stars out of five stars, though; most are quite satisfied with their results. To learn more about our preferred remedy for stretch marks, as well as to read reviews from people who’ve used it, follow this link to Amazon.com.
Mayo Clinic: Prevention