What are these stretch marks on breasts? Learn more about the causes of stretch marks on the skin of breasts and how they vary in color as red, pink, white or purple depending on your skin tone. You will also be conversant with pregnancy stretch marks and solution on to get rid of it.
What are Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are visible linear scarring that appears on the skin surface. This scarring is characterized by a color that differs from your normal skin tone. Stretch marks can either be red, purple or even white in color basing of your skin pigmentation and after fading away they appear as silvery white.
These stretch marks are usually smooth but sometimes they can have a different texture that you can easily notice by touching with your hand. occasionally, large stretch marks on the skin can have slight grooves that cut through the skin surface.
It is possible to develop stretch marks at any part of your skin, but they usually appear on upper arms, on thighs, buttocks, breasts and even on your back. Women are more susceptible to stretch marks on breasts, hips, abdomen, behind lower legs, thighs and even entire body surface.
Stretch marks can develop due to extreme stretching of the skin tissue on the body surface. A sudden increase in body weight can result to stretch marks for both men and women. Pregnancy also causes stretch patches on lower abdomen in women. Generally, women are more affected by stretch lines than men.
More about stretch marks, it is a harmless condition that cannot develop into serious health condition and they can fade away by time and no need to go for treatment. However, these marks can disappoint you when they affect the beauty appearance of your skin.
Stretch marks are also known as:
- striae distensae
- striae
- striae atrophicans
- striae gravidarum
Stretch Marks on Breasts Causes
There are various factors or reasons that may cause stretch marks to appear on your breasts. It is important to understand why stretch marks develop on your skin so that you can prevent further spread of these marks on your breast. The following are possible causes of stretch marks on the skin breast.
- Pregnancy
Pregnancy in women can be a reason for having stretch marks on the breasts. Pregnancy period encourages the production of body hormones that stimulate rapid growth and weight gain. More fats are stored on the breasts of women to prepare enough cholesterol for breast feeding of the infants.
Pregnancy also stimulates rapid expansion of mammary glands to increase in size and volume that is useful in the preparation of the incoming breastfeeding process.
- Sudden weight gain or loss
Stretch marks on breasts can appear as a consequence of rapid increase or decrease in the size of the breast. The breasts are made up of fatty tissue that can grow rapidly to a larger size when you take a diet that has more content of fats and calories. Also, sudden decrease in body weight can reduce the size of breast tissue that can increase the risk of breast stretch marks.
Naturally, women experience wide changes of their body weight compares to men. They can gain body weight or lose it at some point due to female hormone fluctuations. Also, other external factors like stress and environment may be the reason for wide changes in body weight. For the case of men, their body metabolism always has a slow rate of weight change. These can be the reason why women have more stretch marks on breasts compared to men.
- Puberty stage
At puberty stage, boys and girls start to experience strange changes on their body. This is a transformation period from childhood to adulthood that is characterized by an increase in sex hormones that helps in sexual maturation.
Teenagers at this stage experience rapid physical body changes for secondary sex characteristics. For instance increase in body muscles and weight which results in enlargement of breasts. For a female, the size of mammary glands increases rapidly that can result in the development of stretch marks on the breast.
- Hereditary factor
According to genetic and inheritance, the body cell has genetic factors called genes that can be passed from parent to offspring. The genetic makeup of an individual determines the general phenotypic or physical appearance of an individual.
Likewise to breast stretch marks traits, that can be passed from parent to children. These suggest that stretch marks on the skin can be inherited based on your family linkage. You are likely to develop stretch marks on body surface if your family has the characteristic of stretch marks on the skin.
Biologically, the connective tissue of the skin can be inherited from parents to children. Connective tissue determines the elasticity of your skin. Having a weakened connective skin tissue can result to sagging of body tissues in the body hence the development of stretch marks on breasts
Genetic stretch mark factor not only affects breast but also other parts of the skin that include; upper arms, back of lower legs, thighs, abdomen and any other part of the body that can be affected.
- Body dehydration
Having adequate body fluids is very important to keep your skin soft. According to WebMD, lack of enough water in the body system can lead to dry or scaly skin that can develop stretch marks. The skin of the breast can be affected by insufficient body water to develop stretch marks.
The dehydration of the body fluid might result from fever, diarrhea, vomiting or even sweating process. It is useful to replace the lost water from the body by drinking enough clean water or any other type of drinks like juices. This can help you to escape stretch marks on the breast.
- Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome can also result in breast stretch mark without an increase in body weight or breast size. This condition happens when your body starts producing excess cortisol hormone. The side effect of excess content of this hormone in your body leads to the development of either red or pink stretch marks on breasts and other skin parts. Corticosteroid drugs can also increase the amount of cortisol in the blood system.
- Marfan syndrome
This is a genetic disorder that develops when genes fail to interpret the formation of collagen protein that forms part of connective tissues. Individuals with partial traits of the Marfan syndrome can show signs of stretch marks on the skin surface.
- Lack of body exercise
Body exercise helps to keep the body tissue strong and fit. Lack of practicing physician exercises such as running, playing or dancing can result to the weakened connective tissue on the body. sagging of breasts is the effect of having weakened connective tissue that can result in stretch marks.
- Breast implants
Breast implants and augmentation can cause the developing of stretch marks on your breast. Individuals with small breast may want to boost the size of breast by going for an artificial breast implant that has the consequence of overstretching the skin hence the formation of stretch marks on breasts.
Red Stretch Marks on Breast
What is the meaning of having red breast stretch marks? This is a common question that comes into your mind when you notice strange red stretch marks that appear on your breast. The red stretch makes can appear on your breasts as temporal marks which can fade away within short period time or sometimes they can be a permanent problem.
Red stretch marks on your breasts can develop when the skin overstretch beyond the elastic limit. Blood vessel near the surface of the skin can dilate under the stretch marks to give red color in the affected areas.
Stretch marks on breasts can range in color from pink, brown or even dark red depending on your skin color. The red color of breast stretch marks can appear when blood vessels dilate in the affected area of the skin. These marks can vary in color depending on the room temperature. For example, during hot weather condition, the red color of the stretch marks become more visible while during cold condition the blood vessel constricts deeper way from the skin making the red color to fades to pink.
Generally, red breasts stretch marks can develop from any of the causes that we have already discussed such as pregnancy, puberty, loss of weight or any other of the discussed factor. However, when you experience red stretch marks that appear suddenly on your breast that accompany other signs and symptoms of fever, headache, and body weakness, it is advisable to consult your doctor to help in fixing the problem.
White Stretch Marks on Breasts
Just like red stretch marks, white stretch marks can also appear on your breast. White stretch marks can develop from other color types of stretch marks. Usually, red, pink or purple stretch marks can fade into silvery white stretch marks on the breast. White stretch marks apart from appearing on the breast, it can also manifest in other body parts such as abdomen, thighs, and hips.
Extreme stretching of the skin can result in the formation of white stretch marks on breasts that appear after the causes that we have already discussed in this post such as pregnancy, puberty stage breast implants and change of body weight.
White stretch marks on the breast are signs of old stretch marks that have persisted on your skin. Unlike red and purple stretch marks, white stretch marks are difficult to clear away from your skin without medical treatment. In case your breast has white stretch marks, it is advisable to seek help from dermatologist how can help to remove your silvery white stretch marks skin of the breast.
Purple Stretch Marks on Breasts
Purple stretch marks on the skin of the breast are another type of scarring that is associated with Cushing’s syndrome. However, dark pink or purple stretch marks might also appear due to other factors that might suddenly stretch your skin beyond its elastic limit.
Cushing’s syndrome is a disorder that results when cortisol hormone is produced in an excess amount. This disorder also increases blood pressure in the body leading to cardiac problems. The appearance of dark pink or purple stretch marks on the skin of breast without any increase in the size of the breast can be attributed as being signs of Cushing’s syndrome.
To deal with purple stretch marks on breasts, the underlying Cushing’s syndrome should be treated first. This disorder is treatable and you should not worry so much if you already have purple breast stretch marks. In addition, purple stretch marks can clear away from your breast soon after the appropriate medical treatment.
Stretch Marks on Breasts Pregnancy
During the pregnancy period in women, adrenal glands produce hormones that stimulate body growth and weight gain. The rapid gain in body weight can result in physical stretching of the skin tissue that causes the development of stretch marks on tummy, breast hips and thighs.
Pregnancy stretch marks can be pink, red or purple in color. Sometimes breasts stretch marks can develop mild itchiness on the skin surface although they are harmless to you and your baby. Having mild irritation of stretch marks is quite normal and no need to go for medical treatment.
After giving birth to your baby, Stretch marks on breasts usually fade away gradually into silvery white scarring. Also, other parts with pregnancy stretch mark can clear up slowly into white scarring. The white scarring of stretch makes cannot disappear completely from your skin but they can be less visible.
Stretch Marks on Breasts Home Remedies
Looking for home remedies to get rid of stretch marks on your breast? Try the following:
- Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is known to treat a wide range of spots on the skin including stretch marks on breasts. Aloe Vera plants have medicinal properties that can soothe and heal stretch marks on the skin. It also makes your skin soft and smooth.
How to use:
- get a natural Aloe Vera cream and apply it directly on your breast using your hands
- allow the cream to stay on your skin for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water
- repeat this treatment twice per day until stretch marks on your breast fades away
- Castor oil
Castor oil can be used as a home remedy to get rid of skin problems like wrinkles, moles, acnes and age spots. Also, the oil can help to heal breast stretch marks.
How to use:
- get a small amount of castor oil on your hand and apply it on the affected area of your breast with stretch marks
- use your hand to massage in a circular direction
- allow the oil to stay on your skin for about 20 minutes before rinsing it with warm water
- repeat this procedure three times per day until stretch marks on your breast go away
- Lemon juice
Lemon juice has a citric acid that helps to heal and reduce the sizes of scarring on the skin. Lemon juice also has the ability to restore uniform color on your skin and keep it smooth.
How to use:
- get one fresh lemon fruit
- use a sharp knife to cut the lemon fruit into halves
- use the pulp of the fruit to rub your breast in a circular motion for 10 minutes
- rinse your skin with warm water
- repeat the procedure two times per day for few weeks until you notice a change in your breast
- Egg whites
Egg white can be used as a home remedy to get rid of red or purple stretch marks on breasts. Egg white has an amino acid and complex protein that can help to restore your skin from stretch marks.
How to use it:
- separate egg white from a yolk
- clean the affected skin parts with warm water
- apply the egg white on your skin of breast affected with stretch marks
- allow it to dry before rinsing it with warm water
- repeat the treatment twice per day until stretch marks go away
- Sugar scrub
Sugar scrub is the best home remedies for stretch marks on your breasts. Sugar scrub can help to exfoliate the skin to attain uniform color.
How to use:
- get one teaspoon of white sugar and mix with small amount of olive oil
- apply it on your skin and rub it gently with your hand
- rinse your skin with warm water
- repeat the same treatment two times per day for few weeks
- Potato
Potato tubers contain enzymes and vitamins that can help to get rid of stretch marks on breasts. The vitamins also help to restore the color and smooth texture of your skin.
How to use it:
- get a potato tuber and slice it into small pieces
- use the sliced piece of potato to rub the affected area of the breast
- allow the potato extract to stay on your skin for 20 minutes before rinsing it with warm water
- repeat the treatment two times per day for few weeks until your notice an improvement on your skin