How to tell stretch marks and cellulite apart
| Feature | Stretch marks | Cellulite |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Narrow lines or streaks, often running alongside one another. | Dimpling across an area of skin. |
| Colour and texture | Often darker at first, then paler and slightly sunken, sometimes with a wrinkled surface. | The defining feature is dimpling rather than coloured bands. |
| What happens beneath the skin | Rapid stretching or shrinking damages supporting connective tissue, leaving scars. | Weak connective tissue around fat lobules, or clusters of fat, creates dimpling. |
| Common locations | Breasts, abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and upper arms. | Thighs, buttocks and abdomen. |
| Relationship to weight | Can follow rapid weight gain or loss, but also pregnancy and puberty. | Occurs in people without obesity, although obesity can make it more obvious. |
Why do they happen?
Stretch marks involve damage in the dermis, the middle layer of skin. Pregnancy stretches this layer as the abdomen grows, while hormonal changes also make stretch marks more likely. Puberty and rapid weight changes are other common triggers. Family history and some steroid creams or tablets can increase the likelihood. Cellulite is a normal change associated with ageing in women and the connective tissue surrounding fat; it is not simply a sign of excess weight.245
Will stretch marks disappear?
Stretch marks are harmless and usually become less visible over time, but they generally remain as scars. After pregnancy, they can gradually fade into paler marks rather than disappear completely. Many creams claim to remove stretch marks, giving the packaging a more ambitious job description than the contents. Reliable evidence that these creams remove existing marks is lacking, and evidence for prevention with oils or creams is limited.45
What can help stretch marks look less noticeable?
- 1Start with newer marks if you want to try a topical treatment. Creams have little effect on mature marks; hyaluronic acid and prescription tretinoin can help make early marks less noticeable.
- 2Massage a stretch mark product gently into the affected area and apply it daily for weeks. Visible improvement takes weeks, not a few applications.
- 3Discuss prescription treatment with a clinician. In one study, people applying tretinoin every night for 24 weeks had less noticeable early stretch marks.
- 4Ask a dermatologist about procedures if topical treatment is not helping. Options include laser therapy, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency and ultrasound. These can reduce visibility, but cannot remove stretch marks.
Self tanner can camouflage early and mature stretch marks without removing them, so the result is a change of costume rather than a disappearing act. Sun tanning makes stretch marks more noticeable because the marks do not tan. Almond oil, cocoa butter, olive oil and vitamin E have not faded stretch marks in studies.6
For dimpling rather than streaks, ask about cellulite specifically instead of choosing a stretch mark treatment. For everyday skin comfort, wash gently with a mild cleanser and warm water, avoid scrubbing, and use a moisturizer to prevent dryness. Those are basic skin care steps, not a treatment plan for changing scars or dimples.27
When should you get medical advice?
Contact a clinician if stretch marks appear without a clear cause, such as pregnancy or rapid weight gain. Mention any steroid creams or tablets you use. Large stretch marks alongside increased fat around the chest, abdomen, neck or shoulders, slim limbs, and a red, rounded face warrant assessment for Cushing's syndrome, a condition involving excess cortisol. Do not use retinoid creams during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, check with your doctor before treating stretch marks.356
Where this answer comes from
- 1Scars: Treatment and Causemy.clevelandclinic.org
- 2Obesity and the skindermnetnz.org
- 3Stretch marks: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopediamedlineplus.gov
- 4Stretch marks in pregnancynhs.uk
- 5NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Stretch marks111.wales.nhs.uk
- 6Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of themaad.org
- 7Skin Conditions | Hives | Acnemedlineplus.gov
