It can be surprising how different someone’s physical appearance will look after puberty. Those tiny elementary kids might turn into bigger, taller teenagers with significant size difference. This sudden growth is affected by what-so-called growth spurt. Growth spurt itself is a rapid rise in body size, including height and weight, which is clearly seen in puberty. This phase happens in short period of time with excessive growth presents. During puberty, some teenagers experience physical differences which can be initially unnoticed. This difference includes the appearance of streaking lines on their skin in certain areas. Some cannot believe that they might develop stretch marks in a very young age, when they are not even overweighed.

Can a growth spurt cause stretch marks?

In fact, this is a common phenomenon, because stretch marks—what those lines are referred as—is very common to appear during puberty, besides pregnancy and weight gain. Stretch marks occurrence is commonly triggered by expanding skin which happens in weight gain. During puberty, when the growth spurt takes place excessively, teenagers gain rapid weight, causing the skin to expand. Weight gain is definitely a normal physical process. Yet, in early puberty or late pregnancy, someone might gain significant weight in a very short period of time. As a result, the skin connective tissues might not be able to support this expansion and thus, tear. The tears then cause blood vessels beneath the dermis layer of the skin to show through, resulting in pinkish, thin blood-colored lines on the skin surface. These pinkish lines which occur mostly on the thighs, buttocks, hips, or even arms are what called as stretch marks.

In fact, how skinny or large you are does not necessarily determine your susceptibility of developing stretch marks. Hence, even skinny teenagers may also develop this skin disorder. Genes and hereditary might also take place in stretch marks development. Thus, teenagers with former generation in the family suffering from stretch marks are in a bigger risk to develop the lines. Hormonal factor is also significant to stretch marks occurrence. During growth spurt, teenagers do not only experience excessive weight gain, but also hormonal changes. Growth hormones occurring during puberty, such as estrogen and progesterone might inhibit collagen production which form new skin cells. Inhibited collagen production leads to less skin elasticity. Hence, when the skin is over-expanding because of rapid weight and height gain, the skin tissues which are not as elastic as they were, tear and damaged. This results in stretch marks which may eventually turn into silvery white lines on the affected skin.

Is stretch marks during occurring from growth spurts harmful?

When first appear, stretch marks are pinkish or purplish as the result of the show through blood vessels beneath the dermis. Stretch marks which are caused by rapid growth spurts have similar structure and characteristics with stretch marks developed during pregnancy and weight gain or loss. Thus, medically this is not harmful. However, this might be a major appearance problem especially for teenagers, since they might think that they are too young to develop this skin disorder. Hence, treating these stretch marks properly and as soon as it appears might help lessen its visibility. This is very useful in maintaining teenagers’ self-esteem which might be lowered because of this skin disorder.

How to treat stretch marks resulted from growth spurt?

Stretch marks which is resulted from growth spurt are newly-formed and usually pink-colored. This is actually the perfect time to treat stretch marks to heighten the possibility of removing it completely. Before the marks turn silvery white, take a regular time every day to massage the affected areas gently. Scrubbing it with ground coffee before showing might also help. Being fit is also a noted key in combating stretch marks. Thus, more exercises which are done regularly are suggested. When the skin gets firmer, these stretch marks might be less visible. Choosing diets which promotes collagen production, such as nuts—vitamin E sources, fish—omega 3, fruits, and vegetables might also help the skin producing sufficient new skin cells.