Stretch marks are natural occurrences that can appear anywhere on the body. Medical treatments, such as laser therapy and microdermabrasion, can help reduce their appearance.

Stretch marks are a sign of growth. These colored markings often appear on your skin after it has been stretched beyond its natural limit. Stretch marks commonly appear on your inner thighs, arms, and knees. They can also appear on your back.

Stretch marks are not usually indicators of a serious health concern. Getting rid of them can be difficult over time, but if you are looking to reduce their appearance there are some treatments available.

Stretch marks on your back, as with any location, occur once the skin has been stretched too far. The strain causes elastic fibers in the dermis to tear and scar. A common culprit of back stretch marks is rapid weight gain.

Particularly in boys, back stretch marks develop during puberty from growth spurts. When your body grows too fast, sometimes you cannot produce enough collagen to maintain elasticity.

In other cases, stretch marks on your back may develop from:

Back stretch marks often appear in a horizontal pattern on your lower back. However, they can stretch higher or extend right above the buttocks. It’s not uncommon for you to develop stretch marks on various parts of your body.

Stretch marks are usually long, but will narrow over time. Those found on your back may resemble rungs on a ladder or tiger stripes.

In the early stages, your stretch marks may have a red or purple hue. This is because your red blood vessels can be seen through the stretched lines of your skin. Back stretch marks may also be sore to touch or itch from the body attempting to repair itself.

As they age, your stretch marks will take on a silver or white appearance. In some cases they will fade away on their own or blend into the surrounding skin. If you begin to experience irregular symptoms upon developing back stretch marks, consult with your doctor. This could indicate an underlying medical issue.

If you are uncomfortable with your stretch marks, there are treatments available to reduce the appearance. In some cases, they will fade on their own.

Exfoliation can also help to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and helps to speed skin regeneration. Not only will it improve your skin health, but exfoliating will also help fade your stretch marks.

Though effective, medical treatments used to treat stretch marks may not cause them to disappear completely. Before pursuing medical treatment, discuss your expectations and options with your doctor.

Common medical treatments used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks include:

Medical treatments, though effective, can be expensive and invasive. To treat back stretch marks naturally, you can apply a vitamin-rich moisturizer to your skin. This can help to restore elasticity to your skin and increase collagen.

In many cases, you can’t prevent stretch marks. However, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help to reduce your risk of developing them.

If you are looking to lose weight, avoid crash diets that could cause you to lose weight suddenly. Also, losing weight will not make stretch marks go away if they have already developed.

A balanced diet can also help you to maintain a healthy weight. This will prevent you from gaining weight, particularly at a rapid pace.

Stretch marks are often a natural occurrence that can appear anywhere on the body. They’re not an indication of a more serious issue. If you are uncomfortable with their appearance, discuss treatment options with your doctor to help them fade away.