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Red Stretch Marks (Striae rubra): Causes & How to Treat Them

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If you are wondering, “Can stretch marks be red?” the short answer is yes.

Red stretch marks are red linear marks that represent new stretch marks, appearing due to the sudden stretching of the skin. Over time, the red color fades, and they become mature or white stretch marks.

These are not harmful or bad, but they can be a cosmetic issue for some individuals.

Red Stretch Marks (Striae rubra).
Table of Contents

What are red stretch marks?

Red stretch marks are fresh or newly formed marks that appear due to breaks in the skin caused by sudden stretching, often resulting from weight gain or growth.

New stretch marks often appear red or erythematous and are also referred to as striae rubra.

Red stretch marks are classified as the acute stage of stretch marks. They are usually raised above the skin’s surface and can be associated with itching.

The most common locations to get them are:

  • Abdomen or stomach
  • Thigh
  • Breast
  • Buttocks or hips
  • Upper arms (especially on the inner side near the armpits)
  • Shoulders
  • Legs

Why are they red?

Stretch marks appear red due to underlying inflammation and increased blood flow, which occur in response to tears in the dermis or middle layer of the skin, damaging collagen and elastic fibers.

Additionally, the overlying skin becomes flattened, further contributing to the red appearance of the stretch marks.

Red stretch marks (striae rubra) on abdomen or stomach area.

New stretch marks can also be of other colors, which include:

  • Pink
  • Purple
  • Blue
  • Gray
  • Black

The old stretch marks are white or silver.

Read more: Different types of stretch marks

Causes 

1. Pregnancy

Rapid weight gain during pregnancy can lead to stretching of the skin and damage to the dermis. Pregnancy hormones can also play a part in the development of stretch marks by altering the components of the dermis. 

The stretch marks formed during pregnancy are called striae gravidarum. It passes through the same stages, first appearing as red streaks and then fading over time.

Women with a family history of stretch marks and increased weight gain during pregnancy are more likely to get stretch marks. They most commonly appear on the stomach area or abdomen, thighs, hips, and breasts.

2. Weight changes

Rapid gain of a lot of weight in a short period can lead to excessive stretching of the skin. Usually, the location of stretch marks depends on the area that gets the most stretching effect.

For example, if the weight gain mainly affected the abdomen, one may see red stretch marks on the stomach. If more areas are affected, they may also get stretch marks.

Rapid loss of weight can also lead to stretch marks.

3. Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding or weight training can lead to the growth of muscles, which can stretch the skin. This can result in red stretch marks, especially on the inner thighs, arms, or biceps.

4. Growth spurts

Growth spurts in adolescence can also cause stretch marks.

5. Genetics

Someone with a family history of stretch marks is more prone to the development of stretch marks.

6. Gender

Females are more prone to develop stretch marks.

7. Steroids

The use of topical steroids for a long time can lead to thinning of the skin, making one more susceptible to stretch marks.

Similarly, oral steroids can lead to inflammation and weakening of the skin, as well as weight gain. This combination of factors can contribute to the development of red stretch marks.

8. Medical conditions

Medical conditions like Cushing syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can affect the skin and make one more prone to stretch marks.

Do they go away?

Red stretch marks do not go away completely but gradually change to white stretch marks or striae alba. This change may make them less noticeable, but the scar stays.

Treating stretch marks at an early stage or when they are red, can lead to better outcomes.

Red vs White stretch marks

Differences between red and white stretch marks.
  1. Red stretch marks are newly formed and are considered the acute stage of stretch marks, while white stretch marks are old or mature and are considered the chronic stage of stretch marks.
  2. Red stretch marks are also called striae rubra, while white stretch marks are also called striae alba.
  3. Red stretch marks appear red due to inflammation and increased blood flow to the area of injury caused by the stretching of the skin. As this inflammation subsides, the red stretch marks turn into white ones. The transition from red to white stretch marks is gradual and can take months.
  4. Red stretch marks present as thickened and slightly elevated red streaks on the skin, while white stretch marks appear as slightly depressed white streaks with glistening and wrinkled surfaces.
  5. Additionally, red stretch marks may be associated with itching or burning sensations.
  6. Furthermore, red stretch marks tend to respond better to treatment than white stretch marks.

Treatment options

There are numerous creams and lotions which claim they can get rid of red stretch marks. However, we don’t have any evidence that they can get rid of stretch marks completely. 

Even in-office procedures can improve the appearance of stretch marks, they don’t really get rid of them. A combination of topicals and/or procedures may lead to better results than a single treatment method.

Stretch marks are a cosmetic problem, so prescriptions or procedures may not be covered by your medical insurance.

Home remedies

The topicals below may help, however, we don’t have any quality data supporting them. Tretinoin and hyaluronic acid are two topicals to consider for improving red stretch marks. 

1. Hyaluronic acid

The application of hyaluronic acid to early or red stretch marks may make them less noticeable. It may also prevent the formation of stretch marks although nothing gives a guarantee of 100% prevention.

This is especially useful for pregnant women, who cannot use retinoids like retinol or tretinoin.

2. Retinol and adapalene

We have some research data on tretinoin for stretch marks. However, you can get less potent retinoids over the counter like retinol or retinaldehyde which convert to tretinoin in the skin. They may take a lot longer to show effects.

Another great option is adapalene which is available at a concentration of 0.1% over the counter.

3. Moisturizer

Applying a moisturizer by massaging the skin may hydrate the skin and make it more flexible. Look for a moisturizer with nourishing oils like cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, olive oil, almond oil, etc.

However, we don’t have any quality evidence that it will have a huge improvement in the stretch marks 

4. Centella Asiatica

Centella extract is well known for its wound-healing properties. It may help in improving and preventing stretch marks. 

5. Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can remove or exfoliate the top layers of skin. This can make the skin surface smooth. It can also stimulate the production of collagen.

6. Cover and mask them

One can cover the red stretch marks by using tinted make products to make them less noticeable. Sunless tanners can also be used.

Tanning doesn’t make stretch marks less noticeable. In fact, it can make them more noticeable by tanning the surrounding area. 

Prescription medication

Tretinoin

When we look at all the evidence of topicals for stretch marks, tretinoin has few studies where when used on red stretch marks, it can help in fading them and prevent their worsening.

In one study, it was compared to superficial dermabrasion and both led to similar results.

In-office procedures

1. Micro-needling

In this procedure, a handle-held device with small needles is used. These needles can create tiny holes in the skin and reach deeper layers of skin. It can stimulate collagen production.

2. Laser and light therapy

These procedures can stimulate collagen production in the skin, and improve the red stretch marks. There are several types of lasers. Ablative lasers take off the top layer of skin, while non-ablative lasers do not affect the top layer. 

Pulsed dye laser therapy is often used for red stretch marks. Your doctor may decide which is the best option depending on the affected area and your skin tone.

3. Microdermabrasion

This procedure uses tiny crystals to remove the top layer of skin. It can make the surface smooth and stimulate collagen production.

4. Radiofrequency

This procedure uses radio frequency waves to make heat (thermal energy) which can stimulate collagen production. 

5. Ultrasound

It uses sound waves to stimulate collagen production in the deeper layer of the skin.

6. Chemical peels

This procedure uses a high concentration of acids like glycolic acid to remove the top layer of skin. This can fade the stretch marks and boost collagen production in the skin.

Key points

Red stretch marks (also known as striae rubra) are fresh or newly formed stretch marks. These marks have underlying inflammation and increased blood flow.

This explains why new stretch marks are red. Over time, they fade to white color and form mature or white stretch marks.

Although many topical products are marketed to get rid of stretch marks, they often lack solid evidence to support their effectiveness. Tretinoin and hyaluronic acid are two topicals that have some good studies backing them.

Additionally, several in-office procedures performed by a doctor or trained professional can help treat stretch marks.

References

Disclaimer: This blog post is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

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