Stretch marks on the buttocks

Stretch marks on the buttocks are scars in the dermis where the skin of the bottom stretched faster than it could adapt. The NHS lists the bottom among the common places for them, and they usually follow puberty, pregnancy, weight gain or training that builds the glutes quickly. Stretch Mark Removal London explains how they change over time and what treatment can do.

New marks on the bum are red, purple or darker than the surrounding skin and fade to pale lines over a year or two. They often appear with marks on the hips and thighs. Most people only see them in a mirror or a photograph, and they are covered by clothing almost all the time, which makes recovery after treatment simple. The guide to reducing the appearance of stretch marks compares the options.

• Puberty and a fast growth spurt
• Pregnancy
• Gaining weight quickly
• Fast muscle growth from training the glutes
• A family member with stretch marks

After the marks have stopped changing, microneedling or fractional laser can thicken the thinned skin over three to six sessions. Because the area is covered by clothing, the one to three days of redness after microneedling or non-ablative laser rarely affects work. Sitting on freshly treated skin can be uncomfortable for a day or two, so a practitioner may suggest timing a session before a quieter day. Self-tan can soften the look of pale marks while a course runs.

Training that builds the glutes quickly can stretch the skin over them faster than it adapts, in the same way that fast muscle growth marks the shoulders and arms. Slowing the rate of gain gives the skin longer to adapt. The marks follow the usual course, red at first and paler over time, and they can be treated like marks anywhere else once they have settled.