Stretch Marks or Cellulite? Here’s How to Tell Them Apart
These two skin conditions can cause confusion with their appearance but there are distinct differences to help you distinguish between the two.
We share information about them, how to tell which is which - and what you can do about them...
What are stretch marks?
Stretch marks (known as striae) are indented streaks that appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body. There is an example in the image above.
They are very common during pregnancy especially during the last trimester. The good news is that they are not painful or harmful but the bad news is that many will not like the way they make their skin look.
- How long you've had them
- What caused them
- Where they are on your body and
- The type of skin you have.
They can appear as:
- Indented streaks or lines on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks or other places on the body
- Pink, red, black, blue or purple streaks
- Bright streaks that fade to a lighter color or
- Streaks covering large areas of the body
What causes stretch marks?
Stretch marks are caused by the sudden and excessive stretching of the skin.
How severe they are can be affected by:
- Your genetics
- The degree of stress on your skin or
- Even the level of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is hormone produced by the adrenal glands and it can weaken the elastic fibers in the skin.
Being pregnant is not the only risk factor. Others include suddenly gaining or losing weight; rapid growth in adolescence; using corticosteroids; having breast enlargement surgery and exercising.
How to reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- Moisturizing. Gently massage moisturizer into any new stretch marks over the course of several weeks.
- Self-tanning lotion. Applying a self tanning product to stretch marks can offer a temporary way to minimize the difference in color between your typical skin tone and the color of stretch marks.
- Pulsed dye laser therapy. This treatment encourages the growth of collagen and elastin. This therapy typically works best on newer stretch marks. It may cause some skin discoloration if you have a darker skin tone.
- Fractional photothermolysis. This uses a laser to target small areas of your skin. It works similarly to pulsed dye laser therapy, with less potential for skin damage.
- Microdermabrasion. This involves polishing the skin with tiny crystals to reveal new skin under the more elastic stretch marks. This method may, in some cases, help improve the appearance of older stretch marks.
- Excimer laser therapy. This stimulates skin color (melanin) production so that stretch marks match the surrounding skin more closely.
While there is no guarantee that any medical procedure can cure stretch marks, there is also a risk of side effects - including swelling, skin irritation and redness.
All natural stretch mark solution
H-Stretch Marks Formula is a completely natural, cruelty-free solution for all types of stretch marks. Simply apply topically to reduce the appearance.
What is cellulite?
The image below will give you an idea of what cellulite looks like.
This very common but harmless condition causes lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen - and is most likely to appear in women.
How do you know when you have cellulite?
Cellulite looks like dimpled or bumpy skin often described as having a cottage cheese or orange peel texture.
When the condition is slight, you will only be able to see it if you pinch your skin in an area where you have cellulite, such as your thighs. When it is more severe, skin appears rumpled and bumpy with areas of peaks and valleys.
Cellulite is most common around the thighs and buttocks, but it can also be found on the lower abdomen and upper arms.
Why does cellulite appear?
- The majority of women will develop some cellulite after puberty because female fat is invariably distributed in the thighs, hips and buttocks - those common areas for this skin condition.
- As fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin. At the same time the fibrous connective cords that tether the skin to the underlying muscle pull down, creating an uneven surface or dimpling.
- Hormonal factors play an important role in the development of cellulite.
- Genetics determine skin structure, skin texture and body type.
- Weight and muscle tone can affect whether you have cellulite even if you are very fit.
- Cellulite is more common with aging when the skin loses elasticity.
- Inactivity and pregnancy are other reasons.
How can you help to prevent or deal with cellulite?
1. The warm and cool water method. To prevent the appearance of cellulite, you should shower those affected areas for two to three minutes using warm water - and then for the same amount of time using cold water. This will help your blood circulation, boost cell renewal while improving your metabolism.
2. But before you take that hot/cold shower, dry brushing is one of the top methods to use to increase blood circulation while improving skin quality, using a bristle brush to massage your affected areas three times a week for about five minutes. This method will increase blood circulation and boost the lymph nodes while gently exfoliating the skin. Always dry brush in circular movements starting at the ankles and working up towards your heart.
3. Follow up with a body oil to nourish and pamper your skin. Our Simply Body Oil is perfect for this step.
4. Being well hydrated is very important too so drink plenty of water every day to help remove toxins from your body as well as for preventing further cellulite.
5. Massage is another tip for cellulite prevention by enhancing lymphatic drainage as well as stretching the skin tissues which in turn helps to stretch out the cellulite. You can use the Simply Body Oil above as part of the massage process, repeating regularly for good results.
6. Sweaty Exercise helps to reduce stress while simultaneously expelling toxins through the skin, helping to improve your overall appearance by tightening and lengthening so that if cellulite occurs, your overall body appearance will be more flattering.
7. Include those foods in your diet that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and other beneficial nutrients.. Examples of these foods are salmon, cilantro, parsley, buckwheat, nuts, grapefruit and apple cider vinegar.
8. Natural exfoliants can help to improve skin texture, stimulate the blood circulation while flushing out toxins. Seaweed is one such natural exfoliant while coffee grounds can be effective for removing dead skin cells and regenerating brand new skin cells.
9. Check your salt intake as too much can lead to puffiness and water retention while eating plenty of fiber and whole grain foods such as bran and oatmeal will help to improve circulation and...
10. H-Cellulite Formula includes properties that work to improve the texture and tone of the skin, assisting in diminishing the appearance of cellulite when massaged well into the affected area. The Formula promotes suppleness, while moisturizing the skin and helping to increase the firmness of the top layer of skin. H-Cellulite Formula is cruelty-free and completely natural and is applied directly to your cellulite daily for fast, noticeable results.
SOURCES:
Donejko M, et al. (2014). Influence of caffeine and hyaluronic acid on collagen biosynthesis in human skin fibroblasts.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206198/. (Accessed, Feb 15, 2021)
El-Domyati M, et al. (2016). Microdermabrasion: A clinical, histometric, and histopathologic study. DOI:
doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12252 .(Accessed, Feb 15, 2021)
New and improved laser and light treatments take aim at cellulite, fat, tattoos, wrinkles and sagging skin. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/new-and-improved-laser-and-light-treatments-take-aim-at-cellulite-fat-tattoos-wrinkles-and-sagging-skin. (Accessed, Feb 13, 2021)
DiBernardo BE, et al. Subsurface laser and radiofrequency for face and body rejuvenation. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2016; doi:10.1016/j.cps.2016.03.009. (Accessed, Feb 13, 2021)
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.