Have your stretch marks been getting all itchy lately? If so, then we are sure you must be facing a lot of discomfort. Several people don’t really know what does it mean when your stretch marks itch, which is why they don’t really know how to deal with it.

But don’t worry, you are not alone. Many people have these tingly scars over their bodies that not only don’t look so good but can also cause unease. So, in this article, we are going go through what stretchy marks actually indicate and how you can deal with it.

Itchy stretch marks – everything you should know!

As soon as we talk about these tiger stripes, as some people would like to call them, we are at once bombarded with self-love suggestions and how we must embrace these scars. In theory, all of that is okay but itchy stretch marks give very tough time to someone who is actually experiencing it.

While there are many tips and tricks you can try out to calm the itching down. you can apply moisturizers, lotions that may ease the irritation. But the question remains, why do stretch marks itch and how can you manage the itchiness.

If you are currently suffering from itchy stretch marks, this could mean the following things:

  • Skin is stretching further
  • Skin is going through the healing process
  • Dryness

Generally, irritating stretch marks aren’t something you really need to concern yourself with. They are not dangerous, though can cause a lot of discomfort but nothing that cannot be solved.

Before we dig deep into the details of why you have itchiness over your stretch marks. Let’s talk about the causes of stretch marks and why they may appear on your skin on the first place.

What causes stretch marks?

You’re obviously aware of why stretch marks appear on your skin such as dermal tearing. But what are the primary causes of stretch marks? Are these gender or age specific? Let’s find out!

Pregnancy, hormonal imbalance or puberty, anything that may cause you to lose or gain weight in an unreasonable time frame can be the sole culprit of these bodily scars.

While most people think stretch marks are gender specific but researches have shown otherwise. Stretch marks have got nothing to do with age or your gender. Men and women can both have it. Although, women do have a higher ratio of getting these scars because of the fact they experience pregnancy and are prone to more hormonal imbalances.

So, whether you got these stretch marks because you grew a human inside you or grew up yourself, they are a part of you, something you obviously cannot neglect.

Despite what fashion magazines and social media may try to convey, stretch marks aren’t necessarily caused by rapid weight gain. People who are going through puberty, when gain slightest amount of weight can develop these stretch marks.

They are completely normal but can be cause of discomfort which we are not denying. To make you have a better understanding of these stretch marks, we would like to discuss different skin conditions and healing process. In that way, it will make a whole lot more sense to you.

Does itchy skin always mean stretch marks?

Sometimes, itchy skin can mean stretch marks especially if you’re pregnant but that isn’t necessary every time. If you’re taking hormones, gaining weight or growing a baby inside of you, then there could be other possible reasons as well why you’re feeling itch on your skin.

To be precise, just because your skin is itching doesn’t mean these are stretch marks. Dehydration is one of the major causes of dry skin that itches. Even if you happen to be someone with a detailed skin care routine, you can still fall prey to dehydration. Trust us, it is no biggy.

Other than that various illnesses, skin pigmentation, allergies, medications, skin conditions, drying skincare products, sunburn, along with hot showers can also be the causes of dry skin.

But it is avoidable. You can start by drinking loads of water every day, applying sun block and using moisturizers. It will help lock moisture on the internal layers of your skin, keep you hydrated and make your skin glow instead of causing rashes.

Why do your stretch marks itch?

As mentioned earlier, there are various reasons behind itchy stretch marks. You could be stretching skin to accommodate your weight gain or it can be part of a healing process of dermal tearing. It could also be because of dryness or due to other skin conditions.

However, mostly stretch marks are caused by tearing and skin dryness. As you know already, stretch marks occur when your body gains weight rapidly. But what you might have not been aware of that even losing weight can cause stretch marks to itch.

This happens mainly because stretch marks itch either when they are progressing or regressing. You might have noticed that your skin becomes thinner on the regions where stretch marks are present. This skin area is more prone to irritants and scratching might seem like the only way to bring relief at most times.

Just like that, during the healing process, once the dermal skin starts to repair itself, you will feel an itchy sensation part of the repairing. Stretch marks are usually very dry as well which in turn also causes skin to itch.

How to sooth itchy stretch marks?

Now that you know all about what does it mean when your stretch marks itch, it is time to move on to bringing relief to yourself. There are various remedies available that you can try to relieve yourself of the itchy sensation.

We are enlisting some of these tips below for you to make use of!

Try nourishing creams

Instead of scratching the itch to calm your nerves down, we would recommend that you opt for nourishing creams readily available at drug stores. Try using creams with a combination of shea butter, witch hazel and Vitamin F and E.

These ingredients provide absolute soothness to your skin and get rid of dryness evidently. Many people in winters use shea butter regularly as body lotion because it eliminates dryness. Once you start applying nourishing creams daily, you will see a massive difference in just a few days.

Exfoliate regularly

Use scrubs to exfoliate the affected areas which in turn will eliminate dead cells that were causing your skin to itch. It fights dryness like there is no tomorrow and improves your skin’s natural elasticity massively.

If you’re pregnant, we recommend exfoliating your tummy regularly. It will also boost your blood flow and enhance the overall healing process.

Pat dry your skin

Instead of rubbing your skin once you’re out of the shower, pat dry your skin to limit friction. rubbing towel on your skin can cause friction which in turn will cause your skin to irritate. It will make the itchiness worse.

So, instead gently pat dry your skin whether it is your tummy or your face. Your skin will feel much smoother and you will eliminate unnecessary cause of irritation.

Massage your stretch marks using coconut oil

Coconut oil is commendable for relieving your skin off of irritation and itching. Massage your stretch marks every day, sometimes even twice a day to improve blood flow and enhance the healing process.

Massage is an excellent way to break the scar tissue down and eliminate dead skin cells that are the reason why your stretch marks itch. Not to mention, for an expecting mama, massage can also be a very relaxing experience to calm those hormonal nerves down.

Keep yourself hydrated

You must have grown tired of hearing this again and again but what can we do, keeping yourself hydrated is by far the most important thing you can do to improve your bodily health. It is not just good for relieving s and but also enhances various functions of your body.

So, take water seriously and at least drink 8-10 glasses of it every day.

Avoid drying soaps

Lastly, another thing you can do to relieve yourself from irritating stretch marks is to eliminate the use of drying soaps and body wash. Try infusing hydrating soaps in your skin that will nourish these stretch marks to heal them quickly.

After using different products, you must obviously know yourself that which of these soaps and body washes cause your stretch marks to itch. Avoid them at all costs.

Conclusion

So, this is everything we could gather for what does it mean when your stretch marks itch. Hopefully, we have shed some light on a few very important points. Now you know what causes these stretch marks to itch and how you can relieve yourself of the skin irritation.

We hope this article has been worth your time and attention. If there is anything else, you would like to add to this conversation do let us know through your feedback below.